The resistance of wood modified with linear chain carboxylic acid anhydrides to attack by the marine wood borer Limnoria quadripunctata Holthius

Resistance of pine wood modified with linear chain carboxylic acid anhydrides to the crustacean wood borer Limnoria quadripunctata was assessed by measuring the faecal pellet production and mortality following feeding over 3 weeks in the laboratory. By varying the reaction time, various levels of modifications were obtained. The results indicated that feeding is slowed by chemical modification at these levels of modification. There was no significant reduction in feeding above 24.1% WPG (weight percent gain due to modification) suggesting that modification to WPGs greater than this did not confer additional protection. The type of anhydride employed has little influence on feeding.