The subjectivity of the estimation of natural wood’s resistance to destruction by termites based on visual assessment in laboratory tests

This study concerns visual assessment of the degree of damage done to Pinus sylvestris L. wood blocks by Reticulitermes lucifugus Rossi, in an experiment conducted according to ASTM D 3345-08:2017. The six evaluators made their assessments individually. The differing results obtained from the evaluators are a cause for concern. Visual assessment of the degree of wood damage can vary significantly from person to person. Measurement of weight loss seems to be a better way of evaluating the degree of damage done to wood samples by termites in laboratory tests.