Termite Damage Research Articles

Connectivity and climate change drive the global distribution of highly invasive termites

Termites are amongst the most abundant and ecologically-important groups of insects in tropical forests. However, the destructive potential of some species amounts to billions of dollars in damage each year. Despite their economic and ecological impacts, only a limited number of invasive termite species have been studied using distribution modelling and no studies have taken trade, transport and demography variables into account. We used Species Distribution Models (SDMs) to investigate the potential distribution of 10 highly-invasive termites. Our study includes bioclimatic conditions, land-use patterns, elevation and connectivity predictors (i.e. urban areas, human population, accessibility to cities and private vessels), alongside different climatic and socioeconomic change scenarios. The distribution of the termite species hinges on bioclimatic and connectivity variables, highlighting the significance of these latter factors in invasive species analyses. Our models demonstrate the potential of these invasive termites to thrive in large urbanised and connected areas within tropical and subtropical regions and to a lesser extent within temperate regions. As climate changes and urbanisation intensifies, most species’ range could expand, particularly under a “fossil fuel-driven development” scenario. Furthermore, while some species may have a slightly reduced range, they could extend their presence into more urbanised and connected areas, increasing the risks and costs associated with termite damages. Our models highlight the anticipated role of growing connectivity and climate change dynamics in facilitating the widespread proliferation of invasive termites in the coming years.

Durability ratings of post-treated wood-based composites after 14 years of field exposure

Several commercial wood-based composites (softwood plywood [SWP], hardwood plywood [HWP], medium-density fiberboard [MDF], oriented strand board [OSB], and particleboard) [PB]) were post-treated with alkaline copper quat and copper azole at two different retention levels. The treated specimens were installed on concrete blocks covered with 5-sided PVC boxes simulating the crawl space conditions (protected above-ground) in Japanese houses in Southern Japan where decay and termite activity are high. The experimental variables are a comparison of treated versus untreated, preservative type and retention levels. During 14 years of exposure, the specimens were biannually visually rated. In general, termite damage became visible earlier and the harshness of attack was higher when compared to decay damage. The untreated and treated MDFs were the most resistant under the protected above ground conditions at the end of 14 years exposure. Particleboard durability performance followed the MDF rating during the same period. The untreated OSB, HWP, and SWP were the least resistant composite types. The treatments substantially increased the durability of the mentioned composite types by 317.6%, 80.5%, and 133% higher termite grading when correlated to their untreated controls, respectfully, yet they failed to maintain full protection. Based on statistical analysis, preservative types and retention levels did not significantly affect decay and termite ratings.

Estimation of the Damage Risk Range and Activity Period of Termites (Reticulitermes speratus) in Korean Wooden Architectural Heritage Building Sites

Korean wooden architectural heritage buildings are often damaged by termites, and climate change is expected to exacerbate the problem. To prevent termite damage, it is necessary to identify the habitat range and activity period of termites. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the ecological characteristics of Reticulitermes speratus, the dominant termite species in South Korea, past termite damage records of wooden architectural heritage buildings, and climate data (2000–2019). We determined that termite infestations could potentially occur in 98.5% of the total studied area, except for a few mountainous regions in South Korea. In addition, termites were active for an average of 209 days per year. The habitat range of termites appears to be gradually expanding, possibly as a result of a combination of anthropogenic interventions, rising temperatures caused by climate change, and the ecological characteristics of termites. In the future, it is imperative to implement enhanced preventive and active termite control measures to preserve the original wooden architectural heritage buildings of South Korea.

The Characteristics of Ancient Residence Wood from the Qing Dynasty in Yunnan Province

