NATURAL RESISTANCE OF WOOD OF NINE BRAZILIAN SEMI-ARID REGIONS TREE SPECIES TO SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES, UNDER LABORATORY CONDITION

Abstract

The research evaluated the natural resistance of nine woods of Brazilian semi-arid region species to subterranean termites, under laboratory condition. The studied species were Prosopis juliflora, Piptadenia macrocarpa, Myracrodruon urundeuva, Schinopsis brasiliensis, Senna siamea, Tabebuia aurea, Amburana cearenses, Tabebuia impetiginosa and Aspidosperma pyrifolium. Samples measuring 2.54 x 2.00 x 0.64 cm, with the largest measure taken on fiber direction were obtained from four positions from pith to bark direction. The samples were submitted to the action of Nasutitermes corniger termites for 28 days. The wood resistance to termites attack, with exception of Prosopis juliflora and Tabebuia aurea, was affected by position on pith to bark direction, but was not associated to wood density. The Aspidosperma pyrifolium and Tabebuia impetiginosa woods were the more resistance woods. The wood natural resistance was not associated to soluble hot water extractives content present in the wood of each studied species.