Lonnie H. Williams

Integrated Protection Against Lyctid Beetle Infestations Part II. - Laboratory Dip-Diffusion Treatment of Unseasoned Banak ( Virola spp.) Lumber with Boron Compounds

A manufacturer of conventional moulding wanted a method that would prevent lyctid beetle damage to banak (Virola spp.) wood throughout the period from initial cutting in Brazil until final mouldings were in use. Because complete penetration of wood may be obtained, unseasoned banak wood was treated by dip-diffusion with disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (Na,BsO,,*4H,O as TIM-BOR@)l or boric acid (H,BO,) to determine the dip time, solution temperature, and diffusion storage period that would provide optimum treatment of wood. Visual observations also were made of inhibition of mold growth during diffusion storage as a result of using < 3.0 percent concentrations of sodium pentachlorophenate (NaPCP) with TIM-BOR@ and copper-8-quinolinolate (as P&57@) with treating solutions of boric acid.