This study takes the wooden components of the different parts of the ancient buildings at the site of the Zhuangzishang Conference as the object of study, and investigates the deterioration state of the different wood components. To assess their degree of degradation, the wood anatomy, basic density (BD), maximum water content (MWC), cell wall major components, X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and thermogravimetry (TG) were used to compare the samples of new and old wood from the same species. The window (W) was identified by microscopic characterization as cypress (Cupressus sp.), the footing beam (FB) and the weatherboard (WB) as pine (Pinus spp.), the purlin (P) and the column (C) as Chinses fir (Cunninghamia spp.), and the floor (F) as spruce (Picea sp.). In terms of their physical properties, the old wood had a lower basic density of 2.58%–38.19%, a lower air-dry density of 2.87%–39.81%, and a higher maximum moisture content of 8.52%–41.38% compared to the reference wood. The degradation of the FB, which has been subjected to moisture and sunlight, and the P, which has been subjected to termite damage, was greater than that of their conspecifics. The integrated holocellulose of the ancient wood was 3.34%–16.48% less, and the hemicellulose was 1.6%–21.92% less compared to that of the reference wood, and the lignin was 1.32%–25.07% more. The XRD results showed that the crystallinity of the cellulose was greater in the different species of ancient wood compared to the control wood, which was caused by the decrease in the amorphous zones of the hemicellulose and cellulose in the ancient wood. The IR indicated that the degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose occurred in the old wood of all species, from the new lignin uptake peaks in the UV-exposed W, FB, and WB compared to the control timber. The pyrolytic behavior of the ancient and control timber is mainly related to the degradation of the tree species and the ancient wood holocellulose. These results show that the differences in the wooden components of the different parts of the ancient buildings at the Zhuangzishang Conference site are mainly related to the species of trees used in the components, and are secondly related to the location of the ancient wood members, which provides useful information for the protection and repair of the ancient buildings at the site.

A novel wood preservative with plant extracts in a cypermethrin mixture protects envelope-treated tropical kempas hardwood against Coptotermes termites when exposed to an above-ground indoor situation after evaporative ageing

In keeping with sustainability initiatives in the commercial wood protection sector to develop cost-effective, environmentally acceptable wood treatment alternatives to traditional biocides, this paper reports on an above-ground test for protection against subterranean termite damage to blocks of termite-susceptible heartwood of tropical (Malaysian) kempas hardwood (Koompassia malaccensis). The blocks were envelope-treated (brush-on) with a novel wood preservative based on plant extracts in a cypermethrin mixture (Biocide 1: 0.16% cypermethrin, 0.08% tebuconazole, 2% vegetal extracts). A commercial permethrin-based LOSP (Biocide 2: 0.2% permethrin, 1.8% tributyltin naphthenate, 0.1% dichlorofluanid) applied in 3-minute dips served as the control treatment. The air-dried kempas blocks were H2-weathered under a rigorous laboratory volatilization regime (representing long-term evaporative ageing of treated wood for above-ground indoor use in prolonged H2-hazard class situations). The blocks were then exposed for 6 months above ground, inside a containerised test design targeting subterranean Coptotermes curvignathus termites, at a humid forest site (representing a severe H2-hazard class situation with treated wood isolated from wetting, soil contact, and weather). The results showed irrefutably that untreated kempas heartwood was severely attacked by C. curvignathus (mean mass loss: 70.4% and 20,416 mg) with a low mean visual termite rating (2.4). However, the treated kempas wood was well protected at very low surface retention of Biocide 1 (mean negligible mass loss: 0.66% and 207 mg) and very low surface retention of the control Biocide 2 (mean negligible mass loss: 1.01% and 306 mg), with both treatments similarly yielding the highest mean visual termite rating for all replicate kempas specimens (rating 10). The performances of the two biocides were similar but varied significantly (P < 0.05) from the attacks against their untreated counterparts. Biocide 1 therefore has considerable anti-termite potential and could replace conventional LOSP Biocide 2 treatments to protect wood exposed to a long-term H2-hazard class environment.

Taxonomic profiling of Nasutitermes takasagoensis microbiota to investigate the role of termites as vectors of bacteria linked to ironwood tree decline in Guam.

The ironwood tree (Casuarina equisetifolia, family Casuarinaceae), an indigenous agroforestry species in Guam, has been threatened by ironwood tree decline (IWTD) since 2002. Formation of bacterial ooze by the wilt pathogen from the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex and wetwood bacteria (primarily Klebsiella species) has been linked to IWTD. In addition, termite infestation of trees was statistically associated with IWTD. Termites are known carriers of a diverse microbiome. Therefore, we hypothesized that termites could be vectors of bacteria linked to IWTD. To investigate the potential role of termites as pathogen vectors, we employed next-generation 16S rRNA gene sequencing to describe the bacteria diversity of Nasutitermes takasagoensis (Family Termitidae) workers collected from 42 ironwood trees of different disease stages in Guam in association with tree-, plot-, and location-related factors. Nasutitermes takasagoensis workers account for the majority of termite infestations of ironwood trees. The bacterial phyla composition of N. takasagoensis workers was typical for wood-feeding higher termites consisting mainly of Spirochaetes and Fibrobacteres. However, Ralstonia species were not detected and Klebsiella species were rare even in termites collected from trees infected with Ralstonia and wetwood bacteria. Feeding experiments suggested that termites prefer to consume wood with low pathogen content over wood with high pathogen load. Termites were able to ingest Ralstonia but Ralstonia could not establish itself in healthy termite bodies. We concluded that N. takasagoensis workers are not vectors for Ralstonia spp. or the bacterial endophytes associated with wetwood (Klebsiella, Pantoea, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and Erwinia) that were previously observed in IWTD-infested trees. The bacterial diversity in termite samples was significantly influenced by various factors, including Tree Health, Site Management, Plot Average Decline Severity, Proportion of Dead Trees in the Plot, Proportion of Trees with Termite Damage in the Plot, Presence of Ralstonia, and Altitude.

