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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2022, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (3): 167-174.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20220318

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Evaluation of Damage Grades for Wooden Components of Ancient Buildings Based on Nesting Habits of Carpenter Bee

Xingxia Ma1,Lin Wang2,Yunfei Qiao3,Enze Duan4,Yi Lu4,*,Xuan Fang1,Bin Zhang1,Yanhua Wang5,Qijun Jin6   

  1. 1. Research Institute of Wood Industry, CAF Beijing 100091
    2. Ningbo Municipal Institute of Cultural Heritage Management Ningbo 315000
    3. Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage Beijing 100029
    4. Shanxi Academy of Ancient Building and Painted Sculpture & Fresco Preservation Taiyuan 030012
    5. China Foundation For Cultural Heritage Conservation Beijing 100007
    6. Ningbo Yinzhou Cultural Relics Protection and Management Center Ningbo 315000
  • Received:2021-10-13 Online:2022-03-25 Published:2022-06-02
  • Contact: Yi Lu

Abstract:

Objective: Carpenter bees nesting on wooden components of ancient buildings brings damage to wooden structures. This study evaluated the carpenter bees damage grade for wooden components in order to provide a basis and an evaluation standard for the investigation and maintenance design of ancient building protection engineering. Method: Balsa woods damaged by carpenter bees were collected, then inspected nest structure by endoscopy and CT. Then the wood was cut through to observe the nest cell structure. Damage degree of wood structures was converted by tunnels volume and nest size. Result: The carpenter bee collected in this study was identified as Xylocopa(Koptortosoma) appendiculata. The endoscope could observe the main tunnel, and it could be found that the tunnel had 2-3 branches. CT scanning could provide an accurate understanding of nest structure. By dissecting the nests, it was found that the most nests of X. appendiculata were two parallel tunnels in two sides perpendicular to the entrance hole or two tunnels on one side and one on the other side. The average internal diameter of the tunnel was 1.55 cm, and the average length was 14.4 cm. The average of tunnels volume of each nest was 133.67 cm3. and the average of nest volumes was estimated at 1 436.58 cm3. Conclusion: The damage of carpenter bees in ancient buildings generally occured on the non load-bearing and independent wood components such as rafters, roof boarding or brackets. In order to estimate the degree of damage, this study evaluated the carpenter bee damage grade as 1-4 rate based on nesting habits: the wood component is found only one hole, it is classified as class 1 damage; when 2-3 holes are found, it is classified as class 2 damage; when 4-5 holes are found, it is classified as grade 3 damage; when more than 6 holes are found, it is classified as class 4 damage.

Key words: wooden structure of ancient buildings, carpenter bee hazard, nesting habits, damage rating, disease survey

CLC Number: