Effectiveness of microwave radiation, high temperatures and cooling degrees in control of dry wood termite, Cryptotermes brevis (Isoptrea: Kalotermitidae)‎

Abstract EN

Dry wood termite, Cryptotermes brevis Walker (Isoptrea: Kalotermitidae) is a serious pest attack the different kinds of hard and soft wood of wooden structures, standing trees, flooring, furniture, wooden works within buildings in different images and shapes , etc.

Three different methods to control C.

brevis termite within two kinds of wood (pine and beech) were used in this work; these are microwave radiation, high temperature and cooling degrees.

The effects of these methods on the percentages of mortality are correlated with exposure times of infested wood (pine and beech) to each method.

The least exposure time which gave 100% mortality differed according to used method.

In microwave method, the shortest exposure time which gave 100% mortality recorded 20 sec.

with power level 100 wattages for termite within pine wood while, required 80 wattages with beech wood, the longest exposure time which appeared100% mortality was 50 sec.

for pine wood at 50wattages, while it was 60sec.

at the power level 10 wattages for beech wood.

In cooling method, the percentage of mortality recorded 100% at -27°C with 18Min.exposure time for pine wood and 20Min.

for beech wood, while at -21°C the exposure time was 30 and 32Min.

for pine and beech wood, respectively, whereas at -18°C the exposure time was 36 and 40Min.

for pine and beech wood, respectively.

In heating method, the shortest exposure time (for 100% mortality) recorded 28 Min.

at 75°C for both pine and beech wood, while at 70°C the time was 34 Min.

for both pine and beech wood, whereas the exposure times at 65 °C recorded 34 and 35Min.for pine and beech wood respectively.

The longest exposure time reached 35Min at 60°C for two kind wood.

The lethal time values (LT50 and LT95) were deterMined for the different treatments in different methods of control.

The lost moisture content from infested wood exposure to both microwave irradiation and different temperature degrees was significant correlated with exposure time and showed changes in mortality percentages.

Therefore, the combined effect of each temperature and lost moisture content play an important role beside exposure times and wood kind in effect on mortality of termite within infested wood.