Korean Wooden Architectural Heritages at An Increased Risk of Termite Damage due to Temperature Change

Wooden architectural heritages in Korea have been severely damaged by termites, and this damage is expected to increase owing to climate change. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in termite damage risk due to climate change specifically in Korean wooden architectural heritages. A multiple regression equation was developed to estimate the daily average temperature from the location information (latitude, longitude, and elevation) for 40 years (1980-2019). The location information of 106 nationally designated wooden architectural heritages distributed across 84 cities was used to estimate the daily mean temperature of each cultural heritages. Referring to a previous study on the ecological characteristics of <i>R. speratus</i>, a dominant termite species in Korea, the temperature at which termite activity is possible was confirmed, and the amount of wood consumed in relation to the temperature change was estimated. Based on this, the number of days available for termite activity and the amount of termite wood intake in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s were estimated. Consequently, we found that the number of active days for termites increased from 243 to 249, 251, and 253 days in each decade. The wood consumption rate also increased by 9.9% over 40 years, from 6,657 to 6,777, 7,008, and 7,314 μg/ worker/year, respectively. This study was the first to estimate the activity period and wood intake of termites in Korea’s wooden architectural heritages, thereby providing valuable information for the preservation and management of these wooden heritages.

Shifts in internal stem damage along a tropical precipitation gradient and implications for forest biomass estimation.

Woody biomass is a large carbon store in terrestrial ecosystems. In calculating biomass, tree stems are assumed to be solid structures. However, decomposer agents such as microbes and insects target stem heartwood, causing internal wood decay which is poorly quantified. We investigated internal stem damage across five sites in tropical Australia along a precipitation gradient. We estimated the amount of internal aboveground biomass damaged in living trees and measured four potential stem damage predictors: wood density, stem diameter, annual precipitation, and termite pressure (measured as termite damage in downed deadwood). Stem damage increased with increasing diameter, wood density, and termite pressure and decreased with increasing precipitation. High wood density stems sustained less damage in wet sites and more damage in dry sites, likely a result of shifting decomposer communities and their differing responses to changes in tree species and wood traits across sites. Incorporating stem damage reduced aboveground biomass estimates by > 30% in Australian savannas, compared to only 3% in rainforests. Accurate estimates of carbon storage across woody plant communities are critical for understanding the global carbon budget. Future biomass estimates should consider stem damage in concert with the effects of changes in decomposer communities and abiotic conditions.

Farmers’ Knowledge and Perception of the Pest Status and Management Options for Termites in Buikwe District, Central Uganda

Termites are known to be serious pests, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical countries, causing damage to crops, forestry and structures/buildings. To design and implement effective and environmentally-friendly termite management strategies, there is a need to consider farmers’ knowledge and experience in defining and setting priorities. We therefore conducted a survey in the coffee agro-ecology of Buikwe district, central Uganda to determine farmers’ knowledge on the damage caused and control options for termites. Farmers were aware of the damaged caused by the termites, with 85.8% of them mentioning damage to crops in the field as the most important. However, 43.4% of them were of the view that the proportion of the whole coffee garden damaged by termites was generally low (1-25%). More than half of the farmers mentioned that they first observed termites in their gardens in the last 15 years and maize was the most (97.1%) damaged crop. In addition to crops, farmers mentioned that termites were also attacking mulching material, particularly maize stover (47.2%) and buildings (66%). Most farmers mentioned that they observed highest termite damage in the dry season (30.2%), at hill top (35.8%) and in reddish soils (55.7%). Also, >70% of the farmers mentioned that termite damage was generally decreasing in their coffee gardens, mainly due to destruction of termite mounds and bushes (39.6%). Furthermore, 83% of the farmers mentioned that they had attempted to manage termites, with most of them (>70%) acknowledging using chemicals. In addition to chemicals, farmers also mentioned that they were using cultural-based options such as destroying termite nests or mounds (68.7%), queen removal (34.9%) and weeding (30.2%), among others to control termites. Furthermore, in attempting to manage the termites, farmers mentioned that they faced several challenges, with most (36.8%) of them claiming that termites are impossible to control. In conclusion therefore, farmers had k

