Remedial wood preservative efficacy of BORA-CARE against the Formosan subterranean termite and eastern subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

IRG/WP 1504

N-Y Su, R H Scheffrahn

When a spruce board (3.8 cm x 8.8 cm x 2.4 m) was surface-sprayed with BORA-CARETM solution (containing 23% disodium octaborate tetrahydrate) and stored in an air-conditioned room (24 ± 2°C and 60 ± 5% RH) for eight months, ca. 40% of the wood (measured by the cross section surface proportion) contained borates at the rate of >2,500 ppm BAE (boric acid equivalent). In a choice bioassay, termite feeding on wood treated with BORA-CARETM was significantly reduced compared to untreated wood. The majority of tested termites died at the end of the one month choice bioassay. In addition to the high ambient moisture in the bioassay units, water brought in by the subterranean termites may have contributed to the rapid diffusion of borates into the surface-treated board.


Keywords: BORA-CARE; COPTOTERMES FORMOSANUS; RETICULITERMES FLAVIPES; DISODIUM OCTABORATE TETRAHYDRATE; REMEDIAL TREATMENTS; TERMITES

Conference: 91-05-20/24 Kyoto, Japan


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