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Termites infestation on different Eucalyptus wood species and control using natural oil from plants

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Abstract

Termites are a major cause of damage to wood, and the use of synthetic insecticides for their control constitutes a significant challenge to environmental health. This study assessed the damage to the wood of four Eucalyptus species upon exposure to subterranean termites, as well as the efficacy of three plant oils and a synthetic wood preservative. The physical properties responsible for wood resistance were determined using standard procedures. Pearson correlation, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (p < 0.05) were used for data analysis. The results showed that the greatest and least wood damage was recorded in Eucalyptus tereticornis and Eucalyptus cloeziana, respectively. The wood hardness recorded in E. cloeziana was higher than in E. tereticornis and correlated significantly with the percentage of wood loss. Solignum, a synthetic wood preservative, reduced the wood loss due to termite infestation more effectively than the plant oils. Oil extracts from neem seeds, Jatropha seeds, and palm kernels significantly reduced wood loss compared to the control treatment. However, the potency of the plant oils decreased over time. The wood of E. cloeziana demonstrated a high level of resistance against termite infestation, and neem oil, Jatropha oil, and palm kernel oils possess the potentials as alternatives to synthetic wood preservatives for wood protection.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. S.E. Anamayi, the Head of Station, Trial Afforestation Research Station, Afaka, Kaduna, for access granted to work in all the available Eucalyptus plantations under the management of the station. We would also like to thank all the technologists at the Department of Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, and the Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; and forest overseers who contributed to the success of this study.

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  1. Department of Forest Conservation and Protection, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Olaniyi Thomas Alamu

  2. Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Francis Kolawole Ewete

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  1. Olaniyi Thomas Alamu
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  2. Francis Kolawole Ewete
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OTA and FKE contributed to the conception, experimental work and interpretation of the analyzed data, writing and reviewing of the manuscript. The two authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Olaniyi Thomas Alamu.

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Alamu, O.T., Ewete, F.K. Termites infestation on different Eucalyptus wood species and control using natural oil from plants. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 81, 1535–1542 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-023-01987-8

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