A Method for Predicting Termite Damage in Wooden Cultural Properties Using a Machine Learning Model

In this study, a machine learning model was established using termite damage and meteorological data on wooden cultural properties, and the prediction performance was evaluated. The data were divided into termite damage data, the location of wooden cultural properties, and meteorological data. Three observatories were searched based on the location of the wooden cultural properties, and meteorological data for about 8 years from 2010 to 2018 were combined to make a total of 491 data sets. As a result, it was confirmed that the value of small evaporation as a meteorological factor that directly affects termite damage is the time series independent variable that best explains the model, and showed an accuracy of 72.8% when the Linear SVM algorithm model was used. The value of small evaporation is the synoptic meteorological data of the Korea Meteorological Administration, and it is collected only at specific stations, not meteorological factors observed at all stations. Therefore, It is difficult to obtain enough data to make a predictive model. Since machine learning models can improve accuracy when the number of data is sufficient, prediction performance can be improved if more termite damage data and the value of small evaporation are obtained.

Assessment of termite damage in cross-laminated timber sections using micro-computed tomography and vibration analysis

The durability of engineered wood products (EWPs) is a parameter yet to be fully investigated and understood. This is specifically important for mass timber structures and cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. The effect of termites and scale of damage on radiata pine sawn boards have been previously investigated. However, the effects of glue line and the layered structure of CLT exposed to termite feeding in the field in Australia have not been studied. A total of 420 CLT specimens with different exposed faces and layer arrangements were exposed to termite attack in the field. Microcomputer tomography and vibration analysis were used to assess sample conditions before and after 20 weeks exposure. The observed changes showed damage patterns within samples where a glue line and different growth ring patterns were present. The termites created continuous damage along the longitudinal cells through the length and width of the samples. The 3D data showed that the edge gap on the face of panels could potentially act as a pathway for termites entering the core or mid-layers of the panel. The vibration frequency values were lower for samples after the termite exposure. The vibration analysis results showed significant effects of sample direction exposed to termite attack, and percentage of mass loss had significant effects on internal friction and damping values determined.

Entomopathogenic Potential of Bacillus velezensis CE 100 for the Biological Control of Termite Damage in Wooden Architectural Buildings of Korean Cultural Heritage.

Biocontrol strategies are gaining tremendous attention in insect pest management, such as controlling termite damage, due to the growing awareness of the irreparable harm caused by the continuous use of synthetic pesticides. This study examines the proteolytic and chitinolytic activities of Bacillus velezensis CE 100 and its termiticidal effect through cuticle degradation. The proteolytic and chitinolytic activities of B. velezensis CE 100 systematically increased with cell growth to the respective peaks of 68.3 and 128.3 units/mL after seven days of inoculation, corresponding with the highest cell growth of 16 × 107 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL. The in vitro termiticidal assay showed that B. velezensis CE 100 caused a rapid and high rate of termite mortality, with a median lethal time (LT50) of >1 h and the highest mortality rates of 91.1% and 92.2% recorded at 11 h and 12 h in the bacterial broth culture and crude enzyme fraction, respectively. In addition to broken setae and deformed sockets, termites treated with the bacterial broth culture exhibited degraded epicuticles, while the crude enzyme fraction caused severe disintegration of both the epicuticle and endocuticle. These results indicate the tremendously higher potential of B. velezensis CE 100 in the biological control of subterranean termites compared to the previously used entomopathogenic bacteria.

