DETERMINATION OF WOOD PROTECTION BY SEASONING AND CLOVE OIL APPLICATION AGAINST ODONTOTERMES OBESUS RAMB. (TERMITIDAE: ISOPTERA)

In order to prevent subterranean termites attack, seasoning and clove oil application was performed on sap- and heart-woods of Ficus religiosa (L.). The exposure of termites was done in soil pits. Seasoning was conducted under sun for 5-60 days and in oven at 60, 80 and 100ºC for 10 and 15 days. Three concentrations of clove oil in acetone (10, 15 and 20%) were evaluated by three methods of application (surface, dipping and vacuum pressure). Results showed that unseasoned sap- and heart-woods of F. religiosa suffered a weight loss of 51.4 and 45.9% after 25 days of exposure to termites. Seasoning of dry-wood under the sun and in oven explained a weight loss of 13.1 and 11.9% (after 60 days) and 8.8 and 8.9% (at 100ºC for 15 days) in sap and heart woods, respectively. Oil application on unseasoned sap- and heartwoods registered a weight loss of 6.9 and 6.6%, respectively, in the vacuum pressure methods at 20% concentrations. Surface and dipping methods were not effective as high weight loss was observed in these methods of oil application. The discussion based on comparison with previous studies on application of temperature and oil for protection of wood from termites attack.