Antitermitic Properties of Wood Extractives Pterocarpus indicus Willd and palaquium gutta Baill on Subterranean Termite Coptotermes curvighathus Holmgren (Isoptera: Rhinomitidae)

Abstract

A study was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of using wood extractives as a preservative treatment for wood to inhibit subterranean termite activity. The heartwood of Pterocarpus indicus Willd and Palaquiui-n gutta Baill was extracted with acetone and both extracts was then successively ractionated into n-hexane, ethyl ether and ethyl acetate soluble fractions. The antitermitic properties of each fractions with oncentration of 2%,4%, 6%, 8% and 10% (w/w, bait) were tested on subterranean termite Coptotennes cuwignathus Holmgren using Steller and Labosky (1982) standar method. The results of the extract shows that the n-hexane extract from P. indicus and ethyl ether extract from P. gutta showed has more active inhibition effect on the activities of C. curnignatlzus Holmgren. Two percent of the n-hexane extract and ethyl ether extract cellulose pad diffusion shows the minimum inhibitory concentration of fractions xtract. Additional studies are needed to isolate and identify the antitermitic compound (bioactive compounds).