Termites and cactus

[Peterthecactusguy]

I noticed two old clumps of Opuntia phaeancantha and they are getting attacked by of all things termites. At first I though that the plants were collapsing because they got to much water. And that might be part of the problem, but they have the brown crud that termites make on some pads. I found one pad that actually was being eaten. I will post pics tomorrow of the damage, but I have never heard of this happening before.

also as an aside Opuntia can also get the necrosis like saguaros get.
I need to upload the pictures, but I dont have my camera with me I forgot it, so I will post the pictures tomorrow.

[Peterthecactusguy]

crap forgot to post my photos will do tomorrow.

[Daniel]

Dont worry, adds to the suspense...

[Peterthecactusguy]

lol well here you guys and girls go.

slightly blurry but the damage at the lower right of the intersection for the two pads is form termites. the crud they place on their tunnels was all over that area.
more damage caused by termites. You can see the crud to the right of the main area of damage.
the Opuntia clump

more of termites on live cactus pads.

Weird I know, must have been part of our really wet summer we had here. :/

[Daniel]

I know nothing about termites but your wet summer may have flooded their nests or washed away all of the food. That or they just fancied some opuntia for a change...

[Peterthecactusguy]

well usually, and this is from what little I know about termites, they feed on dead vegetation (ya know like a piece of wood that is laying on the ground, or a rotting tree stump) Maybe all the rain forced them out of the ground and they needed to get higher up or something. Ya might be hinting at something there.