Termite resistance of plantation-grown Paulownia sp. wood from Malaysia against the subterranean termite Coptotermes curvignathus under laboratory and field conditions

The natural durability of plantation-grown Paulownia sp. wood from Malaysia against subterranean termites (Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren) was evaluated under laboratory and field conditions. A laboratory no-choice feeding test and an above-ground field test were conducted using in-house methods at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). The influence of log position (bottom and top portions) on mass loss, termite survival rate, and visual damage ratings was examined. Log position significantly affected mass loss and termite survival rate, with the bottom portion exhibiting lower mass loss than the top portion in both laboratory (2.3% and 4.2%) and field (13.6% and 16.2%) tests, respectively. Visual damage ratings did not differ significantly between log portions, except for the positive control species. Overall, the 4-year-old plantation-grown Paulownia sp. wood was classified as non-durable against subterranean termites. The results indicate that Paulownia sp. wood is susceptible to termite attack and requires appropriate protection measures to improve its performance in termite-prone environments.