The research evaluated the efficiency of Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) Macleish. oil to improve the resistance of Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. wood to Nasutitermes corniger Motsch. termite under laboratory condition. Wood samples with nominal dimensions of 0.7 x 2.0 x 2.5 cm (thickness x width x length), forcedfeeding assay and of 0.7 x 2.0 x 10.2 cm (thickness x width x length), alimentary preference assay were treated by cold immersion process and reached medium retentions of 10.61; 16.73; 22.04; and 26.94 kg of oil/m³ of wood (force feeding) and of 38.35; 58.22; 87.53; e 108.36 kg of oil/m³ of wood (preference feeding) and submitted to Nasutitermes corniger termite attack during 28 (force feeding) and 20 days (alimentary preference). The results showed that the Eremanthus erythropappus oil in the retentions of 10.61 kg/m³ (forced feeding) and 38.35 kg/m³ (preference feeding) inhibited the attack and in the retentions of 16.73 kg/m³ (force feeding) and of 58.22 kg/m³ (preference feeding) prevented the attack in wood samples, making unfeasible the access of the termites to the food source.
Eremanthus erytropappus oil; wood treatment; biologic assays