Efficacy of boric acid wood preservative against termite in buildings

Published Date
Received: 27 December 2010   

Author 
YIN Hong, SUI Xiao-fei

Termite Control Institute of Gingdao, Gingdao 266012, Shandong Province, China

Abstract  Objective To measure the efficacy of boric acid wood preservatives in the prevention of Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki) and Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe) in buildings. Methods A cohort of C. formosanus or R. speratus were subject to timbers or wood blocks treated with 5% or 10% borate preservative by painting or dipping to determine the respective toxicity and residual effect. Results Borate treated wood demonstrated a good resistance effect against C. formosanus and R. speratus, which were dead at both concentrations with either wood treatment approach. C. formosanus were more susceptible to the agent as the subjects demonstrated shorter survival duration. All subjects of C. formosanus died in (12.6±2.4) days and all R. speratus in (16.8±1.7)days as exposed to wood without ageing, both shorter than the time for death of the groups exposed to wood after ageing, (19.1±2.7) days for C. formosanus and (21.8±5.0) days for R. speratus, respectively. The death rate of the control group was lower than 0.1%. C. formosanus was more susceptible to boric acid in view of the resistance effect, as the intactness index of each piece of borate treated wood in that group was higher than 90. The intactness index of wood treated in 5% by painting or 10% agent by either painting or dipping, with or without ageing, remained above 90. In contrast, wood in the control group was seriously damaged with the intactness index as low as 60 and 40, respectively. It was suggested that borate treated wood had satisfyingly stable and long-last toxicity against termites, which was not compromised by ageing. Conclusion Borate wood preservative can be used for wood treatment for effective termite prevention in buildings.

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