Biological Resistance of Two Reforestation Woods to Dry Wood Termites

ABSTRACT This work aimed to evaluate the biological resistance of Australian red cedar (Toona ciliata) and Eucalyptus woods to the Cryptotermes brevis (Kalotermitidae) dry wood termite species. The species used to evaluate natural resistance to insect attacks were Australian red cedar from 6 and 12-year-old plantations installed in the mountainous region of the Espírito Santo state, and commercial adult Eucalyptus sp. wood provided by a sawmill located in the South of Bahia state. Fitting and evaluation of the experiment followed the recommendations of the Institute for Technological Research of the State of São Paulo. The three woods differed as to their susceptibility to attack by dry wood termites when the damage caused in the samples was considered, with the most consumed species being the 12-year old Australian red cedar, while the Eucalyptus wood was less susceptible to damage.