1. Nirmala K. Hapukotuwa and J. Kenneth Grace
Dept. of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences
University of Hawaii at Manoa

2. Introduction Bamboo Versatile forest based natural resource
More than 1500 species described
Plays an important role in the national
economy of many countries, especially in
the tropics
Primarily used as a construction material

3. World distribution of bamboo
Source: Ohrnberger 1999

4. Advantages of bamboo for construction:
Suitable strength (fibrous texture)
Preferential cost
Fast growth
Easy availability
Light and smooth (easy to transfer)

5. Bamboo (‘Ohe) in Hawaii
May have been introduced by ancient Polynesians
Approximately 70 species and varieties
Mainly used for
Furniture
Ornaments
Construction materials-Mainly fencing, flooring
Musical instruments

6. Some uses of bambo0

7. Coptotermes formosanus:
Present in Hawaii for over 100 years
Probably introduced from southern China
Major termite pest in Hawaii
Widely distributed
C. formosanus

8. Coptotermes gestroi: Intercepted in banana shipments to Hawaii (1934)
Major pest in the Philippines and in Guam
First discovered on Oahu in 1963 (single home)
Re-discovered on Oahu in 1999
Currently has limited but expanding
distribution (southwest Oahu)
C. gestroi

9. Objective:
To determine relative resistance of six different bamboo species grown in Hawaii to C. formosanus and C. gestroi

10. Materials and Methods Six bamboo species;
Single choice (no choice) test
Standard E1-09 of the American Wood Preservation Association
Six bamboo species;
Bambusa hirose (BH)-Hirose’s bamboo
B. oldhamii (BO)-Giant timber bamboo
Dendrocalamus brandisii (DB)-Sweet dragon bamboo
D. latiflorus (DL)-Sweet giant bamboo
Gigantocholoa pseudoarundinacea (GP)-Great giant bamboo
Guadua angustifolia (GA)-”Guadua”

11. 2.5 x 2.5 x 0.5 cm in size Wood blocks Set-up
Five replicates of each bamboo species with each termite species
Set-up
Polystyrene jars (height 97 mm, diameter 85 mm)
Each contained 150 g silica sand, 30 ml distilled water and bamboo block

12. C. gestroi: Kalaeloa field site (9 m above sea level; annual rainfall 20.9 in; annual mean temperature 75.6 F)
C. formosanus: Miller Hall, UH Manoa (23.1 m above sea level; annual rainfall in; annual mean temperature 69.5 F)

13. All jars placed in an unlighted incubator for 28 days (280C)
200 freshly collected termites (180 workers / 20 soldiers) added to each test jar
All jars placed in an unlighted incubator for 28 days (280C)
Jars inspected each week to record termite activity and tunneling patterns
After 28 days, all jars disassembled
counted live termites (workers & soldiers) to determine mortality
reweighed blocks after oven drying
Visually rated blocks according to the 2009 AWPA rating scale

14. Results
Sample test jars:
C. formosanus
C. gestroi 2 1 1 2

15. Sample visual ratings for C. formosanus
Rating scale: 4=very severe, 50-75% affected; 7=moderate, 10-30% affected

16. Sample visual ratings for C. gestroi
Rating scale: 4=very severe, 50-75% affected; 7=moderate, 10-30% affected

17. Summary of results for C. formosanus
a Values in parentheses are standard deviations; means within a column followed by the same letter are not significant at the 5% level (ANOVA,Tukey’s HSD).
Rating: 10 (sound), 9.5 (trace, surface nibbles permitted), 9 (slight attack up to 3% of cross sectional area affected), 8 (moderate attack, 3-10 % of cross sectional area affected), 7 (moderate/severe attack, penetration, 10-30% of cross sectional area affected), 6 (severe attack,30-50% of cross sectional area affected), 4 (very severe attack, 50-70% of cross sectional area affected) or 0 (failure).

18. Summary of results for C. gestroi
a Values in parentheses are standard deviations; means within a column followed by the same letter are not significant at the 5% level (ANOVA,Tukey’s HSD).
Rating: 10 (sound), 9.5 (trace, surface nibbles permitted), 9 (slight attack up to 3% of cross sectional area affected), 8 (moderate attack, 3-10 % of cross sectional area affected), 7 (moderate/severe attack, penetration, 10-30% of cross sectional area affected), 6 (severe attack,30-50% of cross sectional area affected), 4 (very severe attack, 50-70% of cross sectional area affected) or 0 (failure).

19. Mean mass loss of six different bamboo species exposed to C
Mean mass loss of six different bamboo species exposed to C. formosanus or C. gestroi.

20. Mean percent mortality of C. formosanus and C
Mean percent mortality of C. formosanus and C. gestroi after exposure to six different bamboo species

21. Conclusions
Mean mass losses of bamboo due to termite feeding for four weeks ranged from 14-29%
Most resistance bamboo species were Gigantocholoa pseudoarundinacea and Bambusa oldhamii
Most susceptible bamboo species was Guadua angustifolia
Bambusa hirose, Dendrocalamus brandisii and D. latiflorus were intermediate in their termite resistance
Overall, there appeared to be little difference in feeding preferences between C. formosanus and C. gestroi

22. Acknowledgements
Reina
Dr J. Kenneth Grace
Makena
Maria
Rob

23. Thank you!