• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.191-208
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• 2021

In this study, the status of damage by subterranean termites and their management according to the region and type of domestic wooden cultural properties were identified. This was based on the survey reports of agencies conducting regular nationwide and regional monitoring of subterranean termites. In addition, using geographical information system (GIS) based on the survey contents, a map was constructed of termite infestation and its progress on 2,805 wooden cultural properties that were surveyed nationwide. Based on the map produced, a total of 486 cases of termite infestation were confirmed in wooden cultural properties during 2018-2019, of which 143 cases (approximately 29.4%) were confirmed to be owing to the invasion of termites in the ground and infestation of wood materials. A web platform and an application using a mapping application program interface were created to increase accessibility to the investigated damage status data. The methods employed by each institution for investigating and monitoring the invasion of termites in the ground included the use of detection dogs, visual observation, installation of wood specimens made of pine, and microwave equipment. However, it was confirmed that monitoring and survey methods were not applied to determine the territorial range of the subterranean termite colonies. Accordingly, the use of dyeing and mark-release-recapture methods were deemed necessary to understand the current status, such as calculating the scope of the target wooden cultural property, when monitoring subterranean termite colonies.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.818-825
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• 2015

This study is conducted to develop new termite colony elimination system that can control termite colony much faster, and to eco-environmentally prevent termite damage occurred in wooden cultural heritage. As a result of laboratory test, we developed a component system, of which fipronil 0.001% (w/w) treated bait was used as a suitable termite colony eliminator. This system can be monitored without taking off underground, and it makes regular monitoring much more efficient. The result of field test showed that 36 termite baiting devices among 367 installed devices were damaged by foraging termites. After baiting, all of termite colonies attracted to devices were eliminated or their activity clearly decreased.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.32
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• pp.123-136
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• 2011

There are more than 2,800 different species of termites in the world, but just there is one species (Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis Morimoto) in Korea. Once wooden structures are damaged by termites, we are applying chemical control methods such as fumigation, treatment of insecticidal and antiseptic chemicals, soil termiticide treatment, and termite colony elimination system to pest control. But in Korea, the termite infestation is gradually increasing, so it is essential to study on the present situation of termite control in US or Japan. Accordingly, in this part we have studied focusing on the case of US. In the US, there are three groups of termites : Subterranean, Drywood, Dampwood termites, and they caused more severe infestation compared with Korea. When a structure has become infested with termites, it is important that appropriate action must be taken: the chemical pest control (soil treatment, termite baiting, termite colony elimination), the modification and maintenance of buildings and the regular inspection for follow-up. And with consideration for different characteristics of termites, the process of pest control is made according to each species of termites. Most of the subterranean termite control is done by applying either termiticide to the soil or termite monitoring and baiting system around the structure. On the other hand, drywood termite control methods can be categorized as either the treatment for the whole structure or the treatment for localized area. Applications to the whole structure are done by fumigants or heat and the localized treatments are carried out with chemicals as well as heat, freezing, microwave and electricity.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.24-35
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• 2020

This study aims to identify the relationship between termite-damaged cultural heritage sites and the 'Forest Tending Project' based on a comprehensive survey of the status of damage caused by termites and of the Forest Tending Project. It was observed that the Forest Tending Project started in 2004 as a five-year policy project covering over 59% of the nation's forests, which showed the maximum value in 2009 and then gradually decreased. Since then, increased damage to national cultural heritage sites by termites has been confirmed and counter measures have been expanded since 2012. Also, as a result of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage surveying the status of termite damage in national cultural heritage sites over these six years, it was identified that about 98% of investigated cultural heritage sites were damaged by termites, about 78% of them were adjacent to forests, and that all 46 national cultural heritage sites which had been included in the 2008 Forest Fire Prevention Cultural Heritage Afforestation Project were damaged by termites. Therefore, it is claimed that the number of termite-damaged cultural heritage sites has increased after an extensive Forest Tending Project was applied on a national scale, and it seems that all cultural heritage areas close to forests are particularly subject to termite-damage due to the number of tree stumps and lumber byproducts which can serve as habitats for the pests.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.206-219
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• 2021

