Resistência biológica da madeira de espécies de eucalipto ao ataque de cupim de madeira seca

Abstract

The resistance against dry wood termites is one the most important wood properties, mainly in the case of the eucalypt wood, which is of poor tractability with chemicals. The aim of this study was to determine the biological resistance of seven eucalypts wood species when submitted to the attack of dry wood termites. Wood of the species Corymbia citriodora, Eucalyptus tereticornis, E. paniculata, E. pilularis, E. cloeziana, E. urophylla, and E. grandis of 16 years old were examined, which grew at the Experimental Science Forestry Station - Anhembi, Department of Forest Sciences of "Luiz de Queiroz" Agricultural Superior School, São Paulo University, Brazil. In the laboratory the samples were exposed to the attack of the dry wood termites Cryptotermes brevis, (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae). Wood of E. grandis, E. urophylla, E. tereticornis, and E. pilularis had significant problems of termite attacks; considerably more so than E. cloeziana, E. paniculata, and C. citriodora.