By far the foremost damaging of all insects are termites, abundant in tropical regions. The damage to all or any paper-based materials are often catastrophic, therein entire collections are often rendered useless by the severe nature of the attack, often before an infestation problem has been recognized. There are three main sorts of termites: dry wood, damp wood, and subterranean. Termites eat all cellulose materials, including wood, paper, binding cloth, and binding board. Some protection from termites are often given by the building design (use of metal shielding over wooden foundations, painting any exposed wood), but the simplest remedy is cleanliness, prevention of moisture, and constant vigilance. Termite infestations can usually only be addressed through the utilization of pesticides applied by a professional operator. There has been some success with buried traps that attract subterranean termites.
