• 보존과학연구
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• s.32
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• pp.123-136
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• 2011

There are more than 2,800 different species of termites in the world, but just there is one species (Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis Morimoto) in Korea. Once wooden structures are damaged by termites, we are applying chemical control methods such as fumigation, treatment of insecticidal and antiseptic chemicals, soil termiticide treatment, and termite colony elimination system to pest control. But in Korea, the termite infestation is gradually increasing, so it is essential to study on the present situation of termite control in US or Japan. Accordingly, in this part we have studied focusing on the case of US. In the US, there are three groups of termites : Subterranean, Drywood, Dampwood termites, and they caused more severe infestation compared with Korea. When a structure has become infested with termites, it is important that appropriate action must be taken: the chemical pest control (soil treatment, termite baiting, termite colony elimination), the modification and maintenance of buildings and the regular inspection for follow-up. And with consideration for different characteristics of termites, the process of pest control is made according to each species of termites. Most of the subterranean termite control is done by applying either termiticide to the soil or termite monitoring and baiting system around the structure. On the other hand, drywood termite control methods can be categorized as either the treatment for the whole structure or the treatment for localized area. Applications to the whole structure are done by fumigants or heat and the localized treatments are carried out with chemicals as well as heat, freezing, microwave and electricity.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.102-111
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• 2022

Termites are a group of social insects that are one of the primary causes of damage to wooden architectural heritage. Since termite damage impairs the authenticity and structural stability of cultural heritage, it is imperative to prevent it. This study examines the extent of termite damage to wooden architectural heritage as part of efforts to prevent termite damage to nationally designated wooden architectural heritage sites across the country. The extent of termite damage to each cultural heritage was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively and comparatively analyzed by region using the results of the "Investigation on Biological Damage to Wooden Architectural Heritages" conducted by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage from 2016 to 2019. It involved 362 nationally designated wooden architectural heritages(25 national treasures, 157 treasures, 180 national folklore cultural heritages) and 1,104 buildings. The results were as follows: termite detection dogs reacted at 317(87.6%) of the 362 wooden heritages, with visible termite damage observed in 185 cases(51.1%). Furthermore, termite damage was confirmed using one of two methods(detection dogs or visual inspection) in 324 cases(89.5%). Of the 1,104 buildings, termite detection dogs reacted at 668(60.5%), while 339(30.7%) showed visible termite damage. Employing one of the two methods, damage was confirmed in 702 buildings(63.6%). The country was categorized into nine regions(Seoul Metropolitan Area, Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, and Jeju) to examine the termite damage rate and the degree of damage to each cultural heritage according to location. Termite detection dogs reacted to more than 70% of the cultural heritage in all regions. Visible damage was minimal in the Seoul metropolitan area(32.1%) and Gangwon(21.4%) but severe in Chungnam(65.6%), Jeonnam(67.3%), and Gyeongnam(68.2%). By quantifying the degree of termite damage of each cultural heritage as a ratio of the absence of termite damage among the total absence, the average termite damage of the cultural heritage across the country was 9.2%. Regional variance analysis showed that the cultural heritage in Jeonbuk and Jeonnam showed a statistically significantly higher degree of termite damage than the cultural heritage in the Seoul metropolitan area, Chungbuk, and Gyeongbuk. This paper comprehensively analyzed termite damage to nationally designated wooden architectural heritage. The findings are expected to be valuable in establishing policies for the preservation and management of cultural heritage sites in the future.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.194-215
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• 2021

