Taiwan zelkova (Zelkova Formosana) and ten other native hardwood species of Taiwan were studied for their termite resistance proper-ties. Taiwan red pine (Pinus Taiwanensis Hay.) samples were used as controls for comparison. Wood meals and wend blacks of each species were used as feed for the termites. The results of wood meals test indicate that wood specific gravity and hardness have no apparent correlation with termite mortalities(P>0.05). Wood extractive content, however, has significant correlateion with termite mortalities (r=0.67, P<0.05). As for the wood blacks test, the results indicate that weed specific gravity and hardness have invent relationship with degrees of termite ingestion. In summation, the former indicates chemical resistance, and the latter physical deterrence, to termite invasion. Zelkova formosana, Gordonia axialris and Ternstroemia gymnanthera were found to be mast resistant to termite; Pasania uraiana, Machilus zuihoensis, Vitex quinata, and Machilus Kusanoi ranked next; whcrcas Castanopsis stipitata. Cinnamomum randaiensa, Diplospora dubia and Aphananthe aspera were least resistant.
Taiwan zelkova (Zelkova Formosana) and ten other native hardwood species of Taiwan were studied for their termite resistance proper-ties. Taiwan red pine (Pinus Taiwanensis Hay.) samples were used as controls for comparison. Wood meals and wend blacks of each species were used as feed for the termites. The results of wood meals test indicate that wood specific gravity and hardness have no apparent correlation with termite mortalities(P>0.05). Wood extractive content, however, has significant correlateion with termite mortalities (r=0.67, P<0.05). As for the wood blacks test, the results indicate that weed specific gravity and hardness have invent relationship with degrees of termite ingestion. In summation, the former indicates chemical resistance, and the latter physical deterrence, to termite invasion. Zelkova formosana, Gordonia axialris and Ternstroemia gymnanthera were found to be mast resistant to termite; Pasania uraiana, Machilus zuihoensis, Vitex quinata, and Machilus Kusanoi ranked next; whcrcas Castanopsis stipitata. Cinnamomum randaiensa, Diplospora dubia and Aphananthe aspera were least resistant.