This abstract is given to let IRG members know about a method sometimes used in the Institute for Wood Technology in Sarajevo for obtaining rapid information on the toxicity of insecticides and ready made wood preservatives against the house longhorn beetle, which is the most common insect found attacking timber roof constructions in houses in Yugoslavia. In this method, 8-10 months' old larvae are used and placed in hollowed wooden cylinders which are then mounted and held in position on treated pine sapwood test blocks. By such means, the larvae have to follow the only way towards the treated blocks. On completion of the test, it is ascertained whether the larvae have passed through the treated layer and have continued normal life in the test blocks. The blocks used are normally treated in the manner prescribed by the wood preservative manufacturers, but surface or deep impregnation methods can be used to determine the lethal dose. Experience to date has indicated that old larvae are more resistant than those which are newly hatched and used according to DIN 52 163/73. It has been found also that several preservatives tested by this method have failed in spite of claims by their manufacturers that these had curative efficacy and a high toxicity to larvae.

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