Laboratory Evaluation of the Formosan Subterranean Termite Resistance of Borate-treated Rubberwood Chipboard
Both no-choice and two-choice 4-week AWPA laboratory tests were performed to evaluate the resistance of borate-treated rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) chipboard prepared from a commercial mill run, against the Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus. Boric acid (technical granular) w...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IRGWP
2004
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/16070/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/16070/1/IRG%20WP%2004%2030359%20Laboratory%20Evaluation%20%28abstract%29.pdf |
| Summary: | Both no-choice and two-choice 4-week AWPA laboratory tests were performed to
evaluate the resistance of borate-treated rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) chipboard
prepared from a commercial mill run, against the Formosan subterranean termite
Coptotermes formosanus. Boric acid (technical granular) was incorporated into the
boards during manufacture to achieve loadings of 1.0% or 1.1% boric acid equivalents
(BAE). In the no-choice test, both the untreated chipboard and solid rubberwood controls
sustained heavy termite attack (respective mean visual ratings of 4.6 and 2.7 on a 10-
point AWPA scale), while the two retentions of borate-treated chipboard showed only
light grazing (mean rating 9.2). The two-choice test demonstrated a preference of termites
for solid rubberwood (mean rating 2.4) instead of untreated chipboard (rating 8.4), and
for untreated (mean rating 8.4 and 8.8) instead of borate-treated (mean ratings 9.8 & 9)
chipboards. Complete termite mortality in the presence of borate-treated chipboard in
both laboratory tests demonstrates the toxicity of borates to Formosan subterranean
termites. |
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