Results of field experiences of natural durability of ten commercial wood, exposed to the action of Bankia martensi (Stempell) in the South coast of Chile are presented. Tested species were seven types of native wood and three types of exotic ones. Test specimens of standard dimension of 0.02 x 0.045 x 0.23 m with three replications by species were used. The degree of attack was determined according to British norm BS IN 275:1992. Differences in the degree of attack between the wood species and basic properties such as the anatomy, density, hardness and percent extractives were analyzed. After six months of exposure, test specimens were inspected. The response of wood species without protective treatment was in general poor considering the brief lapse of exposition, since all of them were damage, except Quillaja saponaria Mol. Externally, the attack did turn out to be only superficial with orifices of 0.002 to 0.003 m and also abundant organisms were adhered to the surface. The presence of numerous galleries and individuals of mollusc bivalve Bankia martensi (Stempell, 1899), belonging to Teredinidae family, was verified inside the wood specimens.The species that shows minimum indications of attack is Drimis winterii J.R. et G. Forster, with galleries covering in average 0.44% of the surface of the test specimens; Prosopis tamarugo Phil. follows with moderate attack (16.06% of the affected surface); attack severe appeared in: Laurelia philipiana Looser and Pinus radiata D.Don with galleries occupying 29.40 and 32.90% of the area respectively. Failed, with more of a 50% of the surface covered with galleries were: Eucalyptus globulus Labill (52.53%); Pseudotsuga menziesii (52.02%), Nothofagus dombeyi (Mirb.) Blume. (52.58%), Saxegotea conspicua Lindl. (53.82%) and Nothofagus alpina (Poepp. et Endl.) Krasser, the last one reaching 90.95% of its surface covered with galleries

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