Abstract
AbstractTen species of wood were tested for their natural resistance and to reveal feeding preferences of M. championi. In "no choice" laboratory experiments, Abies pindrow was found highly resistant and Populus euramericana highly palatable. The impact of drying temperature (60°C, 70°C, 80°C, 90°C and 100°C) was studied. The amount of wood consumed in general, increased with increase in drying temperature indicating that heat contributed to the loss of natural resistance components of the woods. When M. championi was given a choice and the woods were offered in combination of two, this termite species repeated its instinct, easily identified the more preferred wood and consumed more of it. Consequently, M. championi showed maximum feeding on P. euramericana and the minimum on A. pindrow and the mean feeding propensity was significantly different (P < 0.0028). Based on the feeding propensity, the woods are arranged in descending order of preference: Populus euramericana > Azadirachta indica > Cedrus deodara > Pinus roxburghii > Morus alba > Tectona grandis > Mangifera indica > Acacia arabica > Thuja occidentalis > Abies pindrow. Although M. championi fed aggressively on P. roxburghii, the wooden blocks had undesirable effect on the survival of the species, manifesting toxic nature of the wood.
Highlights
The factors affecting wood consumption by termites are numerous and highly interrelated
Most of the wood species were cut from standing trees except Abies pindrow, Cedrus deodara, Tectona grandis and Acacia arabica, which were obtained from commercial lumber yard
The findings were slightly different from the results reported earlier by Akhtar and Ali (1979), who arranged feeding propensity of O. obesus in descending order of preference as follows: P. euramericana (S.W.), A. pindrow (H.W.), A. arabica (H.W.), C
Summary
The factors affecting wood consumption by termites are numerous and highly interrelated. With the rising cost of repairs and replacements for the damage to timber structures, a sound knowledge of the natural resistance of the native timbers and feeding preferences of the native species of termites is essential. In spite of the notable contribution by various investigators on different aspects of the termites of Pakistan (Ahmad, 1955; Akhtar, 1972, 1974a, 1976, 1978; Ahmad et al, 1979; Akhtar and Ali, 1979; Afzal, 1981; Akhtar and Raja, 1985; Shahid and Akhtar, 1989; Akhtar and Kausar, 1991), our knowledge about feeding preferences of the termites is poor. The termite species are different in different ecological zones of Pakistan (Akhtar, 1974) and may have different feeding preferences. Anacanthotermes vagans does maximum damage to woodwork in buildings in Chaman, district Quetta, but is absent from the Punjab, where Coptotermes
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