Termites destroyed a Taiwan graduate's dream of studying abroad by consuming the paper money she had saved in a safe at home , Taiwan media reported . The graduate had spent 8 years earmarking about RMB200,000 from her earnings . When in April she opened the safe where the banknotes were locked , white ants were found to have eaten her savings , leaving behind the metal threads embedded to prevent forgery . The bank only promised RMB4,000 in compensation . It's possible that termites eat paper banknotes to feed on materials that contain cellulose , entomologists explained .