SUSCEPTIBILITY OF COMPRESSED BAGASSE FIBER TO TERMITE ATTACK

Compressed agricultural fiber panels have the potential to be useful b uilding materials, particularly in situations where wood is scarce or expensive. Bagasse, or sugar cane rind, is an agricultural by-product that is suitable for use in such panels. However, in laboratory tests, Formosan subterranean termites survived as well on bagasse as on Doug las-fir wood. In field tests, termites penetrated both coated and unco ated compressed bagasse panels, causing swelling of the fibers from mo isture sorption and deformation of the panels. For use in tropical reg ions, compressed fiber panels will likely require stabilization of the fibers to minimize swelling and an exterior coating that is impermeab le or repellent to termites.