Termite Resistance of Selected Wood Species Treated using Various Chemicals and Treatment Methods Exposed to Coptotermes curvignathus

Carlson Tawi, Anak Daud (2019) Termite Resistance of Selected Wood Species Treated using Various Chemicals and Treatment Methods Exposed to Coptotermes curvignathus. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

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Abstract

Malaysian forests are blessed with diversity of wood species not only become a source of income to Malaysia in terms of timber trading but also provide its citizens with wood material for various uses. However, all untreated wood exposed to tropical condition is predisposed to high termite and decay hazard and therefore untreated wood needed to be protected using wood protective chemicals. The objectives of this study were to collect and identify termite genus that caused destructive damages to wood and wood products, to provide baseline data on selected basic wood properties and natural durability of selected wood species to termites. Besides that, it was essential to determine the wood protection of selected species using different treatment methods and wood protective chemicals (diesel and dead engine oil, Light organic solvent preservative (LOSP) and agro-insecticides). Treated wood was exposed to the aboveground termite test simulating Hazard Class 2 condition. Information on basic physical properties, extractive contents and natural durability of tested woods had been recorded. The natural durability study found out that a total of 11 out of 69 tested species were regarded as highly susceptible and visually rated 0. Examples of non-durable wood were Aglaia borneensis, Dyera polyphylla, Neolamarckia cadamba, Adinandra borneensis and Hevea brasiliensis. There were 25 out of 69 tested species were found to be moderately resistant to termite and these species were rated 6.5 to 8.9. Examples of these species were Koompassia malaccensis, Canarium apertum, Azadirachta excelsa, Kokoona reflexa and Heritiera aurea. There were 17 wood species considered resistant to termites (rating 9 – 9.4). Examples of these species were Acacia mangium, Anisoptera grossivenia and Palaquium spp. There were 12 out of 69 regarded as highly resistant to termite with rating (≥9.5). Examples of these species were Artocarpus anisophyllus, Upuna borneensis and Eusideroxylon zwageri. This study also confirmed that the natural durability of Dipterocarpus spp. varies depending on the species tested. In experiment 3, H. brasiliensis, A. mangium and pine ply were dip-treated using diesel revealed that these woods dip-treated using diesel oil achieved good protection to wood (rating: 9.5 – 9.7). In experiment 4, K. reflexa, A. borneensis and C. apertum were dip-treated and vacuum pressure-treated using LOSP. It was found that vaccum pressure-treated wood using LOSP achieved good protection to wood (rating: 9.2 – 10). Dip-treated H. brasiliensis, K. malaccensis in experiment 5 and also N. cadamba in experiment 6 using 6.3 and 12.5% chlorpyrifos, 1.68 and 3.35% cypermethrin as well as 3.38 and 6.75% permethrin were found completely protecting the wood from termites (rating: 10). In experiment 7, H. brasiliensis and N. cadamba were vacuum pressure-treated to target retentions of different agro-insecticides. Wood vacuum pressure-treated to target retentions of 0.1% m/m cypermethrin were well protected from termites (rating: 9.5 – 10). Good protection (rating: 9.3 – 9.5) had been achieved in wood vacuum pressure-treated to target retentions of 0.0051% m/m deltamethrin. In conclusion, genus Coptotermes proven to be prevalent insect pest. Besides that, baseline data of wood physical properties, extractive contents and natural durability of tested wood species had been documented. Diesel and LOSP treatment can be effectively use in wood protection. For dipping treatment, 6.3 and 12.5% chlorpyrifos, 1.68 and 3.35% cypermethrin, 3.38 and 6.75% permethrin were found completely protecting the wood. It was also proven that target retentions used in other countries may not applicable to be used in tropical region.

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