• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.113-125
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• 2022

This study aimed to explore the biodiversity of chemical compounds found in the bark of Guibourtia tessmannii from Gabon, commonly called Kévazingo, and evaluate their anti-termite activity to determine their potential values as a source of development of anti-termite products that can be valued in the fields of fine chemicals and wood preservation. Extraction of G. tessmannii bark powders was carried out using the cold maceration method with trichloroethylene, acetone, ethanol, and water. Phytochemical screening made it possible to highlight groups of chemical families present in the extracts. Anti-termite activity was tested on the wild termites "Cubitermes sp" of the genus Isoptera. The yield of the extracts were 17.11% for the buttress and 13.42% for the height at 6 m. Phytochemical tests revealed that alkaloids, polyphenols, sterols, tannins, reducing compounds, flavonoids, saponins, and anthraquinones were present in the extracts. Results of anti-termite activity indicated that anti-termite activity varied with the different parts of the bark studied, extraction solvent, and concentration (50/50) and (25/75) of the extracts used. The extracts at 50/50 concentration showed a slightly better anti-termite activity compared to the 25/75 concentration. In addition, the buttress Kévazingo or buttress showed the strongest anti-termite activity for the aqueous extract with a survival rate of 0% after 2 days.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.22
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• pp.41-52
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• 2001

The wooden building is mainly damaged by the termite which have an effect of the structure by making emptied inner part of wood. One class, Japanese termite, inhabits throughout Korea and is often detected. So the deterioration by termite attacking the wooden building needs to be controlled. Termites are over 2,800 species in the world, usually they inhabit in the tropical or subtropical region and don’t over winter in dormant condition. So their activity and distribution are chiefly restricted by temperature and humidity. The termite inhabiting in Korea is Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis Morimoto, which known to have an optimal temperature range at $12~30^{\circ}C$ and minimum temperature at $6^{\circ}C$ for activation. These temperatures correspond to the mean temperature($5.6^{\circ}C$~$25.8^{\circ}C$) from March to November and the activity time of termitein Seoul. In addition, as a result of environmental pollution by industrial development, the climate of Korea is getting warm. The increase of mean temperature in Korea has been $1.1^{\circ}C$ for the past seventy five years, so it is expected that the damage of wooden building by termite will increase gradually. Therefore, in order to protect wooden building from damages by termite, it needs not only development of new pest control methods, but also studies on the control of environmental factors having an effect on the activity and growth of termite. For the conservation of the large cultural properties such as the wooden building in the open air, it would be effective to use the methods of fumigation, insecticidal and antiseptic chemical treatment of wood materials, soil termiticideinjection treatment, and termite colony elimination system.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.134-144
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• 2024

This study aimed to analyze the anti-termite properties of tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum L.) stem bark extracts against subterranean termites, specifically, Coptotermes curvignathus. The bark powder of C. inophyllum was extracted using different solvents, such as n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol, using the maceration method. Anti-termite testing was performed using two paper disc methods: no- and two-choice tests. Whatman test paper was dripped with the extract solutions at concentrations of 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% (w/v). Subsequently, the treated paper disc was placed into an acrylic tube, and the subterranean termite was added. The parameters utilized in the test included termite mortality and the weight loss of the test paper. The results revealed that the total extract yield of C. inophyllum stem bark was 30.24%. Furthermore, the extractive substances from C. inophyllum bark exhibited anti-termite activity. The most favorable outcomes were obtained with the n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts at a concentration of 10%. The termite mortality and weight loss of the test paper were respectively 66% and 5.67% for the n-hexane extract and 66.67% and 6.19% for the ethyl acetate extract. In addition, the n-hexane extract contained friedelan-3-one, while the ethyl acetate extract contained 1,2-benzene dicarboxylic acid, dinonyl ester, and friedelan-3-one. The results suggested that these compounds are responsible for the observed anti-termite activity.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.720-727
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• 2017

Antioxidants are known to affect the feeding habits of termites and a good source is pine bark which contains high levels of antioxidants which can be extracted with neutral solvents. In this study procyanidins (PCs)-rich MeOH-extract and a hot-water extract (HWE) were prepared from Pinus radiata bark. HWE was further separated into crude PCs (CPCs), polymeric PCs (PPCs), and low-molecular-weight PCs (LMWPCs) fractions. The MeOH extract and these fractions were examined for termite (Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar) antifeedant activities using a no-choice test. Catechin was used as a positive control. The LMWPCs was found to be the most effective deterrent to termite feeding. The comparative efficiency of the compounds tested were LMWPCs > PPCs > CPCs > MeOH extract, with the latter being more dependent on molecular weight than on its antioxidant activity.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.405-422
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• 2024

