Your search resulted in 548 documents. Displaying 25 entries per page.
A mini review on climate change impact on bio-ecology of subterranean termites
2023 - IRG/WP 23-50375
Climate change is creating possibilities of changes in the bio-ecology of termites across the globe. This change will be felt differently in different regions. While changes in swarming times will be common in the Northern hemisphere, the tropic will encounter more life-history related changes. But termites posing newer threats induced by climate change will be mostly dependent on human activitie...
P Dhang
Protocol of action in urban areas affected by subterranean termite attacks in Spain. Example of management in the old town of Areatza
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11037
Termites are wood destroying insects always present in the nature with an important wood decomposition function. In Europe are located in the Mediterranean area. In Spain termites are an important problem in urban areas. It is estimated about 80% of old historic towns in Spain are affected by subterranean termite attacks and it is the most important damage in wood structures and wood elements. The...
D Lorenzo, J Benito, J Arancon, D Luengas
Laboratory evaluation of PA1b, an insecticidal protein extracted from pea seeds (Pisum sativum), as bait active ingredient against the subterranean termite Coptotermes gestroi (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) in tropical zones
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11038
Coptotermes gestroi (Wassman 1896) is one of the worst pests in tropic areas, economically. Two types of curative methods are used since decades to eliminate colonies that attack constructions: injection of biocidal treatment solutions on wood, walls and soil, and population control using baits. In application of the current regulations, the first technique can no longer be used in Europe, to lim...
J Vuillemin, D Messaoudi, P da Silva
Prevention of termite tubing on foam insulation materials
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11039
Foam insulation products have been shown to be damaged by termites who can readily tunnel within it and use it as a conduit within structures. Different types of commercially available foam insulation were tested to see if they could support termite (Coptotermes formosanus, Shiraki) tunnelling on or within them and whether they could be used as a conduit to access a wood food source placed above i...
Q Wu, J Curole, J D Lloyd
Efficacy performance of Pea Extract as bait toxicant for termite control in Reunion Island
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11050
This study was carried out to determine the toxicity of Pisum sativum L., extract (Pea Extract) for the subterranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Yellow field peas (Pisum sativum L.) are particularly rich in protein. A solid-liquid hydroalcoholic extraction process was employed on the dried form of pea seeds to obtain one particular peptide PA1b (Pea Albumin 1, subunit...
J Vuillemin, D Messaoudi, A Robert, P da Silva
Suberinic acid from birch bark and its suitability in wood protection
2024 - IRG/WP 24-20708
This study investigated the effect of different concentrations of suberinic acid (SA) on the growth of two fungi species. Initial radial growth tests showed a slightly slower growth rate for brown rot, whereas white rot exhibited faster growth than the untreated reference. In contrast, a commercial wood preservative significantly reduced the radial growth of both fungi species. Evidence of cell wa...
A Treu, M Altgen, J Rizikovs
Barriers of polyglycol/borate treated wood prevent termite attack to untreated wood above them in 10-year field tests
2024 - IRG/WP 24-20709
As a pioneer in wood protection and borate research Terry Amburgey, a lifetime member of the IRG, had many projects where borates were used in subsequently commercially very successful applications. This paper is one of the initial research projects that lead to polyglycol borates being used as a standalone treatment to protect against termites in new homes which has now been well proven over the ...
K W Ragon, J D Lloyd, T L Amburgey
Bio-durability and weathering performances of cardanol-treated wood
2024 - IRG/WP 24-30809
Cardanol is an excellent insecticide, fungicide, and termiticide derived from thermally treated cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) and has been extensively explored in the chemical industry and for medicinal uses. However, its potential for wood protection remains unexplored. This study aims to understand the bio-durability and weathering properties of cardanol-treated wood. The southern pine and yello...
