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Field trials of anti-sapstain products. Part 1
1991 - IRG/WP 3675
The results obtained in two field tests of anti-sapatain products, carried out in four locations in Portugal, are presented. Boards from freshly cut logs were hand-dipped, close staked and left to dry for periods from four to six months. The results obtained seem to indicate that some of the products tested performed at least as well and sometimes better, than a 3% NaPCP solution which was used as...
L Nunes, F Peixoto, M M Pedroso, J A Santos


Volatile borates in the treatment of wood and wood based panel products against subterranean termites
1995 - IRG/WP 95-30094
Blocks of pine solid wood, oriented strand board and plywood were treated with trimethyl borate by vapour treatment. It was meant to obtain either a full impregnation of the specimens or a shell treatment of the outer three millimetres. The efficacy of the treatments against subterranean termites (Reticulitermes lucifugus) was evaluated using an European Standard method....
L Nunes, D J Dickinson, R J Murphy


A laboratory evaluation of the susceptibility to biological attack of glued laminated pine timber
1991 - IRG/WP 2387
In the scope of a research programme concerning the use of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) to produce glued laminated timber structures in Portugal, the natural durability of this material was checked by using laboratory test methods. An European standard, EN 113, was used to test durability against basidiomycetes and a test method developed at LNEC for termites was adapted for this purpose. From t...
L Nunes, H Cruz


Biological agents of timber degradation in Portugal. Marine borers
1991 - IRG/WP 4171
A brief report of the studies carried out in Portugal on marine borers is presented. The marine borers found in the portuguese coast are refered as well as the wood species where those organisms were identified. Emphasis is given to a study carried out from 1960 to 1975 at the Tagus estuary in Lisbon with the purpose, among others, of establishing the natural durability of different timbers....
J S Machado, L Nunes


The influence of boric acid on respiratory quotients and methane production of subterranean termites
1995 - IRG/WP 95-10136
The toxicity of boron compounds to subterranean termites (Reticulitermes lucifugus) was studied by analysing changes in the levels of oxygen uptake respiratory quotients and methane production. Termites were fed with filter paper treated at different levels of boric acid, the RQ was evaluated by constant volume manometry and the methane production by gas chromatography. Results are discussed in re...
L Nunes, D J Dickinson


Subterranean termites in Portugal. Tentative model of distribution
2002 - IRG/WP 02-10420
Although extensive references can be found on the presence in the last 50 years of Reticulitermes lucifugus (Rossi), in Portugal, its exact distribution and importance has never been critically evaluated. Termites were found to be widespread in the country and are probably the most serious wood destroying insects in buildings. To provide a future working tool that would permit an evaluation of t...
T Nobre, L Nunes


Model of termite distribution in Portugal - Follow-up
2003 - IRG/WP 03-10470
In Portugal, subterranean termites of the genus Reticulitermes are indigenous and a well-established pest of wood in service. Mapping their distribution has therefore become important. A field sampling campaign was established along a North-South transect based on 50x50 km cells (Universal Transverse Mercator grid system, UTM). A variety of typical habitats, ranging from forest sites of Eucalyptu...
T Nobre, L Nunes


Evaluation of mark-release-recapture dyes for Reticulitermes grassei (Clément) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
2004 - IRG/WP 04-20305
To enumerate foraging territories of termite populations, mark-release-recapture (MRR) appears a more satisfactory method than destructive sampling. Marking of termites has been pioneered by the use of ingested dyes and, accordingly,six candiate dyes were evaluated at several concentrations in Reticulitermes grassei (Clément) workers. Only two of the dyes, neutral red and nile blue A provided co...
T Nobre, L Nunes, D E Bignell


A study on the pressure impregnation of Eucalyptus globulus fence posts with CCA preservatives. Part 1
1988 - IRG/WP 3470
This paper describes the impregnation with CCA preservatives by full-cell process of Eucalyptus globulus fence-posts. Several treatments were made for different times of initial vacuum and treating pressure, with fence-posts from two coppice plantations (1st and 2nd rotations), assembled into three diameter classes: small, medium, large. The results concerning the absorption and lateral penetratio...
D De Sousa Castro Reimão, L Nunes


