Abstract:
The damage caused by biodeteriorating agents in construction
and furniture areas has been significantly noticed. In an effort
to offset subterranean termites’ damage, farmers have
practiced traditional termite protective techniques where the
extent o f effectiveness was not studied.
Termites, sometimes erroneously called while ants are social
insects; polymorphic, dwelling in large communities and
sometimes in elaborate nests both above and below the
ground. These insects and fungi are consistently found
damaging structural timbers, furniture, standing trees, and
agricultural crops such as groundnuts, fruit trees, sugarcane,
rice, and other food products, as well as range lands.
In Ethiopia, termites' damage on crops and wooden
constructions is estimated 20% to 50%, which in some places
has led to total crop and construction losses (Wood, 1986). In
Manasibu Wereda o f western Ethiopia, termites, especially
microterms, were the major species attacking crops such as
teff, maize, sorghum, and rangelands (Ofgaa Djirata et al.,
2007). One hundred and forty-two wood decaying
basidiomycetes species have been recorded on Pouteria
adolfi-friederici, Juniperus procera and Podocarpus folcatus
tree species fallen logs in Menagesha, Munessa-Shashemene
and Teppi forests o f the country (Adane Bitew, 2002).
Therefore, in addition to finding resistant and fast growing
tree species, it is necessary to protect the newly established
plantations and forest products from damages caused by
biodeteriorating agents by applying effective protective
measures including insecticides and fungicides.
The general objective o f the experiment is to investigate the
natural durability, variation, and effectiveness o f commonly
