SMOKED WOOD RESISTANCE AGAINST TERMITE

Mindi wood (Melia azedarach) and sugi wood (Cryptomeria japonica) were smoked for 12 hours using mangium wood (Acacia mangium) to study their resistance against termite. For comparison, wood preserved with 5% borax and untreated wood were prepared. All wood specimens were tested against (1) subterranean termite (Coptotermes curvignathus) in the in-ground test for one year, (2) subterranean termite in the laboratory, and (3) dry wood termite (Cryptotermes cynocephalus) in the laboratory. Sizes of wood specimen were 2 × 0.8 cm in cross-section, and in longitudinal directions were 20 cm for in-ground test, 2.5 cm for subterranean termite test and 5 cm for dry wood termite test. Ten replications were conducted for the in-ground test while for the rest of the tests, five replications. Results showed that mindi wood was more resistant to subterranean termite and dry wood termite attacks compared with sugi wood. Based on the Indonesian National Standard 2006, wood resistance against subterranean and dry wood termite attacks increased one class higher when samples were treated with smoke although it was still lower than wood preserved with borax 5%.