A study on the pressure impregnation of Eucalyptus globulus fence-posts with CCA preservatives. Part 2
1989 - IRG/WP 3514
This paper describes the second part of a study on pressure impregnation of Eucalyptus globulus fence-posts with CCA preservatives presented at the IRG 19th Meeting. Fence-posts of three diameter classes, were treated, considering only one treatment schedule. The results show possibility of vacuum-pressure impregnation of blue gum fence-posts, with diameter less than 9 cm, though mainly by longitu...
L Nunes, D De Sousa Castro Reimão


Subterranean termite attack potential in field test sites: assessment methods and field characterization
2003 - IRG/WP 03-10472
To assess subterranean termite attack potential in the field and seasonal variations, trials were set up in each of two managed silvicultural plantations, of Eucalyptus globulus and Pinus pinaster, respectively. Termite occupancy in lying dead wood was evaluated by an adaptation of the line-intersection method, and attack potential in soil was assessed by a system of stakes inserted into the groun...
T Nobre, L Nunes, L Brinca, D E Bignell


The effect of boric acid on the protozoan numbers of the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes lucifugus
1996 - IRG/WP 96-10148
Lower termites harbor in their guts populations of microorganisms known to be indispensable for their survival, being responsible, at least partially, for the digestion of cellulose, the main item of termites'diet. The Reticulitermes species in particular harbor in their hindguts some unique intestinal fauna, for instance protozoa belonging to the genera Pyrsonympha, Dinenympha and Trycho...
L Nunes, D J Dickinson


Distribution and genetic variation of Reticulitermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Portugal
2006 - IRG/WP 06-10581
The genus Reticulitermes has a Holartic distribution and is widely represented in southern Europe. It is established in Portugal, across the full range of ambient environmental conditions, using different types of wood resources, as available, and nesting ubiquitously in many types of soil. Sequencing of part of the mtDNA COII gene revealed that all the specimens sampled on a N-S transect of the c...
T Nobre, L Nunes, P Eggleton, D E Bignell


Termite Response to Oil-Heat-Treated Norway spruce, Scots Pine and Eucalyptus Wood
2006 - IRG/WP 06-20325
The work here presented focused on the behaviour of subterranean termites (Reticulitermes grassei Clément) towards Oil-Heat-Treated (OHT) Norway spruce (Picea abies L.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill) wood, with a particular interest in the development of simple methods adequate to study the resistence of these materials to termite attack. Small test ...
L Nunes, T Nobre, C Welzbacher, A O Rapp


Resistance of DMDHEU-treated pine wood against termite and fungi attack in field testing according to EN 252. Results after 30 months
2006 - IRG/WP 06-40354
The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness against decay and termite attack of pine sapwood treated with pure and modified DMDHEU in a field test according to European Standard EN 252. Some of the treatments tested were able to increase, within the period of the test reported (30 months), the resistance of the wood both to micro-organisms and termites. The curing process seems to be ...
S Schaffert, L Nunes, A Krause, H Militz


Tunneling patterns of the subterranean termite species Reticulitermes grassei (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
2007 - IRG/WP 07-10619
The cryptic habits of subterranean termites restricts detailed analysis of their foraging patterns in situ, but the process is evidently dominated by tunnel constructions connecting the nest with woody resources discovered within the territory of each colony. In this study, tunnel formation and orientation were studied experimentally in the termite Reticulitermes grassei (Clément), using 2D labor...
T Nobre, L Nunes, D E Bignell


Wood boring species present in the Tagus Estuary and the severity of their attack on wooden piles exposed in the area: a case study
2008 - IRG/WP 08-10664
Wood exposed in the marine environment is subject to degradation by wood boring organisms. This is probably one of the reasons why wood has been substituted by concrete and steel in maritime structures in many European coastal areas. Wooden piles obtained from a wharf exposed in the Tagus Estuary, Porto Brandão (Almada, Portugal) provided an opportunity to understand the main agents of biodeter...
L M S Borges, L Nunes, A A Valente, P Palma


