Abstract

PAES, Juarez Benigno et al. Resistance of thermally treated woods to Nasutitermes corniger in a food preference test. Madera bosques [online]. 2015, vol.21, n.1, pp.157-164. ISSN 2448-7597.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of thermal treatment on the resistance of Corymbia citriodora and Pinus taeda woods to the xylophagous termite Nasutitermes corniger, in a food preference test. We used temperatures of 100 °C (control), 160 °C, 180 °C, 200 °C, 220 °C, 240 °C for both wood species, and 260 °C only for Pinus taeda. Three wood planks measuring 6 cm x 16 cm x 56 cm (thickness x width x length) were thermally treated and manufactured in specimens of 10.0 cm x 2.54 cm x 0.64 cm (longitudinal x radial x tangential). Specimens were distributed in randomized blocks, with six treatments (Corymbia citriodora) and seven treatments (Pinus taeda) with 10 repetitions in a 250 liters box with 10 cm of sand; specimens were inserted in the sand, up to 1/3 of their height. The test was maintained for 45 days under laboratory conditions (25 °C ± 2 °C and 65% ± 5% relative humidity). Temperatures of 220 °C and 240 °C slightly improved the resistance of Corymbia citriodora wood to the termite. Improvements on Pinus taeda wood happened at temperatures of 240 °C and 260 °C. The temperatures of 160 °C for the eucalyptus wood and 200 °C for pinus decreased their resistance to the tested termite.

Keywords : bioassay; Corymbia citriodora; Nasutitermes corniger; Pinus taeda; xylophagous termites.

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