Resistance of twenty-five species of timbers to marine borer attack at Visakhapatnam, east coast of India

IRG/WP 94-30036

K S Rao, M Balaji, V V Srinivasan

Observations on the natural resistance of 25 species of timbers to marine borer attack for a twelve month period at the fishing harbour, Visakhapatnam, East Coast of India, indicate that none of the species was free from borer attack. The damage was mainly by teredinids - Teredo furcifera and Lyrodus pedicellatus. Martesia striata, Teredo parski, Bankia campanellata and Lyrodus bipartitus were also recorded. All the timber species tested were drawn from the same growing region - the state of Andhra Pradesh. Of the species tested - Ailanthus excelsa, Albizia chinensis, Bombax ceiba, Bursera serrata, Careya arborea, Mangifera indica, Ougenia dalbergioides, Thespesia populnea and Toona ciliata offered least resistance to borer attack. Anogeissus latifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium and Xylia xylocarpa exhibited maximum resistance followed by Lannea coromandelica, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Terminalia alata, Tectona grandis and Eucalyptus hybrid, other species falling in the intermediate category. Present observations indicate the virulence of attack by teredinid wood borers in this area, where a large number of mechanised and traditional wooden fishing craft are in operation. The need for proper utilization of some of these commercial timbers after preservative treatment, is highlighted.


Keywords: NATURAL RESISTANCE; TIMBERS; MARINE BORERS; PANELS; TEST SITE

Conference: 94-05-29...06-03, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia


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