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Comparative studies on the resistance of materials to species of Coptotermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). I. The susceptibilities of various plastics to C. acinaciformis (Froggatt) from Australia and C. formosanus Shiraki from China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

J. A. L. Watson
Affiliation:
Division of Entomology, CSIRO, Canberra, A.C.T. 2601, Australia
Dai Zi-Rong
Affiliation:
Guangdong Entomological Institute, Guangzhou, China
R. A. Barrett
Affiliation:
Division of Entomology, CSIRO, Canberra, A.C. T. 2601, Australia

Abstract

The susceptibilities of 14 plastics formulations (four polyethylenes, one polypropylene, one polyester, two polyamides, one polyurethane and five poly(vinyl chlorides)) to attack by Coptotermes acinaciformis (Frogg.) and C. formosanus Shir. in the laboratory were broadly related to hardness and surface finish. Overall, C. acinaciformis inflicted more damage than C. formosanus, despite lower survival, but some formulations appeared more susceptible to C. formosanus than to C. acinaciformis.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

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