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Microbes help tell how old termite pellets are — Level A1 — brown and black wooden surface

Microbes help tell how old termite pellets areCEFR A1

30 Dec 2025

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Adapted from Jules Bernstein - UC Riverside, Futurity • CC BY 4.0

Photo by Riddhiman Baisya, Unsplash

Level A1 – Beginner
2 min
71 words
  • Pellets can show if a colony is active.
  • Scientists found a way to tell pellet age.
  • They examined microbes that come from the pellets.
  • Many of these microbes die quickly in air.
  • When microbes die, their signals fade and change.
  • Fresh pellets show different microbes than old pellets.
  • Researchers measured microbe signals to see change.
  • This could lead to a quick on-site test.
  • A fast test can avoid unnecessary treatments.

Difficult words

  • pellet — Small hard piece of animal waste or remains.
    pellets
  • colony — Group of animals or organisms living together.
  • microbe — Very small living thing, seen with a microscope.
    microbes
  • signal — A sign or message that shows something.
    signals
  • on-site — At the place where the work or test happens.
  • treatment — Medical care or action to help a patient.
    treatments

Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.

Discussion questions

  • Would you want a quick on-site test that avoids treatments?
  • Have you ever seen a test for microbes?
  • Do you know what a colony is?

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