14 DAY TRIAL // Recent investigations have shown that termite poop has antibacterial properties, and that these insects use it to protect themselves against various fungi and bacteria.
Scientists say that, after examining termite poop samples collected from five colonies in Florida, they found that bacteria in these insects' droppings secrete compounds that are surprisingly effective in fighting back various microorganisms.
Some of these microorganisms are the ones people usually resort to in order to clear their homes of termites in an environmentally friendly way, i.e. the so-called biological warfare, Live Science tells us.
Researchers theorize this is the reason why, more often than not, attempts to exterminate termites using biological warfare end in failure.
“By manipulating their environment with the use of feces, termites promote the growth of such beneficial microbes,” researcher Thomas Chouvenc reportedly said.
What's interesting is that humans also have beneficial bacteria inside their guts. However, unlike termites, we cannot use them for much else except keep ourselves safe from bacteria we might ingest together with our food.
“While we have beneficial bacteria inside ourselves, termites were able to partially export them outside,” he added.