Drywood termites in the Azores: Problems and tentative solutions
2009 - IRG/WP 09-10698
The detection in 2002 of drywood termites in the islands of Azores has became an urgent issue to be coped with given the fast degradation that structural elements can show after a short period of installation of a colony. A recent study indicates drywood termite presence in about half of the buildings of the historic centre of Angra do Heroísmo (a World Heritage site) in Terceira Island and timbe...
L Nunes, C Amaral, S Duarte, M Gaju


Effectiveness of sol-gel treatments coupled with copper and boron against subterranean termites
2009 - IRG/WP 09-30493
Wood modification by sol-gel treatments shows many positive features, like antimicrobial properties. Wood was also successfully modified with alkoxysilanes enhancing its resistance against soil micro-organisms. Silver, copper, zinc compounds, boric acid or organic biocides such as alkylammonium compounds may be added to the sol-gel to enhance its biocidal properties. Nevertheless, if some of these...
E Feci, L Nunes, S Palanti, S Duarte, G Predieri, F Vignali


Preventing decay in termite monitoring stations
2010 - IRG/WP 10-30546
In-ground monitoring stations and termite baits are widely used in the southern United States with the intent of detecting and eradicating subterranean termite activity near buildings. These stations comprise a wood (or other cellulose material) substrate (monitor) and perhaps a termiticidal toxicant (bait) held in a plastic cage that allows for both easy examination and access by termites. The us...
A M Taylor, Jae-Woo Kim, S Duarte, L Nunes, J D Lloyd


Laboratory study of fipronil baits against Reticulitermes grassei (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
2010 - IRG/WP 10-30553
Fipronil is currently used as chemical barrier against subterranean termites, in this paper their possible use as bait has been tested. Their efficacy with Reticulitermes grassei Clément in feed forced and feed choice tests has been analyzed, evaluating the mortality caused by administration of fipronil at 1 and 10 ppm (wt/wt). Our results show that 90% mortality is achieved at 6 days with feed f...
M Gaju, L Moyano, E Alcaide, C Patiño, J Diz, L Nunes, C Bach, R Molero


In-situ experimental treatment and consolidation of degraded timber elements from a XIX century building
2012 - IRG/WP 12-10767
This paper presents the in situ experimental conservation work performed on three timber structural elements from a XIX century building: two floor beams and one roof beam. The palace was built in 1877 in the centre of Lisbon initially with residential purposes. It has four floors, with timber structural horizontal elements, stairs and roof beams (generally of Pinus sylvestris L.). The exterior wa...
D F Henriques, J de Brito, L Nunes


Decay factors in termite in-ground monitoring stations
2012 - IRG/WP 12-10775
Subterranean termites are serious pests of wood in service in much of the world. One of the most common techniques for monitoring and controlling termites is the use of in-ground monitoring stations which comprise a wood or other cellulosic material monitor (cellulosic matrix) and/or a termiticide bait held in a open plastic holder so facilitates examination and the termite access. Wood and other ...
S Duarte, A M Taylor, Jae-Woo Kim, J D Lloyd, M Duarte, L Nunes


Differences between heat treated Pinus pinaster heartwood and sapwood
2012 - IRG/WP 12-40617
Heat treatment is a well known process to improve the durability and dimensional stability of less noble woods. The treatment can be applied for heartwood unlike the traditional treatments based on impregnation due to the difficulty of impregnating heartwood. Pure sapwood and pure heartwood samples were treated in an oven at 190ºC and 200ºC for 2h, 4h and 6h. Dimensional stability, measured a...
B Esteves, L Nunes, I Domingos, H Pereira


Report on COST E37 Round Robin Tests – Comparison of results from laboratory and field tests
2013 - IRG/WP 13-20535
A round robin involving 15 European participants was set up in 2006. The round robin consists of both a field test according to the double layer test method and a laboratory test with two different preconditioning methods. When comparing EN 84 preconditioning (two weeks water leaching) with natural preconditioning (1 year in field, above ground) according to CEN/TS 15397, no significant difference...
M Westin, E Conti, J Creemers, P-O Flæte, A Gellerich, I Irbe, M Klamer, B Mazela, E Melcher, R Möller, L Nunes, S Palanti, L Reinprecht, E Suttie, H Viitanen


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