Termite-repellent wood extractives

Abstract

Neither hardness nor high lignin content of a wood prevent its being eaten by dry-wood termites. Immunity from attack of so-called termite-resistant woods is due to the presence of some specific chemical constituent, such as tectoquinone in East Indian teak, in comparatively small amounts which causes it to be toxic or unpalatable to the insects. This substance extracted from the wood may be used as an insecticide, like commercial Ryania from Ryania speciosa, or for impregnating termite-susceptible woods to make them immune to termite attack. Conrado Asenjo of the local School of Medicine is working on the extractives of West Indian mahogany.