White ant

The most important point in the work of the white ant remains to be noted. I have already said that the white ant is never seen.

The most voracious cable-muncher in the tropical and sub-tropical parts of Australia is the termite, or white ant, which eats through both lead and polythene sheathings.

1990 December 13, Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard), page D.3, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am happy to hear that the hon. Member appreciates the fact that white ants cause a lot [of] destruction in his area. There is very little we can do about white ants.

White ants destroy living plants by removing the epidermal layers, effectively ‘ringbarking’ the subject.

Our house was built on a hard ferruginous conglomerate, in order to be out of the way of the white ant, but they came in despite the precaution;[…].