Wood consumption rates of forest species by subterranean termites (Isoptera) under field conditions

Abstract

Termites are well -known for their capacity to damage and destroy wood and wood products of all kinds in the tropics and subtropics. A field test was undertaken to evaluate variations in wood consumption of Pinus sp. and three species of Eucalyptus by subterranean termites. The test consisted of wooden stakes of each species being initially submitted to water immersion for 0, 24, 48 and 72 h, and buried in the ground to natural infestation by subterranean termites for an exposure period of 30, 45 and 60 days. Three species of subterranean termites were identified: Heterotermes longiceps (Snyder), Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), and Nasutitermes jaraguae (Holmgren) (Isoptera: Termitidae). This is the first record of occurrence of H. longiceps in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Although the wood-consumption rates were not correlated significantly with their wood densities, there was a tendency of the softwoods (E. robusta and Pinus sp.) to be more consumed by subterranean termites than the woods of intermediate hardness (E. pellita and E. urophylla). Among the eucalyptus, E. robusta showed to be more susceptible to attack by subterranean termites than E. pellita and E. urophylla

Temperate forest termites: ecology, biogeography, and ecosystem impacts

“…Wood traits vary substantially across climate gradients, and what appear to be climate-related controls on termite abundances may instead be the result of termite preferences for specific tree species or wood traits. Indeed, wood-eating termites typically select wood that requires less energy to consume (Peralta et al, 2004), and softer wood may allow for higher termite abundances by yielding more net energy per gramme of wood consumed. Laboratory studies show that temperate termites often prefer gymnosperm wood over angiosperm wood (Smythe & Carter, 1969;Waller & La Fage, 1987;Waller, 1988;Waller et al, 1990), with gymnosperms generally being less dense than angiosperms (Weedon et al, 2009).…”

Espécies De Cupins (Isoptera) Em Cultura De Eucalipto Sob Diferentes Sistemas De Manejo De Irrigação, Em Região De Transição Cerrado-Pantanal De Mato Grosso Do Sul, Brasil

“…Há registros de danos de cupins em eucalipto nas mais diversas regiões do mundo (PERALTA et al, 2004;SILVA et al, 2004;JUNQUEIRA et al, 2008). No ecótono Cerrado/Pantanal não havia pesquisas sobre as espécies de cupins ocorrentes em plantação de eucalipto.…”

Constituents and termiticide potential of some wood extracts against Coptotermes heimi (Wasmann) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

“…Wood being a biological material is readily degraded by bacteria, fungi and termites (Walker, 1993;Schultz & Nicholas, 2002). Termites are responsible for much of the degradation of wood and other cellulose materials in the terrestrial environment mainly in the tropics and subtropics (Peralta et al, 2003(Peralta et al, , 2004. The injudicious use of pesticides for the control of termites has generated a number of biological and environmental hazards in air, water, soil and food.…”