Insects, wood-destroying

Naphthenic acids are only slightly toxic to mammals hut are toxic to fish, bacteria, and wood-destroying insects. The lethal oral dose for humans is approximately 1 L. Naphthenic acid is not listed as a carcinogen. 

In the natural environment most wood decomposes as a result of both insect and microbial activity. Most insect pests of wood are either termites or beetles. Other insects such as wood wasps, moths, carpenter ants etc. are sometimes significant locally but by and large the termites (order Isopterd) and beetles (order Coleopterd) are the wood destroying insects of greatest importance. 

Creffield JW (1996) Wood destroying insects wood borers and termites. (2nd edit). CSIRO, Melbourne... 

Termites. Termites are socializing wood predators believed to have descended from the cockroach family. Of all of the wood-destroying insects, termites account for the greatest amount of damage to cultural property. Often securely hidden in the soil beneath a structure or artifact, termites have developed ingenious methods of migration and survival in hostile environments. Four types should be known to the conservator ... 

Preservative-. Any pesticide substance that, for a reasonable length of time, will prevent the action of wood-destroying fungi, insect borers, and similar destructive agents when the wood has been properly coated or impregnated with it. Normally an arsenic derivative. Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) is an example. 

Noncrop uses for pesticides include pest control in living quarters and protecting structures from infestation or attack. These last two examples reflect a direct beneficial impact of pesticides on human health and comfort. The economic effects of wood rot and insect attack on structures demonstrate the benefits of controlling these wood-destroying pests in homes and other structures. The health and safety issues are obvious. Replacement and repair costs for damaged structures must also be included in the benefits of pesticides to society. 

Wood is susceptible to many forms of degradation, especially when it is exposed to fungi and insect species as termites, powder post beetles, and carpenter ants which are wood-destroying organisms. This was the original idea behind the development of wood preservatives by destroying wood-insects, and various chemicals have been used for wood treatment. The chemicals used extensively for wood protection and as insect repellents for wood preservatives include pentachlorophenol, arsenic... 

Wood and plastic building materials resist many of the natural and industrial environmental factors that affect concrete, masonry, and metals. However, wood and plastic are susceptible to other types of attack—fungi and insects can destroy wood, and nltraviolet fight and temperature can affect some plastics. 

We have examined a variety of plants, chosen for their traditional medicinal or insect control uses, for insecticidal and insect antifeedant properties. Our test insects are crop pests such as the tobacco cutworm Spodoptera litura, medically important insects (e.g the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegyptii) or wood-destroying organisms such as the termite Reticulitermes speratus. 

Some halogen compounds have been too reactive for the health of people and the planet. They can destroy healthy cells and attack the Earths atmosphere in the same active way that they kill germs or break down wood into paper. For instance, chlorofluorocarbon (or CFC) compounds used to be popular cooling chemicals in refrigerators and air conditioners and in the gas that pushed hairspray and deodorant out of aerosol cans. CFCs are now widely banned because they destroy Earths atmosphere. Chlorine is also part of the insect killer DDT, a dry cleaning fluid, and the compounds called PCBs. All of these products are now banned or used rarely because they have been linked to pollution and health problems like cancer and liver disease. 

Many disease and insect problems can be controlled or greatly reduced by simple sanitation. Clean up and dispose of branches after you prune, especially when removing diseased wood. Many insects pupate in the soil or in loose bark or dead plant debris. Fbr this reason, rake and remove fallen leaves in fall. Also remove dropped fruit during the season and dry, diseased fruit (known as mummies) clinging to the branches after harvest. Inspecting bark in the winter and removing and destroying egg masses is also effective. 

Drying has also been used as a means of food sanitation. Insects and other microorganisms are destroyed during the application of heat and moisture diffusion. The sanitation aspect of drying is a time-temperature phenomena [25]. The temperature should be at least 60°C for a short duration of 3 to 5 min. Lower temperatures, to a minimum of 48°C, can be used for disinfestation but the treatment duration should last at least for 24 h or longer. Disinfestation in high temperature rotary and tunnel dryers has been studied and results have been published by Sokhansanj et al. [26] and Sokhansanj and Wood [24]. 

---