L Liang, McDonald, A G, L Cai
A novel treatment for increasing UV stabuility of wood based on citric acid and urea
2024 - IRG/WP 24-30811
Wood, a fundamental material in the Built Environment, faces challenges related to durability and weathering, notably UV degradation leading to colour changes. This study explored a novel treatment method utilising citric acid and urea to enhance the UV stability of wood. The reaction between these compounds forms fluorescent species and insoluble nanoparticles upon thermal treatment. Two treatmen...
S Jué, A Scharf, C-F Lin, R Moutou Pitti, D Sandberg, D Jones
Outdoor termite resistance performance of zinc borate (Borogard® ZB) treated parallel strand lumber (PSL) – 15 years field test results
2024 - IRG/WP 24-40999
This report discloses the outdoor termite resistance performance of PSL samples treated with zinc borate at a dosage of 0.85% BAE and 1.72% BAE in Wuxi, China. The outdoor field trial lasted for 15 years and observations were made after 6 months, 3 years, 5 years 1 month, 6 years 6 months and 15 years. The retaining rates of B2O3 and ZnO in the final samples were also tested, and the hypothesis wa...
S Shi, E Laval, K Lung, F Ascherl, R Williams, W Li, X Li
Real-time evaluation of connected in-ground termite stations in laboratory colonies of Coptotermes gestroi and Prorhinotermes sp.
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11082
Subterranean termites represent a major challenge in infestation management and monitoring. This study evaluates the effectiveness of connected in-ground stations for termite control, incorporating an advanced electronic device developed and patented by Groupe Berkem (Novaterm®). These stations are linked to a gateway unit that collects the detected signals and transmits them remotely via a 4G ne...
M Butin, F Chopinet, S Savriama, D Messaoudi
Evaluating the Efficacy of Arnica Extract-Based Termiticide from Berkem Biosolutions® in Subterranean Termite Control: A Comprehensive Laboratory and Four-Year Field Study
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20731
Subterranean termites pose significant threats to wooden structures. This study evaluated the efficacy of a bio-based termiticide product containing Arnica extract from Berkem Biosolutions® in controlling subterranean termites in both laboratory and field conditions. The laboratory assessments utilised “the Bottle H” test unit, adhering to the Japan Wood Preservation Association (JWPA) standa...
D Messaoudi, S Khoirul Himmi, D Tarmadi, I Guswenrivo, S Yusuf
Citric acid/urea derivatives as an anti-discolouration treatment for wood surfaces
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20741
The exterior-use wood faces raining and sunlight exposure, which can cause property changes of the wood, such as the discolouration, dimensional instability, and biological attack. This article explores the use of citric acid and urea as surface protection of wood. The heating of citric acid and urea can result in the fluorescent carbon dots. These carbon dots can absorb UV light with the emission...
C-F Lin, O Myronycheva, D Jones, O Karlsson
A novel anti-fungal wood crack repairing agent based on CQDs/PVA
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20744
Wood is a sustainable material, but its tendency to crack and decay poses a challenge for its applications. In this study, we developed a combination system of nitrogen-doping carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to repair wood cracks. Rather than employing the conventional repairing methods such as filling cracks with sawdust and petroleum based-adhesives, this technique can m...
X Zhao, Z Zhang, Y Peng, W Wang, J Cao
Carbon quantum dots as a fungicide and its applications in wood
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20754
In this work, we synthesised nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (CQDs) via a microwave assisted method. CQDs with proper structure showed excellent anti-fungal effects against both brown (Postia placenta, Pp) and white rot decay fungi (Trametes versicolor, Tv) on wood. The underlying anti-fungal mechanisms of CQDs on wood were further elucidated. We found that positively charged nano-sized CQDs pr...
X Zhao, Z Zhang, M Zhou, J Cao
Novel treatments of solid wood - studies into the use of imidazole and succinimide
2025 - IRG/WP 25-30817
Recent activities have focussed on the use of ionic liquids (ILs) in wood treatments and bioprocessing. Most ILs are based on imidazolium systems, so it was decided to investigate the potential of imidazole as a treatment, along with another heterocyclic compound, namely succinimide. Thus, modification of Scots pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L.) with heterocyclic compounds, imidazole and succinimi...
