Abstract
Ten local and imported wood species of forest trees were evaluated for susceptibility to attack by termite, Microcerotermes gabrielis . The results showed that all sapwood and heartwood of Acer, Acer spp., Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus microthica, Normal Oak, Quercus aegilopes , American Poplar , Populus euramericana, Willow,Salix babilonica ,Yellow Pine, Pinus sylvestes, Black Pine, Pinus nigra ,Walnut, Juglanus regia, Cypress, Cuppressus spp. and Wild Fig, Ficus carica were non preferable by termite under natural infection conditions at Haibet Sultan mountains on altitude 1500 m. above sea level .On the other hand, results of wood preferences of termite showed a significant differences among species tested under artificial infection conditions in the botanical garden after 12 weeks . It has been found that walnut, Juglanus regia and wild fig, Ficus carica species was more susceptible than other species and the general mean of wood weight loss during the period of experiment were 7.06 and 3.46 gm. , respectively ,while Yellow Pine, Pinus sylvestes, Black Pine, Pinus nigra and Cypress tree, Cuppressus spp. Showed more resistance for infestation with the rate of 0.19, 0.25 and 0.27 gm, respectively. Generally, in this field test the sapwood of tree species were more preferable to attack by termite comparison with the heartwood with a total average 2.21 1.79 gm., respectively .Results indicated that the physical properties, moisture content and specific gravity of sapwood and heartwood of trees showed that there were no clear relation between these properties and wood preferences according to the amount of wood weight loss by termite.
Keywords