Texas Termite Technician Exam Questions and Answers

______ pose the least problem as pests, occurring mainly in dead, damp, and rotting logs - ans-Dampwood Termites Because termites rely on soil moisture, they are generally more prevalent and able to survive in ____ - ans-sandy soils Termites have ___ and ___ in their hindgut that allow them to digest cellulose - ans-Protozoa and bacteria The three forms (or castes) of termites are: - ans-Workers (pseudergates) Soldiers Reproductives ___ are by far the most numerous members of a colony - ans-Workers ____ are creamy white, wingless, eyeless, and soft-bodied, with chewing mouth-parts - ans-workers Workers are sometimes mistaken for: - ans-White ants Workers mature within ___ and may live for ___ - ans-A few months 2-3 years ___ to ___ % of a colony's population are ___ - ans-1-3% Soldiers Soldier termites can be distinguished by what characteristics? - ans-Greatly enlarged reddish-brown heads sword-like mandibles The three types of reproductive termites are: - ans-Primary (alate) Secondary Tertiary Kings and queens develop from which type of reproductives? - ans-Primary (alate) A queen termite may lay up to ___ eggs in her lifetime - ans-60,000 Reproductive termites are produced in mature colonies ___ to ___ years old - ans-3-5 years Secondary reproductives develop under what conditions? - ans-King and queen die Part of the colony becomes separated from the main colony Subterranean termites usually swarm from ___ to ___ - ans-January to June depending on temperature and rain conditions The "rule of thumb" is that swarming will generally occur within ___ days after ____ - ans-10 days after a warm spring rain T or F Not all colonies swarm annually - ans-True A swarm is also referred to as a: - ans-Dispersal Flight Once a pair of swarming termites find a site and seal themselves in, the female (queen) will begin laying eggs, with the first batch generally being ___ to ___ eggs. - ans-6 to 12 eggs Reproductive forms are typically not produced in the ____ - ans-First year It typically takes ___ to ___ years for a newly established colony to start doing serious damage to a structure - ans-2 to 3 years Outside of swarming, a colony can be produced/formed by what process? - ans-Budding - the separation or leaving of a number of termites (to include one or more secondary reproductives) to form a new colony Termites can enter a foundation through cracks as small as: - ans-1/32" or 1/64" - both listed in book The ___ forms of termites are most often discovered by homeowners, and confused for ___ - ans-Primary reproductive Flying ants