California Branch 3 Structural Pest Control Examination
(California Branch 3 Structural Pest Control Exam)
Questions and Answers
What is the difference between the stains caused by stain (sapstain) fungi vs.
mold fungi? - ANSWER>>Sapstain fungi live on the starch in wood cells. These
fungi may discolor the sapwood entirely or in patches. This stain is deep within
the wood and cannot be removed by brushing or planing.
On the other hand, discoloration caused by mold fungi is superficial. This means
that you can usually remove the discoloration by brushing or planing. However,
on hardwoods with open pores (very large and visible vessels) such as the oaks,
the surface molds may cause stains that are too deep to remove easily.
How can you distinguish between winged termites and winged ants? -
ANSWER>>Look at their antennae, waists, and wings. Winged termites have
straight antennae, thick waists, and wings that are equal in size and shape.
Winged ants have bent antennae, narrow waists, and forewings that are larger
than the hind wings.
Name the four basic castes of termites. Describe the basic function(s) of each
caste. - ANSWER>>Workers - gather food, maintain the galleries, tend the young,
and groom the other termites.
Soldiers - guard the colony against predators.
,Primary reproductives - "swarmers" that fly out of their colonies to start new
colonies of their own. They are the future kinds and queens of new colonies.
Secondary reproductives - supplement egg production in the presence of the king
and queen and can take over the egg laying if the queen dies or begins to fail.
Do subterranean termites live entirely within wood? Why or why not? -
ANSWER>>No, because they require a constant source of moisture to survive.
However, they can live in wood with less than 20% moisture by getting their
moisture from the ground. They transport this moisture through flattened,
earthen shelter tubes that serve as passageways from the soil to the infested
wood.
How do subterranean termites most often infest wood in buildings? -
ANSWER>>They gain entry through untreated wood that touches or is close to
the ground, particularly at porches, steps, and terraces. They can also infest
buildings through cracks or voids in foundations or concrete floors that make it
easy for termites to reach wood that is not close to the soil.
Describe the frass pellets of drywood termites. - ANSWER>>They are small and
cylindrical with six depressions on the sides. These pellets are unique to drywood
termites and are used for identification.
Where do drywood termites most often occur? - ANSWER>>In southern Florida,
southern California, and along the southern gulf coast of the United States.
Do drywood termites live entirely within wood? Why or why not? -
ANSWER>>Yes, because they require little moisture (wood MCs as low as 5%).
Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites have no connection with the soil.
List several ways you can protect wood from termites. - ANSWER>>To protect
wood from subterranean termites, you can:
, • apply insecticides to the soil around buildings, and
• avoid using wood mulches next to buildings.
To protect wood from subterranean and drywood termites, you can:
• use physical barriers on foundations, and
• use properly preserved wood, which makes it undesirable as a food source.
Describe the frass of powderpost beetles. - ANSWER>>Powderpost beetle frass
appears as a fine wood dust or powder. Slight jarring of infested wood can cause
the frass to sift from holes. This is a sure sign of a powderpost beetle infestation.
In addition, the frass of anobiid beetles has a distinctive hotdog bun shape.
For most wood-boring beetles, what life stage causes the most damage to wood
by boring inside the wood? - ANSWER>>The larvae (grub). The exception is the
ambrosia beetle in which the adult bores within the wood.
How do ambrosia beetles damage wood? - ANSWER>>They degrade wood by
staining it, by creating numerous entrance holes (pinholes), and by boring inside
the wood.
What type of wood does each group of wood boring beetles discussed in this
manual prefer? - ANSWER>>Ambrosia beetles - green logs or green lumber;
softwoods and hardwoods.
(California Branch 3 Structural Pest Control Exam)
Questions and Answers
What is the difference between the stains caused by stain (sapstain) fungi vs.
mold fungi? - ANSWER>>Sapstain fungi live on the starch in wood cells. These
fungi may discolor the sapwood entirely or in patches. This stain is deep within
the wood and cannot be removed by brushing or planing.
On the other hand, discoloration caused by mold fungi is superficial. This means
that you can usually remove the discoloration by brushing or planing. However,
on hardwoods with open pores (very large and visible vessels) such as the oaks,
the surface molds may cause stains that are too deep to remove easily.
How can you distinguish between winged termites and winged ants? -
ANSWER>>Look at their antennae, waists, and wings. Winged termites have
straight antennae, thick waists, and wings that are equal in size and shape.
Winged ants have bent antennae, narrow waists, and forewings that are larger
than the hind wings.
Name the four basic castes of termites. Describe the basic function(s) of each
caste. - ANSWER>>Workers - gather food, maintain the galleries, tend the young,
and groom the other termites.
Soldiers - guard the colony against predators.
,Primary reproductives - "swarmers" that fly out of their colonies to start new
colonies of their own. They are the future kinds and queens of new colonies.
Secondary reproductives - supplement egg production in the presence of the king
and queen and can take over the egg laying if the queen dies or begins to fail.
Do subterranean termites live entirely within wood? Why or why not? -
ANSWER>>No, because they require a constant source of moisture to survive.
However, they can live in wood with less than 20% moisture by getting their
moisture from the ground. They transport this moisture through flattened,
earthen shelter tubes that serve as passageways from the soil to the infested
wood.
How do subterranean termites most often infest wood in buildings? -
ANSWER>>They gain entry through untreated wood that touches or is close to
the ground, particularly at porches, steps, and terraces. They can also infest
buildings through cracks or voids in foundations or concrete floors that make it
easy for termites to reach wood that is not close to the soil.
Describe the frass pellets of drywood termites. - ANSWER>>They are small and
cylindrical with six depressions on the sides. These pellets are unique to drywood
termites and are used for identification.
Where do drywood termites most often occur? - ANSWER>>In southern Florida,
southern California, and along the southern gulf coast of the United States.
Do drywood termites live entirely within wood? Why or why not? -
ANSWER>>Yes, because they require little moisture (wood MCs as low as 5%).
Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites have no connection with the soil.
List several ways you can protect wood from termites. - ANSWER>>To protect
wood from subterranean termites, you can:
, • apply insecticides to the soil around buildings, and
• avoid using wood mulches next to buildings.
To protect wood from subterranean and drywood termites, you can:
• use physical barriers on foundations, and
• use properly preserved wood, which makes it undesirable as a food source.
Describe the frass of powderpost beetles. - ANSWER>>Powderpost beetle frass
appears as a fine wood dust or powder. Slight jarring of infested wood can cause
the frass to sift from holes. This is a sure sign of a powderpost beetle infestation.
In addition, the frass of anobiid beetles has a distinctive hotdog bun shape.
For most wood-boring beetles, what life stage causes the most damage to wood
by boring inside the wood? - ANSWER>>The larvae (grub). The exception is the
ambrosia beetle in which the adult bores within the wood.
How do ambrosia beetles damage wood? - ANSWER>>They degrade wood by
staining it, by creating numerous entrance holes (pinholes), and by boring inside
the wood.
What type of wood does each group of wood boring beetles discussed in this
manual prefer? - ANSWER>>Ambrosia beetles - green logs or green lumber;
softwoods and hardwoods.
