Wooden stakes from tree species introduced to Saudi Arabia (European spruce (<i>Picea</i> sp.), beech (<i>Fagus</i> sp.), Swedish pine (<i>Pinus</i> sp.), apitong (2Dipterocarpus*1 sp.), and African mahogany (<i>Khaya</i> sp.) were treated with preservatives and placed upright in soil to test their resistance to attack by termites. The preservatives used were chlordane, aldrin, dieldrin, Sumicidin (fenvalerate) and Coopex (permethrin), each in three concentrations, and bitumen and liquid plastics, both undiluted. Inspections were made four, eight and twelve months after burying. Mahogany stakes, whether treated or untreated, showed no signs of termite damage at the end of the experimental period. Damage rates to apitong and pine were less than to spruce. Almost all untreated beech stakes were infested. All chemically-treated stakes of all species escaped damage during the first four months of the test. Those treated with permethrin, bitumen, or plastics showed varying degrees of infestation during the last two inspections, but the protective effectiveness of chlordane, aldrin, dieldrin, and fenvalerate extended to the end of the test period even when used at the lowest concentrations. <i>Microcerotermes</i> was responsible for the damage to beech, <i>Microtermes</i> for damage to spruce and pine, and * 2Anacanthotermes*1 for the single damaged stake of apitong. -- AATA