Termites are important decomposers in the ecosystem. They are also economically significant structural pests. In this study, we reviewed the developments of termite control and recent research on termite management to provide information on the prevention and control of termites. In Korea, most of the damage to wooden historical buildings is caused by subterranean termites. Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis is the main species, which is widely found throughout the country. In the early 1900s, inorganic insecticides, such as arsenic dust, were used for termite control. After the synthesis of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide in the 1940s, it was widely utilized and demonstrated high termite control efficacy. However, chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides were later banned, disappearing from markets after reports emerged concerning environmental contamination and toxicity to humans. Therefore, the termite control industry sought a new termiticide; hence many pesticides were utilized for termite control. Organophosphate (1960s), carbamate (1970s), pyrethroid, and insect growth inhibitor (1980s) were newly synthesized and adopted. In the 1990s, the first commercial baits using chitin synthesis inhibitors (CSI) were developed, providing a means to eliminate an entire colony of subterranean termites around a structure. Many studies have been carried out on soil termiticides (liquid termiticides) and CSI baits to increase their efficacy, and different baits such as aboveground bait stations, fluid bait, and high-durability bait were also developed in the 2000s. In addition, the paradigm of termite control has shifted from localized treatments using soil termiticides to area-wide pest management using CSI baits to create termite-free zones and protect buildings over time. Termite infestations in wooden historical buildings in Korea have been reported since 1980, and considerable attention was drawn in the 1990s when several UNESCO world heritages such as the Jongmyo Shrine and the Janggyeong Panjeon Depositories of Haeinsa Temple were infested by subterranean termites. Since then, a survey of termite infestation in wooden architectural heritage has been conducted, and the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Heritage Care Program regularly monitors those properties. Finally, we suggest termite management using primarily CSI baits, selective application of various soil treatments applied to the object, foundation soil treatment, research and development of durable termite baits, application of area-wide programs for wooden-building complexes, application of integrated termite management (ITM), and regular education for owners and managers to prevent and reduce termite damage.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.24-35
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• 2020

This study aims to identify the relationship between termite-damaged cultural heritage sites and the 'Forest Tending Project' based on a comprehensive survey of the status of damage caused by termites and of the Forest Tending Project. It was observed that the Forest Tending Project started in 2004 as a five-year policy project covering over 59% of the nation's forests, which showed the maximum value in 2009 and then gradually decreased. Since then, increased damage to national cultural heritage sites by termites has been confirmed and counter measures have been expanded since 2012. Also, as a result of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage surveying the status of termite damage in national cultural heritage sites over these six years, it was identified that about 98% of investigated cultural heritage sites were damaged by termites, about 78% of them were adjacent to forests, and that all 46 national cultural heritage sites which had been included in the 2008 Forest Fire Prevention Cultural Heritage Afforestation Project were damaged by termites. Therefore, it is claimed that the number of termite-damaged cultural heritage sites has increased after an extensive Forest Tending Project was applied on a national scale, and it seems that all cultural heritage areas close to forests are particularly subject to termite-damage due to the number of tree stumps and lumber byproducts which can serve as habitats for the pests.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.188-197
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• 2020

Termites play an important role as decomposers of the forest ecosystem, while simultaneously causing enormous damage to wooden structures. Currently, two species of subterranean termites have been reported in Korea, and termite damage to historical wooden buildings is occurring nationwide due to climate change, forest fertility, and the locational characteristics of historical wooden buildings. Subterranean termites make their nests underground or inside timber. Termites move underground and access wooden structures through the lower parts of the buildings, adjacent to the ground. Once termites attack the wooden structures, it not only spoils the authenticity of cultural heritage structure, but also hampers structural stability due to the decrease in the strength of the material. Therefore, it is important to prevent termite damage before it occurs. Chemical treatments are mainly used in Korea to control and prevent the damage. In foreign countries, physical barriers are also used to prevent entry to wooden buildings, along with chemical treatments. Physical barriers involve installing nets or particles that termites cannot pass through in the lower part of the building, around the pipes, and between the edges of the building or exterior walls and interior materials. Advantages of a physical barrier are that it is an eco-friendly method, maintains long-term effect after installation, and does not require the use of chemical treatments. Prior to applying physical barriers, studies into the characteristics of termite species must be undertaken. In this study, we evaluated the minimum passage size that each caste of Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis can move through. We found that workers, soldiers, and secondary reproductive termites were able to pass through diameters of 0.7mm, 0.9mm, and 1.1mm respectively. Head height of termites was an important factor in determining the minimum passing size. Results from the current study will be used as a basis to design the mesh size for physical barriers to prevent damage by termites in historical wooden buildings in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.60-72
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• 2022

