A new type of physical barrier for the prevention of attack by subterranean termites on buildings, other structures and materials in ground contact - a fine mesh of highalloy (originally 304, now 316) stainless steel - has recently been developed and patented worldwide by industry in Australia. The termite resistance of the material was assessed by CSIRO in laboratory and field trials. In the laboratory over a 12 week period 25 g groups of Coptotermes acinaciformis from three colonies, kept on a limited supply of food, were unable to breach a barrier of the steel mesh that separated them from a supply of highly susceptible wood. Timber enclosed with mesh was buried below ground at one site in tropical, and one site in southern inland Australia. A variety of species of termite, including Mastolermes darwiniensis, Coptotermes acinaciformis, and several species of Schedorhinotermes and Heterotermes were unable to reach and damage the wood despite making intensive contact with the mesh surface (two years data). The very high resistance of the 304 or 316 stainless steel to corrosion ensures that the mesh barrier will remain effective far beyond the expected life-time of a building. The size of the mesh openings can be varied to exclude the smallest representatives of the termite fauna at a given site. Examples of the range of applications for the stainless steel mesh in protecting structures and materials from termite attack are given.

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