The work here presented focused on the behaviour of subterranean termites (Reticulitermes grassei Clément) towards Oil-Heat-Treated (OHT) Norway spruce (Picea abies L.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill) wood, with a particular interest in the development of simple methods adequate to study the resistence of these materials to termite attack. Small test specimens (30 x 10 x 10 mm) were exposed to the termites in a no-choice test adapted from the European Standard EN117 and in, developed for the purpose, choice and repellence tests, with maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) as virulence control in all tests. The OHT Norway spruce, Scots pine and eucalyptus wood proved to be non-toxic and non-repellent to termites but exhibit an increase in durability when higher oil retentions were achieved, as in the case of Scots pine treatments.

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