For a termite pair to start a family, they must first find a source of food. Termites eat cellulose. Cellulose is a fiber found in all plants and plant products such as cardboard, paper, fruits, nuts, cork, and wood.

Some interesting items termites have been known to attack:

A termite infested mango

A termite eaten book

Surprisingly, Formosan subterranean termites can't digest cellulose. In their gut, they have special symbiotic protozoa (nucleated single-cellular microorganisms) which digest the cellulose for the termites.

Although they don't need free water, termites need some source of moisture. They only need a tiny amount, but they must have it in order to survive or start a colony. Some often overlooked sources of moisture are:

Condensation from an air conditioner Poor drainage Leaky plumbing Leaky roof Water on poorly designed decks, lanais, roofs, etc. Water from watered plants Steam from a kettle condensing on a kitchen cabinet

Water damage setting in on exposed wooden stairs

Newlywed termite couples need a protective place to settle down before they start their family. Termites won't mate on smooth, bare surfaces. They need some kind of crack or hole which they can seal off from the outside world. A suitable living location is called a physical niche.
Some examples are:

• A nail hole
• A wall, ceiling, or floor joint
• Some sort of crack or crevice
• The corrugations in a cardboard box, perhaps in storage
• A stack of old books
• A pile of sawdust

Infested boxes

Termites love sawdust