As was agreed by members at the termite workshop at the 24th annual meeting of IRG in Orlando, USA, in May 1993 to initiate an international subterranean termite laboratory bioassay to compare the various preferred termite protocols used by IRG termitologists was initiated. The author was nominated to co-ordinate this comparative laboratory evaluation of two wood preservatives (CCA and Cu-naphthenate) against the subterranean termites used as test termites in the various countries. Solutions of these two wood preservatives will be prepared and impregnated into Pinus radiata wood blocks to obtain loading of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 kg/m³ respectively. All preservative treatments have been carried out at the Division of Forest Products in Melbourne, and following retention calculations, the treated specimens will be dispatched to the participating researchers who will subject these specimens to attack by their test termite species. The method of comparative evaluation will be expressed using a standardised unit, namely, the amount of wood consumed (mg) per gram of termite per day per loading of wood preservative. Any termite mortality will be recorded over the test period.

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