This study investigated the resistance of domestic wood species used as wood members in general wood construction and Korean wood cultural properties to the termite Reticulitermes speratus using no-choice and two-choice tests. The results of the no-choice experiment confirmed that hardwood has higher termite resistance than that of softwood. In addition, R. speratus prefers softwood, including Abies holophylla, which has low density, is easy to feed on, and does not contain repellent extracts. In a two-choice test, Zelkova serrata was found to be the most termite-resistant wood species used in wooden cultural buildings. In addition, we investigated the effects of different wood extraction methods and their components on termite resistance. The cold-water extraction of softwood increased the feeding activity of termites; however, the cold-water extraction of hardwood had little effect on the feeding activity of termites. In natural environments with repeated exposure to moisture, such as rainfall, water-soluble extracts present in wood species are relatively more likely to dissolve and removed, making softwood more likely to be damaged by termites than hardwood. Untreated Quercus variabilis showed an extremely weak feeding activity of termites compared with that in other wood species; however, feeding termites with the alcohol-benzene extract of Q. variabilis had no inhibitory effect on their feeding activity. Therefore, we believe that the high density of Oriental cork oak wood inhibits the feeding activity of R. speratus. In contrast, the alcohol-benzene extracts of Z. serrata, Prunus sargentii, and Castanea crenata showed a strong inhibition of the feeding activity of termites.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.105 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Globally, there are more than 2600 species of termites which adapted plenty of terrestrial ecosystems by various strategies such as making termite nest and society. Various studies were recently carried out on termites because they play significant roles in the context of carbon (C) cycle of terrestrial ecosystems. According to the results of previous studies, termite activities influenced the amount of soil organic C, methane emission, and organic matter decomposition. Termite nests, where termite biomass was concentrated, exhibited 1.8 times higher soil organic C concentration than reference soils, and emitted $0.0-6.0kg\;ha^{-1}year^{-1}$ of methane in tropical forests and savannas. Feeding activity of termites, in addition, accelerated coarse woody debris (CWD) decomposition by increasing the surface area to volume ratio of CWD. Especially, CWD decomposition induced by the Rhinotermitidae family appeared to be significant for the C cycle in temperate forests. However, more studies should be conducted on termite-induced CWD decomposition in temperate forests because few studies have dealt with it. The termite-induced CWD decomposition could be measured by preparing disc-shaped CWD samples, excluding access of termites to the CWD samples, and comparing the decomposition rate of the CWD samples with and without the termite exclusion treatment. Studies on the termite-induced CWD decomposition would contribute to further elucidation of the C cycle in temperate forests.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.159-167
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• 2017

Historical wooden buildings in Korea are being damaged by Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis Morimoto, a type of subterranean termite, and the scale of this damage is increasing gradually because of global warming. This study evaluated the ingestion toxicity of the phenylpyrazole insecticide fipronil to R. s. kyushuensis and its applicability as termite bait with the aim of controlling termite colonies more efficiently. An ingestion toxicity assessment was conducted and the $LT_{50}$ was determined to be 4.43 day at concentrations of 10 ppm, indicating a slow-acting effect; therefore, 10 ppm was selected as an appropriate dose. A field applicability assessment was conducted in which the number of foraging workers and the rate at which the termites fed decreased 2 weeks after baiting, and termite colony activity was no longer apparent after 4 weeks demonstrating the efficacy of fipronil at eliminating colonies. Taken together, these results, indicate that low-dose fipronil eliminated R. s. kyushuensis colonies faster than insect growth regulators; therefore, it is expected to be useful when trying to conserve historical wooden buildings.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.818-825
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• 2015

This study is conducted to develop new termite colony elimination system that can control termite colony much faster, and to eco-environmentally prevent termite damage occurred in wooden cultural heritage. As a result of laboratory test, we developed a component system, of which fipronil 0.001% (w/w) treated bait was used as a suitable termite colony eliminator. This system can be monitored without taking off underground, and it makes regular monitoring much more efficient. The result of field test showed that 36 termite baiting devices among 367 installed devices were damaged by foraging termites. After baiting, all of termite colonies attracted to devices were eliminated or their activity clearly decreased.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.421-428
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• 2010

This study investigated on enzyme production in the digestive organs of the native termite (Reticulitermes speratus) in Milyang, Korea. Four types of major cellulases [EG (endo-1,4-${\beta}$-glucanase), BGL (${\beta}$-glucosidase), CBH (cellobiohydrolase) and BXL (${\beta}$-1,4-xylosidase)] were present in the digestive organs of the termite. The strong enzyme activity for BGL was found from the native termite, and also shown that the enzyme was distributed in the salivary gland, foregut, and hindgut. BXL, which breaks down hemicellulose near the amorphous region, was detected mainly from salivary gland, foregut, and midgut. However, CBH was distributed mainly in the hindgut. Meanwhile, EG which degrades cellulose, was found mainly in the hindgut and salivary glands. These facts indicate that celluases production patterns are differ from different sites compare to the same species found in Japan, suggesting that enzyme production in the digestive organs of termites is changed according to their habitats.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.641-650
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• 2020

In this study, the chemical components and termiticidal activities of bamboo vinegar against subterranean termite were evaluated. Bamboo vinegar used in this study were produced from Mayan (Gigantochloa robusta Kurz.), Balcoa (Bambusa balcooa Roxb.), and Taiwan (Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro). It was analyzed by gravimetric methods. Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) was soaked for 24 h and tested against Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren according to the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 7207-2014). The bamboo vinegar demonstrated antitermite activities against subterranean termite. Vinegar of 400℃ recorded higher total phenol and acid than that of 300℃. Results from this study suggest that the phenolic and acidic component of the bamboo vinegar contributed to 100% mortality rate of the termite, some wood weight loss, and a decrease in the termite feeding rate. These results strongly recommend that bamboo vinegar from D. latiflorus Munro is a potential environmentally friendly preservative.