Efficacy of a Non-pressure Wood Protection System in an Above Ground Protected Field Test

Abstract

The efficacy of a spray-on combination formula containing the insecticides thiamethoxam and chlorantraniliprole was tested against subterranean termites using a covered ground proximity test. The test consisted of six treatments, five were chemical treatments and one was water control. Southern pine wood samples were treated with varying rates or treatment methods of the aforementioned insecticide combination, chlorantraniliprole alone, borate alone, or no chemical (water) treatment. Treated samples were installed at the Harrison Experimental Forest in Saucier, Mississippi using a modified protocol based on that described in the AWPA E26-21 – Standard Field Test for Evaluation of Wood Preservatives to be Used for Interior Applications (UC1 and UC2), Ground Proximity Termite Test. Using this method, test samples were placed in three arrays and monitored for termite attack at six months and annually thereafter. Four-year ratings for termite attack averaged 9.5 and above for all treatments tested except the water treated control which was rated at 4.2. Wood decay ratings averaged higher than 9.5 for all treatments except the water control (rating = 6.27). The amount of termite damage was evaluated using two rating systems, the AWPA E26-21 and ASTM D1758-06.

Citation

Mankowski, Mark E.; Dant, Lukas. 2023. Efficacy of a Non-pressure Wood Protection System in an Above Ground Protected Field Test. In: McCown, C., ed. Proceedings One Hundred Nineteenth Annual Meeting of the American Wood Proctection Association. Tucson, Arizona. April 3-5, 2023. Birmingham, AL: AWPA: 58-63.