한옥의 내화 및 방충 성능 개선에 관한 연구

This paper is a study on the fire resistance of wood and securing the performance of insects, which are still emerging as problems in order to convert the various advantages and excellence of hanok into modern architectural methods. To verify the research results, the test was conducted by applying it to the building materials of hanok, and the results of the research were summarized as follows.
 First, wood with fire resistance regulations is relatively safe from fire. Wood has a very low heat transfer rate and a relatively low ignition temperature on the surface is a relatively safe material compared to other materials because when a fire breaks out, the carbonized part of the surface additionally blocks heat transfer and prevents the inside from being carbonized.
 Second, in the case of hanok, the standard of the member that can be used as a fireproof material is 460mm×600mm long in the case of beams, 360mm in diameter, 3,600mm high in the case of cylinders, and 300mm×300mm high in each column.
 Third, in order to prevent insects such as termites, insect repellent paint is directly applied to wood, a building material, to show the performance of the room. In comparison to existing termite damage prevention methods such as fumigation, soil treatment, and termite colony removal systems, insect repellent paints show excellent performance in difficulty, cost, use of eco-friendly products, and room effects.

Estimating termite population size using spatial statistics for termite tunnel patterns

Subterranean termites build underground tunnels for foraging. The obtained food is transported to the nest through these tunnels, and consumed to maintain the termite colony. In this process, termites can cause damage to wooden structures. To develop effective control strategies to reduce termite damage, it is important to know the sizes of the termite populations in the tunnels. In this study, we proposed a method for estimating the termite population size using the spatial statistic indices including fractal dimension (FD), local density (LD), and join count statistic (JCS) for the tunnel patterns. However, the method needs further improvement to be applied in field conditions. For the method, we generated 8,000 tunnel pattern images (1,000 images for each N) using an agent-based model based on experimental data. Here, N (= 3, 4, ..., 10) represents the number of termites participating in tunnel construction in the simulation. Subsequently, we calculated the FD, LD and JCS values of the tunnel pattern and trained and verified the k-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm, using 5,600 and 2,400 images, respectively. The population size (N) was estimated based on the FD, LD and JCS using the KNN algorithm. The estimated accuracy for all N was 60% to 97% in the range of k = 1 to 300. If the model for tunnel pattern generation includes heterogeneous environmental conditions, the proposed method could be used to effectively estimate the actual number of termite populations. Finally, we briefly discuss the challenges affecting our model, and how these could be overcome.

Tomosynthesis Feasibility Study for Visualization of Interiors of Wood Columns Surrounded with Walls

The need for non-destructive testing and evaluation of Korean traditional wooden buildings is increasing because of their widespread deterioration. Among all types of deterioration, termite damage in wooden columns is the most difficult to detect with the naked eye because it starts inside the wood, and the initial deterioration is small. X-ray computed tomography (CT) is the best technology to investigate the inner state of wood that has less damage, but applying it to wooden columns between walls is challenging. Therefore, the feasibility of tomosynthesis, which is a method to reconstruct a coronal section of a subject with a few X-ray projections from a limited angle of rotation, was studied as an alternative to CT. Pine (P. densiflora) with three artificial holes was prepared as a specimen to evaluate the quality of reconstructed tomosynthesis images according to the different number of projections. The quality of the tomosynthesis images in the in-focus plane was evaluated using the contrast-to-noise ratios, while a vertical resolution between the images was assessed by determining the artificial spread function. The quality of the tomosynthesis image in the in-focus plane increased as the number of projections increased and then remained constant as the number of projections reached 21 or over. In the case of vertical resolution, there was no significant difference when 21 projections or more were used to reconstruct the images. A distinct difference between coronal section images was found when the distance was more than 10 mm from one plane to another plane.

Termite diversity and damage assessment in urban trees from different parks of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

Termite infestation is one of the fundamental problems associated with the loss of urban trees and ecological services. However, no such study has been performed in Pakistan to investigate the termite occurrence and assess such damages to urban trees caused by termites. For Lahore, research and comparable data on urban tree damages are rare or missing. This study surveyed six different microhabitats, including Bagh-e-Jinnah, canal vegetation, Model Town Park, Jallo Forestry, Race-Course Park, and FC College Vegetation employing the three belt transects (100 × 5m) method. We geo-referenced termite-infested trees to investigate the termite occurrence on living and dead standing trees, termite diversity, and the assessment of tree damage by termites' attack. We recorded four termite species (Odontotermes obesus Rambur, Coptotermes heimi Wasmann, Heterotermes indicola Wasmann, and Microtermes obesi Holmgren) representing two families (Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae). However, the diversity indices revealed that O. obesus (higher termite) and C. heimi (lower termite) were dominant with 46.60 and 36% of occurrence among observed trees, respectively. Kernel density function indicated that the Lahore Canal and Bagh-e-Jinnah plantation shared all four termites' infestation evenly compared to other study sites. We observed the maximum number of damaged trees by termites in canal vegetation with the most damaged exotic tree species Populus euramericana along the canal green belt. Additionally, we observed significant (P < 0.05) termite-tree interactions with exotic, living, and dead standing tree species and found termite colony size positively (R = 0.985) correlated with the tree trunk diameter up to breast height (DBH). The average population of termites per unit volume of deadwood log was (0.39/cm3) within all plantation sites. In conclusion, this study provides simple, reckless, and inexpensive knowledge about the assessment of termite damage to trees, which may give a better idea in making decisions on tree selection and management in urban ecosystems.

