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Texas Termite Technician Questions and
Correct 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)
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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
© 2025 All rights reserved
Texas Termite Technician Questions and
Correct 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)
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
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
© 2025 All rights reserved
