A quick Laboratory Method of determining the Termite Resistance of Materials (Isoptera).

Abstract

From the results presented in the tables follows that only when the method making use of the escape reaction is applied (Tab. 4) the attacking of all the tested specimens was achieved. A slight border damage was observed in two kinds of man-made materials, a border damage in all the tested wood specimens as well as in all the other kinds of specimens of man-made materials. Following results of this experiment it is impossible to denote any of the specimens as termite resistant. These results were, however, obtained in a very short period- the damage was observed in the space of time from 1 to 4 days after the foundation of the experiment. On the other hand in those experiments, where the experimental specimen was tested by a method, in which it was put loosely in the dish, regardless whether in soil or filter paper, the damage was determined unambigueously after one month only in one of the tested wood (Fraxinus chinensis) and in the remaining two kinds of wood and one kind of man-made material (Isofol BB) the result was dubious. It seems, therefore, that the suggested method fulfills indeed the requirements, which are expected of a quick preliminary method. Even a smaller number of termites may be used (as may be seen from the experiments on wood) and the experiment is of a short duration. The termites may, thus, be soon removed back to the breedings (naturally if there has been no testing with toxic specimens) and the colonies are not markedly reduced. The achieved results show that this method even in its rapidity is very demandful as for the tested specimens. The damage is achieved, obviously by using the escape reaction, even in such specimens which remain for a long time intact in the usual comparative experiments. This fact is valid for those kinds of wood which may be more resistant according to the field or laboratory comparative experiments. The relatively low mortality during the experiments proves also the fact that the suggested arrangement of experiments fulfills quite well the ecological requirements of the species Reticulitermes lucifugus.