A number of wooden built heritage remain in Korea, and most have been damaged by various biological factors including termite. Owing to the irreversible damage caused by termites, wooden built heritage are losing their authenticity and structural stability. In this study, Area-Wide Integrated Termite Management(AW-ITM) was proposed to prevent termite damage. First, to understand the locational characteristics of these sites, the distance from adjacent forests and surrounding forest areas was analyzed for 182 national designated wooden built heritage(national treasures, treasures) using the Geographic Information System(GIS). By analyzing existing pest control projects(2003-2020) and the components of the ITM, the characteristics of termite control for cultural heritages were determined. Based on these results, the cultural heritage sites and their surrounding spaces were divided into three areas, and the types of cultural properties were divided into six types according to the location and number of buildings. Along with this, termite control measures were proposed for each area and type. The concept of AW-ITM has been partially applied to the "Comprehensive Control of Termites in wooden built heritages Sites" by the Cultural Heritage Administration. Caution must be taken with regard to the establishment of a cultural heritage management policy; AW-ITM should be applied on a trial basis with the results then being carefully analyzed and reflected in the establishment of policies pertaining to the conservation management of cultural heritage.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.191-208
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• 2021

In this study, the status of damage by subterranean termites and their management according to the region and type of domestic wooden cultural properties were identified. This was based on the survey reports of agencies conducting regular nationwide and regional monitoring of subterranean termites. In addition, using geographical information system (GIS) based on the survey contents, a map was constructed of termite infestation and its progress on 2,805 wooden cultural properties that were surveyed nationwide. Based on the map produced, a total of 486 cases of termite infestation were confirmed in wooden cultural properties during 2018-2019, of which 143 cases (approximately 29.4%) were confirmed to be owing to the invasion of termites in the ground and infestation of wood materials. A web platform and an application using a mapping application program interface were created to increase accessibility to the investigated damage status data. The methods employed by each institution for investigating and monitoring the invasion of termites in the ground included the use of detection dogs, visual observation, installation of wood specimens made of pine, and microwave equipment. However, it was confirmed that monitoring and survey methods were not applied to determine the territorial range of the subterranean termite colonies. Accordingly, the use of dyeing and mark-release-recapture methods were deemed necessary to understand the current status, such as calculating the scope of the target wooden cultural property, when monitoring subterranean termite colonies.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.641-651
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• 2019

This study investigates three buildings arranged alongside at the same level, namely, the Josadang, the Buljojeon, and the Palsangjeon. Their backside is blocked by an embankment with an environmental condition unsuitable for wooden buildings. The pillar behind the Josadang had termite damage for which termite damage and environmental investigations had been conducted for the past four years. The termite damage was monitored four times using the termite detection dogs, and the environmental factors were surveyed 27 times, except during the winter season. As a result, the locations of the columns with a high frequency of responses from the termite detection dogs were found and damage was confirmed. According to the surface moisture content investigations, the surface moisture content was highest in the Josadang and lowest in the Buljojeon. After a statistical analysis, the mean, the median, and the mode values were compared. The difference between the mean and the median was found to be less, however, the mode varied significantly. The mode values of the Josadang and the Palsangjeon were 14.5% and 10.8%, respectively, higher than the 6.1% mode value of the Buljojeon. It was concluded that the temperature and the water content affected the termite damage, which increases if the temperature and the water content remain constant owing to the environmental factors.

• Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

Subterranean termites forage by constructing tunnel networks in soil and encounter food resources during tunnel excavation. Some species of termites can travel up to 150 m underground. They often travel to the surface to find wood cellulose to feed their colony, which in turn causes extensive damage to wooden architecture, such as timber-frame houses. This type of damage has been constantly increasing along with global warming because higher temperatures provide an ecological niche for termites. The damage is closely related to termite territory size and distribution. Recently, as a way to research termite control, the necessity of a mathematical model to simulate termite territory formation in relation to damage has increased. So far, however, few studies have been conducted on the development of a model because it is difficult to quantify or characterize the relationship between territorial behavior and field conditions including complicated environmental factors. In the present study, we suggest a simulation model of the territoriality of the Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki), and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), based on empirical data. The model consists of 2 procedures. One describes tunnel network growth for each colony, and the other represents territoriality based on tunnel-tunnel interactions between different colonies. Using the model, we show changes in territorial competition according to the termination probability of tunnel growth.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.37
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• pp.5-15
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• 2016

We isolated microorganisms from soil arounding the stump and surface of stump in Bubjusa temple in Boeun, Heungguksa temple in Yeosu and Leeyongwoo house in Boseong. As a result, a distribution percentage of bacteria was high and there was a region-specific difference in bacteria colony. There was greater microbial diversity and population in the Leeyongwoo house in Boseong.