Antitermite action of wood extracts from different parts of termite resistant plants.

Termites are widely spread throughout the globe. They feed on cellulosic materials in forests, houses and offices causing damage of billions of dollars annually. There are some woody plants which are termite resistant or repellent and are opposed as a dietary source by termites. Such plants certainly have some toxic components for termites. In this study, extracts from different parts (bark, sapwood and heartwood) of stems of three plants have been extracted  in three different solvents i.e. water, benzene-ethanol (2:1) and chloroform using soxhelt apparatus. Termite workers were forced to feed upon filter papers impregnated with extracts for one week and studied the comparative effects of different extracts on survival of termites. Results showed that benzene-ethanol (2:1) and chloroform extracts of all parts of three woods proved to be toxic to the termites as after 72 hours termites showed 100% mortality in every case except control. Whereas no significant mortality was observed in termites feeding on filter paper impregnated with water soluble extracts and also on control.

Study on three woods; Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Dalbergia sissoo and Acacia Arabica revealed that some antitermite components are present in all parts of these woods, which are soluble in organic solvents and can be isolated on large scale for their use as  termiticides.