Laboratory Evaluation of Natural Resistance of Bamboos to Termites

Bamboos, the most versatile forest based natural resource, play an important role in the national economy of many countries, particularly those lying in the South Asian-Pacific region. Unlike many timber species, no authentic data is available on the natural resistance of bamboos against borers and termites. Forest Research Institute,Debra Dun has carried out some pioneering work on this aspect and the results of laboratory evaluation of natural resistance of 13 species of bamboos is presented here against the test termite Microcerotermes beesoni Snyder. The test data shows that Bambusa nutans (wt.loss 23.40%),Dendrocalamus strictus (wt.loss 27.42%),D.giganteus (wt. loss 28.66%) and Ochlandra travancorica (wt. loss 29.82%) are relatively more resistant as compared to other species of bamboos tested. The natural resistance of these species is more or less comparable to some of the moderately durable commercially important timber species, such as Anogeissus latifolia, Garuga pinnata and Shorea robusta, etc. The outer layer/rind of bamboo is highly resistant and termites normally invade bamboo from the cut end portion only.