Above-ground H2 field tests against Mastotermes darwiniensis were conducted in far north Queensland to assess the efficacy of buffered amine oxide treatments in the softwoods Pinus sylvestris and P. radiata, and the hardwoods Eucalyptus regnans and E. diversicolor. Untreated hardwoods and slash pine bait wood (P. elliottii) were severely attacked or destroyed, while untreated P. sylvestris was moderately to heavily attacked and untreated P. radiata only light-moderately attacked probably due to its high heartwood content. In softwoods, the H2 (permethrin) and H3 (Cu Quat) buffered amine oxide treatments were more effective than comparative H2F and H3 LOSP treatments. Nevertheless, as test blocks were cut after treatment from longer lengths, all treatments had some replicates with holes often penetrating deeply from the ends, indicating treatment breach against this most voracious of termite species. Unlike the softwood trial, hardwood test blocks were treated in final form and any damage that occurred was from the sides. All H2 buffered amine oxide treated hardwood blocks were sound, while some damage occurred in other treatments.

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