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CA BRANCH 3 STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL
2026|ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Describe the difference between the exit holes of powder post beetles and the
exit holes of old house borers. - correct-answer – Powder post beetle exit holes
are generally small (about 1/32 to 5/16 inch wide) and perfectly round. Old house
borer exit holes are larger (about 1/4 to 3/8 inch wide) and irregularly shaped
(often oval).
True or False: Old house borers attack only aged wood. - correct-answer - False.
Do carpenter ants use wood for shelter or food? Describe the type of wood they
prefer for this purpose? - correct-answer - Shelter. They generally seek soft, moist
wood in which to establish their nests. You can often find them in old stumps and
other wood that has been softened by decay. They also attack wood in service
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such as utility poles. In structures, they often nest in porch columns, roofs,
windowsills, hollow-core doors, wood scraps in dirt-filled porches, and wood in
contact with soil. Although carpenter ants can extend their tunnels into dry wood,
they must have high humidity in their nesting area.
How can you distinguish the damage of carpenter ants from damage caused by
termites or wood-boring beetles? - correct-answer - Carpenter ant galleries do
not follow the grain and occur in the softer portions of the wood. Carpenter ants
keep their galleries smooth and clean. You will not find mud in the galleries as you
do with subterranean termites. Nor will carpenter ant galleries contain any
powdery dust or pellets like wood-borer frass.
Do all wood preservatives protect wood from carpenter ants and carpenter bees?
- correct-answer - Unfortunately, some preservatives may not completely protect
wood against damage from carpenter ants or carpenter bees. Suppliers of wood
treated with these chemicals may exclude carpenter ant and carpenter bee
damage from warranties that they offer.
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How can you distinguish a carpenter bee from a bumblebee? - correct-answer -
Carpenter bees have shiny, black, hairless abdomens, whereas the abdomen of a
bumblebee is yellow and hairy. Bumblebees also have large pollen baskets on
their hind legs. These baskets are absent on carpenter bee legs.
Describe the types of wood carpenter bees most often attack. - correct-answer -
Carpenter bees bore into seasoned woods, especially softwoods such as cedar,
redwood, pine, and fir. Bees may damage soft or weathered wood on porches,
decks, shed ceilings, railings, overhead trim, porch furniture, dead tree limbs,
fence posts, wooden shingles, wood siding, windowsills, and wood doors. They
prefer unpainted surfaces but will attack painted wood as well. In most cases,
carpenter bees will seek out the wood from which they developed as larvae.
How can you distinguish a carpenter bee bore hole from the exit hole of an old
house borer? - correct-answer - The diameter of a carpenter bee hole is typically
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larger, about 1/2 inch compared to 1/4 to 3/8 inch holes of old house borers.
Also, carpenter bees create bore holes that are perfectly round. Old house borers
create irregular (often oval) exit holes.
Gradual Metamorphosis - correct-answer - Insects that develop without much
visible change between their immature instars to the adult. Just an increase in
size. (SILVERFISH)
Incomplete Metamorphosis - correct-answer - insects that undergo change from
egg through several instars to a final winged adult stage. ( DRAGONFLIES)
Complete Metamorphosis - correct-answer - insects include the egg, leveral larval
instars, a pupa stage and winged adult. These appearance of these insects
changes drastically. (BUTTERFLIES, BEETLES, FLEAS, ANTS, FLIES, AND WASPS,
CA BRANCH 3 STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL
2026|ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Describe the difference between the exit holes of powder post beetles and the
exit holes of old house borers. - correct-answer – Powder post beetle exit holes
are generally small (about 1/32 to 5/16 inch wide) and perfectly round. Old house
borer exit holes are larger (about 1/4 to 3/8 inch wide) and irregularly shaped
(often oval).
True or False: Old house borers attack only aged wood. - correct-answer - False.
Do carpenter ants use wood for shelter or food? Describe the type of wood they
prefer for this purpose? - correct-answer - Shelter. They generally seek soft, moist
wood in which to establish their nests. You can often find them in old stumps and
other wood that has been softened by decay. They also attack wood in service
,2|Page
such as utility poles. In structures, they often nest in porch columns, roofs,
windowsills, hollow-core doors, wood scraps in dirt-filled porches, and wood in
contact with soil. Although carpenter ants can extend their tunnels into dry wood,
they must have high humidity in their nesting area.
How can you distinguish the damage of carpenter ants from damage caused by
termites or wood-boring beetles? - correct-answer - Carpenter ant galleries do
not follow the grain and occur in the softer portions of the wood. Carpenter ants
keep their galleries smooth and clean. You will not find mud in the galleries as you
do with subterranean termites. Nor will carpenter ant galleries contain any
powdery dust or pellets like wood-borer frass.
Do all wood preservatives protect wood from carpenter ants and carpenter bees?
- correct-answer - Unfortunately, some preservatives may not completely protect
wood against damage from carpenter ants or carpenter bees. Suppliers of wood
treated with these chemicals may exclude carpenter ant and carpenter bee
damage from warranties that they offer.
,3|Page
How can you distinguish a carpenter bee from a bumblebee? - correct-answer -
Carpenter bees have shiny, black, hairless abdomens, whereas the abdomen of a
bumblebee is yellow and hairy. Bumblebees also have large pollen baskets on
their hind legs. These baskets are absent on carpenter bee legs.
Describe the types of wood carpenter bees most often attack. - correct-answer -
Carpenter bees bore into seasoned woods, especially softwoods such as cedar,
redwood, pine, and fir. Bees may damage soft or weathered wood on porches,
decks, shed ceilings, railings, overhead trim, porch furniture, dead tree limbs,
fence posts, wooden shingles, wood siding, windowsills, and wood doors. They
prefer unpainted surfaces but will attack painted wood as well. In most cases,
carpenter bees will seek out the wood from which they developed as larvae.
How can you distinguish a carpenter bee bore hole from the exit hole of an old
house borer? - correct-answer - The diameter of a carpenter bee hole is typically
, 4|Page
larger, about 1/2 inch compared to 1/4 to 3/8 inch holes of old house borers.
Also, carpenter bees create bore holes that are perfectly round. Old house borers
create irregular (often oval) exit holes.
Gradual Metamorphosis - correct-answer - Insects that develop without much
visible change between their immature instars to the adult. Just an increase in
size. (SILVERFISH)
Incomplete Metamorphosis - correct-answer - insects that undergo change from
egg through several instars to a final winged adult stage. ( DRAGONFLIES)
Complete Metamorphosis - correct-answer - insects include the egg, leveral larval
instars, a pupa stage and winged adult. These appearance of these insects
changes drastically. (BUTTERFLIES, BEETLES, FLEAS, ANTS, FLIES, AND WASPS,
