Feeding rate of termites in wood treated with borax, acetylation, polystyrene, and smoke

Abstract

Mindi (Melia azedarach) wood with density of 0.43 g/cm3 from Indonesia and sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) wood with density of 0.34 g/cm3 from Japan were treated with borax preservative, acetylation, polystyrene, and smoke. Treated and untreated wood samples were tested for resistance against subterranean termite (Coptotermes curvignathus) and dry wood termite (Cryptotermes cynocephalus) in the laboratory according to Indonesian standards. In addition to determining resistance of treated woods to termite attack, this work also evaluated termite feeding rates. The results showed that mindi has better resistance to subterranean and dry wood termite attack than sugi. All treatments effectively increased resistance to subterranean and dry wood termite attacks as shown by treated wood samples having less weight loss, higher resistance class, higher termite mortality, and a lower termite feeding rate compared to untreated wood. Daily termite feeding rate of untreated mindi was 50.3 μg/termite and sugi 95.8 μg/termite, the feeding rate of sugi was higher than mindi probably because sugi has a lower density and contains early wood, which both make termite feeding activity easier. The wood treatments effectively decreased the daily feeding rate of the termites.