A laboratory assessment of the natural durability of the lesser-utilised species Corynanthe pachyceras Welw. and Glyphaea brevis (Sprengel) Monachino against the marine wood borer Limnoria quadripunctata Holthius

Resistance of Corynanthe pachyceras Welw. and stained and unstained Glyphaea brevis (Sprengel) Monachino sapwood and heartwood to the crustacean wood borer Limnoria quadripunctata Holthius was assessed by measuring faecal pellet production and mortality following feeding over 2 weeks in the laboratory. Greatest resistance to feeding was seen in C. pachyceras sapwood and heartwood, with average daily production of 4.7 and 6.8 faecal pellets, respectively. Significantly more faecal pellets were produced by Limnoria tunnelling G. brevis, i.e. 23.3–37.3 pellets day−1. There was no significant difference in pellet production between Limnoria feeding on stained versus unstained G. brevis. Greatest mortalities occurred in Limnoria feeding on stained G. brevis, suggesting that the stain is harmful on ingestion, and that the toxic components are not leached from the wood. Lower mortality was observed in C. pachyceras, but lowest mortality and greatest faecal pellet production were observed in reference Pinus sylvestris L. sapwood.