The warming of the climate is increasing the damage caused by termites to wooden buildings, cultural properties and houses. A group removal system can be installed around the building to detect and remove termite damage; however, if the site is not visited regularly, every one to two months, you cannot observe whether termites have spread within, and it is difficult to take prompt effective action. In addition, since the system is installed and operated in an exposed state for a long period of time, it may be ineffective or damaged, resulting in a loss of function. Furthermore if the system is installed near a cultural site, it may affect the aesthetic environment of the site. In this study, we created a detection system that uses wood, cellulose, magnets, and magnetic sensors to determine whether termites have entered the area. The data was then transferred to a low power LoRa Network which displayed the results without the necessity of visiting the site. The wood was made in the shape of a pile, and holes were made from the top to the bottom to make it easier for termites to enter and produce a cellulose sample. The cellulose sample was made in a cylindrical shape with a magnet wrapped in cellulose and inserted into the top of a hole in the wood. Then, the upper part of the wood pile was covered with a stopper to prevent foreign matter from entering. It also served to block external factors such as light and rainfall, and to create an environment where termites could add cellulose samples. When the cellulose was added by the termites, a space was created around the magnet, causing the magnet to either fall or tilt. The magnetic sensor inside the stopper was fixed on the top of the cellulose sample and measured the change in the distance between the magnet and the sensor according to the movement of the magnet. In outdoor experiments, 11 cellulose samples were inserted into the wood detection system and the termite inflow was confirmed through the movement of the magnet without visiting the site within 5 to 17 days. When making further improvements to the function and operation of the system it in the future, it is possible to confirm that termites have invaded without visiting the site. Then it is also possible to reduce damage and fruiting due to product exposure, and which would improve the condition and appearance of cultural properties.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2017

The Silleuksa temple in Yeoju city is adjacent to the South Han River and often has high humidity and fog days. In addition, its proximity to forests renders it prone to damage by insects and microorganisms. In order to obtain the basic data necessary for the establishment of a cultural property preservation management plan, the biological distribution of the wooden buildings and the termite distribution in the surrounding forests were monitored for three years. The wood-boring bee, an insect known to inflict damage to heritage structures, was confirmed, and the distribution of insects varied annually and seasonally, presumably due to the location characteristics of the site and the climate change during the year. In the forest behind, termite colonies were identified as a whole and their distribution pattern was different every year. As per the results of the microorganism survey, the species distribution and pollution degree were different at the entrance of the building. Therefore, it needs continuous biological distribution and conservation environment monitoring to mitigate the effects of wood-damaging organisms.were different according to the entrance of the building.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.641-651
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• 2019

This study investigates three buildings arranged alongside at the same level, namely, the Josadang, the Buljojeon, and the Palsangjeon. Their backside is blocked by an embankment with an environmental condition unsuitable for wooden buildings. The pillar behind the Josadang had termite damage for which termite damage and environmental investigations had been conducted for the past four years. The termite damage was monitored four times using the termite detection dogs, and the environmental factors were surveyed 27 times, except during the winter season. As a result, the locations of the columns with a high frequency of responses from the termite detection dogs were found and damage was confirmed. According to the surface moisture content investigations, the surface moisture content was highest in the Josadang and lowest in the Buljojeon. After a statistical analysis, the mean, the median, and the mode values were compared. The difference between the mean and the median was found to be less, however, the mode varied significantly. The mode values of the Josadang and the Palsangjeon were 14.5% and 10.8%, respectively, higher than the 6.1% mode value of the Buljojeon. It was concluded that the temperature and the water content affected the termite damage, which increases if the temperature and the water content remain constant owing to the environmental factors.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.23
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• pp.77-93
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• 2002

