RESISTANCE OF PINE TREATED WITH CHROMATED COPPER ARSENATE TO THE FORMOSAN SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE

Two 4-week, no-choice laboratory tests were performed with CCA-treated southern yellow pine and radiata pine against Formosan subterranean t ermites, Coptotermes formosanus. CCA retentions as low as 0.05 kg/m(2) (0.03 pcf) provided protection from all but light termite attack (rat ing of 9 on a 10-point visual scale). However, consistent light attack (grazing) on wafers containing retentions as high as 6.4 kg/m(3) (0.4 pcf), coupled with complete termite mortality, demonstrates that the mode of action of CCA treatments relies upon toxicity rather than havi ng any repellent effects against termites.