Birch termites

From the oil of Santalum spicatum (R.Br.) A.DC., Birch et al have isolated the two isomeric dihydrofarnesenes (1) and (2). These two compounds, although not identical with the trail pheromone of the Nasutitermes species of termites, both exhibit similar specific trail activities. Cavill and Coggiola have reported that the photosensitized oxygenation of a-farnesene (3) yields the five allylic alcohols (4)—(8) after reduction of the corresponding hydroperoxides. A new... 

Camphor and <7-limonene are allomones in that the trees which produce them are protected from insect attack by their presence. For instance, Arthur Birch, one of the great terpene chemists of the twentieth century, reported finding d-limonene in the latex exuded by trees of the species Araucaria bidwilli.1 2 These trees are protected from termite attack because the d-limonene they produce is an alarm pheromone for termites that live in the same area. Similarly, antifeedants could be considered to be allomones since the signal generator, the plant, receives the benefit of not being eaten. Myrcene is a kairomone, in that it is produced by the ponderosa pine and its presence attracts the females of the bark beetle, Dendroctonous brevicomis. Geraniol is found in the scent of many flowers such as the rose. Its presence attracts insects to the flower and it can be classified as a synomone since the attracted insect finds nectar and the plant obtains a pollinator. 

Termite Bioassays. Multiple choice tests were conducted using wood blocks of birch, red oak, redwood and Alaska yellow cedar where blocks were decayed by P. chrysosporium for either 3,8, or 12 wk. Bioassays were conducted using rectangular Rubbermaid storage containers (14.5 cm X 8.5 cm X 4 cm) (Consolidated Plastics, Twinsburg, Ohio). Each container served as a replicate and was filled with 100 g of sand (Standard Sand and Silica Company, Davenport, FL) moistened with 20 ml of water. Each container had four 2-cm diameter holes, one hole on each side. A 14 ml (17 x 100 mm) polystyrene round-bottom Falcon test tube (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ) was inserted into each hole and sealed in place using a glue gun. The position of treatment tubes was alternated between replicates to preclude any positional effects. Two hundred termites (190 workers 10 soldiers) were placed in the center of each container. The termites were able to move freely between the container and the tubes. 

Weight Loss Due to Termite Feeding Wood consumption was greater on birch and red oak than on redwood or Alaska yellow cedar after 3 wk (Fig 1) and 8 wk (Fig 2) of decay. In the experiment where blocks were decayed for 12 wk before the feeding test was conducted, there was a significant interaction between the two factors, wood species and colony (Wood Species F = 44.9 df= 3, 80 P = 0.0001. Colony F = 3.9 df = 3, 80 P = 0.01. Wood Species Colony F = 4.4 df = 9, 80 P = 0,001). Therefore, the two factors could not be analyzed separately. However, the average wood consumption of birch was greater than that of the other three wood species overall (Fig 3a) and for each of the four termite colonies (Fig 3b). 

Birch A J, Chamberlain K B, Moore B P, Powell V H 1970 Termite attractants in Santalum spicatum. Aust J Chem 23 2337-2341... 

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