There are several methods of pest control for the prevention of wooden cultural properties from damages caused by insects, especially termites. Those are as follows; physical control, chemical control, biological control, and integrated pest management. In Korea, we primarily use mvestigation of monitoring, fumigation, treatment of insecticidal and antiseptic chemicals, soil termiticide treatment, and termite colony elimination system. As damages by termites were detected at Eunghyanggak and Saundang of Haeinsa temple in June, 1998, we carried out monitoring with wooden device, in order to investigate damages of wooden building by termite and paths of termite invasion. According to the result of investigation of monitoring from1999 to 2002, we found that termites were inhabiting continually at forests around Haeinsa and that wooden buildings such as Saundang, Cheonghwadang were damaged by termites. So we thought that control methods such as soil termiticide treatment and termite colony elimination system would be effective. Especially, to investigate efficacy of termite colony elimination system, we carried out efficacy test of termite colony elimination system in Jongmyo during 17 months(2000.7.~2001.11.). The result of efficacy test showed that termite colony elimination system eliminated termite colonies gradually(over 12 months from installation of colony elimination system to elimination of termite colony).

• 보존과학연구
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• s.22
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• pp.41-52
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• 2001

The wooden building is mainly damaged by the termite which have an effect of the structure by making emptied inner part of wood. One class, Japanese termite, inhabits throughout Korea and is often detected. So the deterioration by termite attacking the wooden building needs to be controlled. Termites are over 2,800 species in the world, usually they inhabit in the tropical or subtropical region and don’t over winter in dormant condition. So their activity and distribution are chiefly restricted by temperature and humidity. The termite inhabiting in Korea is Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis Morimoto, which known to have an optimal temperature range at $12~30^{\circ}C$ and minimum temperature at $6^{\circ}C$ for activation. These temperatures correspond to the mean temperature($5.6^{\circ}C$~$25.8^{\circ}C$) from March to November and the activity time of termitein Seoul. In addition, as a result of environmental pollution by industrial development, the climate of Korea is getting warm. The increase of mean temperature in Korea has been $1.1^{\circ}C$ for the past seventy five years, so it is expected that the damage of wooden building by termite will increase gradually. Therefore, in order to protect wooden building from damages by termite, it needs not only development of new pest control methods, but also studies on the control of environmental factors having an effect on the activity and growth of termite. For the conservation of the large cultural properties such as the wooden building in the open air, it would be effective to use the methods of fumigation, insecticidal and antiseptic chemical treatment of wood materials, soil termiticideinjection treatment, and termite colony elimination system.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.514-534
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• 2021

To estimate the territorial size of Reticulitermes speratus, a species of subterranean termites that damages wooden structures in Korea, appropriate dye markers were selected and the diffusion tendency was analyzed. According to the results of the sensitivity assessment using sawdust diet, increase in dye concentration reduced the amount of feed consumption but the dyeing becomes more intense. Except for the Neutral Red 0.5% group, all other concentration groups, including the control group, showed a survival rate of > 85% until week 4. For both, Nile Blue A and Neutral Red dye markers, all concentration conditions > 0.2%, except for the 0.1% concentration, were maintained for 11 weeks, and no sign of transfer effect was found except when the termites were fed with the dye markers. Therefore, it appears that 0.2% of Nile Blue A and Neutral Red is the optimal concentration for monitoring the R. speratus colonies. Additionally, we prepared an indoor 40 m long foraging arena consisting of a colony of 25,000 termites and released individuals stained with 0.2% of Nile Blue A and Neutral Red at both ends to assess the diffusion trends over time. The results showed that it took approximately 7 days for each dyed individual to gradually cover the 40 m distance and mix with each other. These findings reveal that when mark-release-recapture monitoring is conducted on the R. speratus colonies damaging wooden structures, the extent of the colony's activity area could be measured and different colonies could be distinguished from each other.