• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.720-727
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• 2017

Antioxidants are known to affect the feeding habits of termites and a good source is pine bark which contains high levels of antioxidants which can be extracted with neutral solvents. In this study procyanidins (PCs)-rich MeOH-extract and a hot-water extract (HWE) were prepared from Pinus radiata bark. HWE was further separated into crude PCs (CPCs), polymeric PCs (PPCs), and low-molecular-weight PCs (LMWPCs) fractions. The MeOH extract and these fractions were examined for termite (Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar) antifeedant activities using a no-choice test. Catechin was used as a positive control. The LMWPCs was found to be the most effective deterrent to termite feeding. The comparative efficiency of the compounds tested were LMWPCs > PPCs > CPCs > MeOH extract, with the latter being more dependent on molecular weight than on its antioxidant activity.

• Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

Subterranean termites forage by constructing tunnel networks in soil and encounter food resources during tunnel excavation. Some species of termites can travel up to 150 m underground. They often travel to the surface to find wood cellulose to feed their colony, which in turn causes extensive damage to wooden architecture, such as timber-frame houses. This type of damage has been constantly increasing along with global warming because higher temperatures provide an ecological niche for termites. The damage is closely related to termite territory size and distribution. Recently, as a way to research termite control, the necessity of a mathematical model to simulate termite territory formation in relation to damage has increased. So far, however, few studies have been conducted on the development of a model because it is difficult to quantify or characterize the relationship between territorial behavior and field conditions including complicated environmental factors. In the present study, we suggest a simulation model of the territoriality of the Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki), and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), based on empirical data. The model consists of 2 procedures. One describes tunnel network growth for each colony, and the other represents territoriality based on tunnel-tunnel interactions between different colonies. Using the model, we show changes in territorial competition according to the termination probability of tunnel growth.