Antitermitic Effects of Three Wood Stain Treatments

Potential antitermitic properties of some common wood stains were tested against Coptotermes formosanus. Four different wood species treated with 3 different stain chemicals at the 0,1 kg/m2 retention level were exposed to no-choice termite feeding test in laboratory conditions. Mean mass loses, mortality rates and consumption rates were calculated based on weight changes before and after the test. While the hardwood species (beech and chestnut) tested were unaffected by the treatments, the softwood species tested showed drastically reduced mass losses with some stain treatments. Scots pine and spruce sapwood exhibited significant reductions in mass losses when treated with the chemical stain.