Subterranean Termite Coptotermes formosanus Resistance of Twenty Commercial Wood Used in Taiwan

Abstract

Termites cause problems to wood products in use, especially in a termite hazardous area such as Taiwan. Information of termite resistance of wood products help wood users make choice and to decide the treatment a certain wood product needs to receive. Eight softwood, 11 hardwood and 1 monocot commercial wood species along with 7 of their heat treated specimens acquired from local wood factories were tested for their resistance to Coptotermes formosanus by following the AWPA E1-09 standard. Comparative subterranean termite resistances were recorded for reference and measure for termite resistance suggested. Results indicate that the dry-heat oxygen-free heat treating process applied to produce the heat treated specimens tested in this study increases or decreases termite resistance depends on wood species treated. Extractives appear to be the major factor of termite resistance of wood and hardness of hardwood specimens of specific gravity over 0.8 may retard termite biting. Termite resistance of the woody tissue of coconut, the monocot tested, appears highly correlated to its specific gravity.