Question

One among the following is the insect and mollusk which is not responsible for the decay of timber?

(a) Marine borers

(b) Snake

(c) Termites

(d) Woodboring beetles

This question was posed to me in a national level competition.

The question is from Classification of Timber, Carpenter’s Work in chapter Rules and Methods of Measurement of Civil Engineering Drawing

Answer 1

The correct answer is (b) Snake

The explanation is: Timber decay (rot) is caused by a biological attack within the wood by certain species of fungi. The fungus can lie dormant in the timber for years until the right conditions present themselves. The conditions needed are oxygen, moisture and nutrients, with moisture being the critical component. If moisture is not present in timber, then the fungi will remain dormant, even when oxygen and the nutrients they require are abundant.