Risk Assessment and Monitoring of Termites in the Forbidden City under Global Warming

ABSTRACT Historical heritage is facing enormous challenges as a result of global warming. Termites are a significant pest in ancient wooden buildings and their area of activity is also expanding. According to historical records, Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder and Reticulitermes speratus Kolbe are the main species of Reticulitermes present in Beijing. A 40-year record of meteorological data, termite damage information published by the Chinese government and indoor environmental data show that the risk of termite damage to the Forbidden City is increasing. In the first two decades of the twenty-first century, two termite infestations occurred in the Forbidden City. Monitoring and control systems were applied immediately, the risk to each object storeroom and other termite-susceptible area was classified and monitored, and the termites were controlled successfully. With the rapid development of information technology, an advanced termite monitoring system has been introduced that is based on non-closed-loop electromagnetic induction, is fully automatic and gives remote real-time monitoring. LoRa technology was used for signal transmission between the termite monitoring station and the information collection. This signal transmission technology can overcome the signal-blocking effect of the numerous walls inside the Forbidden City, ensuring that the signal can be transmitted quickly and accurately as soon as termite infestation is detected. The non-closed-loop design allows the electronic components to be fully encapsulated, improves resistance to soil moisture and salt erosion, prolongs service life and ensures accuracy. The risk assessment and remote real-time monitoring technology introduced in this paper are of great significance for protecting ancient buildings in the cities of northern China.

ENHANCING LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA WOOD PRESERVATION BY STEEPING IT IN BORON COMPOUNDS AND ACETIC ACID TO PROTECT AGAINST TERMITES

This study compared steeping Leucaena leucocephala woodwith boron compounds andacetic acidto protect it from termites(Coptotermes gestroi).The experiment had acompletely randomized designwith 10 treatments involving three wood preservatives (acetic acid, boron compounds, and mixtures of both),three treatment lengths (1, 12, and 24 h),and untreated wood, with five replicates of each for a total of 50 conditions. The moisture content of thewood and the wood destroyed by termites were assessed. The L.leucocephalawood treated with boron compounds for 1 h resulted increase in moisture contentand no termite damage.

ENHANCING LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA WOOD PRESERVATION BY STEEPING IT IN BORON COMPOUNDS AND ACETIC ACID TO PROTECT AGAINST TERMITES

This study compared steeping Leucaena leucocephala woodwith boron compounds andacetic acidto protect it from termites(Coptotermes gestroi).The experiment had acompletely randomized designwith 10 treatments involving three wood preservatives (acetic acid, boron compounds, and mixtures of both),three treatment lengths (1, 12, and 24 h),and untreated wood, with five replicates of each for a total of 50 conditions. The moisture content of thewood and the wood destroyed by termites were assessed. The L.leucocephalawood treated with boron compounds for 1 h resulted increase in moisture contentand no termite damage.

Analysis of Factors Affecting Termite Damage to Wooden Architectural Heritage Buildings in Korea

Many wooden architectural heritage buildings exist in Korea, and the authenticity and structural stability of these cultural assets are being affected by termites. This study aimed to identify the degree of termite damage and related factors in these buildings. The degree of termite damage to 182 nationally designated wooden architectural heritage buildings (national treasures and treasures) in Korea was quantified, and data were collected for 11 factors affecting termite damage, such as the surrounding environment and architectural features. Based on the results of a general linear model analysis, the following three factors were identified to have a significant effect on termite damage: the type of contact between the ground and wooden structural items, the number of days of termite activity, and the proportion of forests in the land surrounding the property. This study is the first attempt to statistically analyze factors affecting termite damage to wooden heritage buildings, and our results provide initial data for the preservation and management of these properties.