• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.370-377
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the color change of heat-treated wood made of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis S. et Z.), and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl). The wood samples were heat-treated at 9 different treatment combinations of temperature (170, 180, 200, 220, and $230^{\circ}C$), and time (90, 120, 180, 240, 270 min.) set up by a response surface method. Wood color was measured using a colorimeter, and the samples were installed for evaluating the resistance of termite in the field test sites set up in Jinju. The lightness decreased with the increase of treatment temperature and treatment time. The color differences were evaluated by the method of National Bureau of Standards (NBS), and response surface models to predict the color change were fitted as a function of treatment temperature and treatment time. The $R^2$ values of the fitted models of heat-treated Korean pine and lodgepole pines were 0.92, and 0.88, respectively, showing the potential way for the prediction of color changes. Severe damage was found from the samples in the field test site, which means that the manufactured heat-treated wood did not show the termite resistance enough for the outdoor use.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.333-338
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• 2020

Dye markers are used in the study of subterranean termites to determine colony territories and population sizes. Dyes not only allow the study of termite biology, but can also be used for control purposes. Although Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis causes damage to wooden historical properties in Korea, the dye markers have not been applied. Therefore, we evaluated the applicability of Nile Blue A dye for R. s. kyushuensis. Filter papers dyed with concentrations of 0.05%, 0.10%, and 0.25% (w/w) were each fed to termite populations through a no-choice feeding test for 1, 3, or 7 days. After 4 weeks, the survival rate, dyeing rate, and maintenance of dyeing were recorded. The results showed high survival rates with lower dye concentrations and shorter feeding periods. Among the combinations of concentrations and days, high survival rates, dyeing rates, and dyeing maintenance periods were found at concentrations of 0.05% and 0.10% for 3 days of feeding. These maximized the survivorship and visibility. The results from the current study can be applied to investigate the ecology and control of R. s. kyushuensis in both the laboratory and field.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.171-182
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• 2023

In the Republic of Korea, many of the wooden architectural heritage are located in forests and, therefore, are vulnerable to termite damage. In Korea, the predominant approach to termite control involves chemical control methods using termiticides. The rapid attraction of termites to termiticides is essential to shorten the control period. The current study investigated the attraction of Korean termites to carbon dioxide and the appropriate concentration of carbon dioxide required for effective attraction by conducting a basic experiment on the attracting effect in the underground environment. The results showed that carbon dioxide is effective for attracting termites, and an effective concentration range of 10% or less was selected. Additionally, this study established the potential and applicability of carbon dioxide as an attractant in the control of subterranean termites. Future studies should aim at conducting field studies on the application of carbon dioxide to improve the termite control effect, particularly in preserving wooden architectural heritage.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.544-558
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• 2017

The objective of this research is to investigate preservative efficacy for refractory species in field tests. The field tests were set up to evaluate the preservative performance of western hemlock and white spruce preservative-treated to the residential products group C and D of Canadian standard (CSA O80 Series-08) that have been developed for residential use in above-ground and ground-contact conditions, respectively. They were incised and pressure-treated with alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) or copper azole (CA). Treated samples for the ground contact stake test and ground proximity test were installed in Jinju, Korea on November 2010 according to AWPA E7-09 and AWPA E18-06, respectively. Each sample has been annually assigned ratings for decay and termite attack, based on AWPA E7 grading system. After six years and five months of exposure, the untreated samples showed decay and particularly severe damage by termite attack but all the preservative-treated samples showed no decay. The results showed that the 5-mm penetration depths may be applicable for the treatment of refractory species. This paper discusses what to consider for the use of refractory species in Korean wood preservation industry from the penetration and retention points of view.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.804-809
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• 2015

Since Korea is home to Reticulitermes speratus, a kind of subterranean termites that prefer dark and humid conditions, there have been increasing damages to wooden structures by termites. One noticeable attribute of Korean subterranean termites is that they prefer than Pinus densiflora, the major construction material for Korean traditional houses. And because wide varieties of termites are distributed all over the world, it is not so easy to choose appropriate control methods depending on specific areas. This necessitates careful applications of the following control methods depending on the kinds of termites: fumigation treatment, soil termiticide, preservatives and insect treatment, termite colony elimination system, chemical treatment, and other physical and biological treatment methods. The purpose of this study is to investigate the control effects of environmentally-friendly Alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ), Copper Azole (CuAZ) and Micronized copper quarter (MCQ) on the termites contributing to the damage of wooden structures. It was found in this study that wood with preservative treatment produced a significantly higher termicidal efficacy than untreated wood.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.80-86
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• 2022

Termites cause massive damage to wooden architectural heritage structures. Chemical treatments have been commonly used to control them. In foreign countries, physical barriers made of sheet and particles impenetrable to termite are being used as an alternative to the chemical method. To study the efficacy of physical barriers, we investigated the appropriate sand particle size that can prevent the penetration of R. speratus kyushuensis. Upon evaluating the barrier properties of sand with particle sizes ranging from 0.85 to 4.00 mm, the penetration of termites was found to be effectively blocked at a particle size range of 1.00 to 2.80 mm. At smaller particle sizes, termites managed to move the sand particles and build an almost linear mud tube to penetrate the sand layer. At larger particle sizes, the termites could penetrate the sand layer by passing through the sand gaps.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.215-220
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• 2023

A recent discovery of drywood termites (Cryptotermes domesticus) in a residential facility in Seoul has raised significant concern. This exotic insect species, which can damage timber and wooden buildings, necessitates an immediate investigation of potential infestation. In this study, we assessed the climatic suitability for this termite species using a species distribution modeling approach. Global distribution data and bioclimatic variables were compiled from published sources, and predictive models for climatic suitability were developed using four modeling algorithms. An ensemble prediction was made based on the mean occurrence probability derived from the individual models. The final model suggested that this species could potentially establish itself in tropical coastal regions. While the climatic suitability in South Korea was generally found to be low, a careful investigation is still warranted due to the potential risk of colonization and establishment of this species.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2014

Termites are wood pests that cause vast economic damage every year. They digest both cellulose and starch, but the enzymes for starch digestion have not been well characterized. We obtained complete amino acid sequence information on the KME1 ${\alpha}$-amylase from Reticulitermes speratus KMT1 through analysis of total mRNA sequences. The KME1 enzyme has two ${\alpha}$-amylase domains and is 68% identical to the ${\alpha}$-amylase from Blattellager manica, its closest relative in the GenBank database. Some unique features of its conserved region and its distant evolutionary relationship to other insect ${\alpha}$-amylases suggest that KME1 is a new type of ${\alpha}$-amylase.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.497-510
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• 2018

In this study, the decay resistance of larch wood, which was heat treated by superheated steam, was evaluated by the field decay test. During the field decay test of 12 months, non-treated wood has been severely damaged by termite, however, no visible damage has occurred in the preservative-treated wood and superheated steam heat-treated wood. Results of field decay test showed approximately 5% mass loss of the non-treated wood and the preservative-treated wood, and approximately 1% mass loss of the superheated steam heat-treated wood. After the field decay test for 12 months, the residual amount of preservatives remaining in the preservative-treated wood was lower than that before the field decay test. It was considered that the preservative was partially eluted during the field decay test, and the mass loss of the preservative-treated wood was thought to be similar to that of the non-treated wood. Through this study and additional long-term monitoring test, superheated steam heat treatment can be considered to be an environmental-friendly method to enhance the decay resistance of wood against rot fungi and/or insect without chemical treatment such as preservative injection.