D Jones, A Scharf, H Dernegård, J Oja, S Duarte, J Levanić, M Humar
Enhanced Termite Resistance of Low Durability Fast Growing Teak Wood by Non-Biocide Treatments Based on Chemical and Thermal Modification
2025 - IRG/WP 25-30818
Short rotation teak as a fast-growing tree can be considered as a renewable material resource for the future green economy. However, short rotation teak wood is susceptible to biodeterioration, particularly to termite attack. The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of chemical and thermal treatment on resistance of sapwood, transition wood, and heartwood of short rotation teak aga...
R Martha, K Candelier, M-F Thévenon, B George, I S Rahayu, W Darmawan, P Gérardin
Enhancing strength, fire and biological resistance of wood through structural and chemical modification
2025 - IRG/WP 25-30831
Wood, a renewable and versatile biopolymer, has been a fundamental material to construct traditional and advanced composites for building construction, furniture, transparent composites, and various other applications. Despite its many advantages, including its aesthetic appeal, workability, and relatively low cost, wood possesses inherent limitations such as susceptibility to biological, flame an...
R Abouzeid, M S Koo, Q Wu
Large scale management of subterranean termite attacks in urban areas in Spain. Spanish standard UNE 56418:2016
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41036
Termites are wood destroying insects always present in the nature with an important wood decomposition function. In Europe are located in the Mediterranean area. In Spain termites are an important problem in urban areas attacking wood and wood-based elements in the buildings. It is estimated about 80% of old historic towns in Spain are affected by subterranean termite attack and it is one of the m...
D Lorenzo, M T de Troya, J Benito, A Lozano
Non-destructive methods for field assessment of wood biodeterioration in hardwood trailer decks exposed to tropical environments
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41039
Apitong (Dipterocarpus spp.), an increasingly rare tropical hardwood from the rainforest in Southeast Asia, has long been used as decking materials for open-bed trailers and trucks across North America. As the natural population of Apitong trees steadily declines, there is an urgent need to find sustainable, domestically sourced alternatives for trailer decking. A recent project evaluated the perf...
X Wang, X Xie, G Kirker, C A Senalik
Investigation of Pressure-Treated Foundations with Wood Preservative and Termite Control in Existing Wooden Houses in Japan
2025 - IRG/WP 25-50402
Japan has extremely limited natural resources. Therefore, it is necessary to build a circular economy in which waste and other recyclable resources are effectively utilized in order to achieve sustainable development. This study aims to investigate the degradation of existing wooden houses and to contribute to the reuse of existing houses and the reuse of building materials during demolition. We i...
K Usami, T Kawada, H Ishiyama
A Study on the Damage and Conservation of Wood in Dense Areas of Wooden Buildings
2025 - IRG/WP 25-50412
One of the key threats to timber buildings in large parts of the world is the risk for damage by termites. Therefore, effective preservation strategies need to be developed. The study presented here is focussing on the current condition of wooden houses in the Seocho area, a densely built wooden residential area in Jongno-gu in Seoul, Korea. This study has been conducted to explore the proactive a...
N-C Ko, Y-J Lee, H-D Kim
Evaluation of Fungicide Transfer to Fruit Stored in Bins Constructed from Anti-Sapstain Treated Radiata Pine
2025 - IRG/WP 25-50417
This study investigates the potential transfer of fungicides to apples stored in bins made from wood treated with the anti-sapstain fungicides Antiblu® CC, containing carbendazim and chlorothalonil, and Antiblu® 375, containing oxine copper as an active ingredient. The analysis examines residues of chlorothalonil, carbendazim, and copper in apples exposed in mini-bins made from anti-sapstain tre...
D Humphrey, A Russell