Feeding rate of subterranean termites in wood treated with smoke wood and borax

摘要

This study aimed to analyze the fccding preference of subterranean termites(Coptotermes curvignathus)against 3 Indonesian native woods such as Jabon(Anthocephalus cadamba),Jati(Tectona grandis)and Ulin {Eusideroxylon zwageri)treated with borax and bamboo smoke wood.The method was conducted and evaluated according to Japanese Industrial Standards(JIS 2004)and Indoneisan National Standard(SNI 2014)with Pinus mercusii as the control.The results showed that Jabon(A.cadamba),Jati(T.grandis)and Ulin(E.zwageri)woods treated using smoke and borax were not significantly different.All treatments have effectively increased the resistance to subterranean termite attacks.The treated wood samples have less weight loss,higher termite mortality,and lower termite fccding rate compared to the untreated wood.Daily termite fccding rate of untreated P.mercusii was 1.63 mg/termite/day,smoke wood treated was 1.5 mg/termite/day and borax treated wood was 1.4 mg/termite/day.In conclusion,the smoke wood treatments effectively decreased the daily fccding rate of the termites.