Assessment of untreated Papua New Guinean timbers against subterranean termites. Progress Report 1

IRG/WP 1436

M Rokova, H C Konabe

Eight major commercial timber species (Intsia palembanica, Pometia pinnata, Homalium foetidum, Dracontomelon dao, Calophyllum spp., Eucalyptus deglupta, Nothofagus spp., and Alstonia scholaris) were exposed in ground contact against termites. Five replicates of heartwood stakes of 25x25x250 mm³ of each species were randomly embedded in the soil. Results after 24 months exposure showed that Kwila was still sound while Taun, PNG Walnut, Malas and White Cheesewood had traces of termite attack on some stakes. All stakes of Calophyllum and PNG Beech were totally destroyed while three of Kamarere stakes were also destroyed. The termites found attacking the stakes were Nasutitermes graveolus, Coptotermes obiratus, Coptotermes acinaciformes and Microcerotermes repugnans.


Keywords: FIELD TESTS; NATURAL DURABILITY; TERMITES; NASUTITERMES GRAVEOLUS; COPTOTERMES OBIRATUS; COPTOTERMES ACINACIFORMIS; MICROCEROTERMES REPUGNANS; HEARTWOOD; STAKES; DENSITY; PAPUA NEW GUINEA; TEST SITE; RESISTANCE TO ATTACK; TIMBERS; ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS; CALOPHYLLUM; DRACONTOMELON DAO; EUCALYPTUS DEGLUPTA; HOMALIUM FOETIDUM; INTSIA PALEMBANICA; NOTHOFAGUS; POMETIA PINNATA

Conference: 90-05-13/18 Rotorua, New Zealand


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