Effects of Termite Collection Method and Geographic Location on the Variability of Control Samples Used in the AWPA E1-97 Jar Test

摘要

The AWPAE1 -97 test (Standard Method for Laboratory Evaluation to Determine Resistance to Subterranean Termites) is an important test to determine the resistance of cellulosic material to subterranean termites. This test is of particular interest to companies developing new wood preservatives for various market sectors in the Southern United States, which is an inherently high deterioration risk zone. The Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes Formosanus, Shiraki) has been introduced in the GulfSouth and has led to renewed interest in wood durability, particularly for housing applications. The E1 test can be affected by numerous factors that are not currently accounted for, and perhaps may or may not need to be, in the current test protocol. Two particular factors of interest that may influence Formosan subterranean termite vigor include the geographic region in which the termites were collected and the method used to collect the termites. This study was therefore initiated to determine effects of these variables on termite performance as measured using untreated southern yellow pine solid wood samples (controls) to determine termite mortality, sample weight loss, and sample rating (0-10) after 28 days of testing. Three different methods of termite collection investigated were rolled cardboard, solid pine blocks, and pine veneer. The geographic locations included Sam Houston Jones State Park in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Brechtel Memorial Park and Bayou Segnette in the greater New Orleans,Louisiana, area. The results showed that the veneer collection method yielded the most favorable results as evidenced by the highest sample weight loss, the lowest sample visual rating, and the lowest termite mortality. Moreover, the veneer method is easily the cleanest method and imparts less stress on the insects than the other methods of termite extraction. Termite vigor was found to be the best from Brechtel Memorial Park. Termites from this location had the lowest sample rating, the most sample weight loss, and the lowest termite mortality.