Florida Termite + WDO Exam 2026/2027 – Complete Exam-Style
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SECTION A: TERMITE BIOLOGY & IDENTIFICATION
Section A, Question 1 (Cognitive Level: Remembering | Question Type: MCQ)
The Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) typically swarms in Florida
during:
A. Late summer and early fall afternoons
B. Spring, often between February and April
C. Midday throughout the winter months
D. Early evening in late summer
Correct Answer: B. Spring, often between February and April
Rationale: Eastern subterranean termites swarm during daylight hours in spring when
soil temperatures rise, a key identification feature for Florida inspectors. Distractor A
describes drywood termite swarm timing.
Section A, Question 2 (Cognitive Level: Remembering | Question Type: MCQ)
Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus) are distinguished from
Eastern subterraneans primarily by their:
A. Smaller colony size and lack of mud tubes
B. Larger colonies, carton nest construction, and late spring/early evening swarming
C. Exclusive preference for dry, above-ground wood
D. Six-sided fecal pellets shed from kick-out holes
Correct Answer: B. Larger colonies, carton nest construction, and late spring/early
evening swarming
,Rationale: Formosan termites build carton nests from soil, wood, and saliva, maintain
colonies exceeding one million individuals, and swarm at dusk in late spring. Distractor
D describes drywood termite frass.
Section A, Question 3 (Cognitive Level: Remembering | Question Type: MCQ)
Drywood termite fecal pellets (frass) are best described as:
A. Fine powdery dust without distinct shape
B. Six-sided with rounded ends, resembling coarse sand or coffee grounds
C. Elongated cylindrical pellets mixed with wood fragments
D. Moist, muddy deposits found in galleries
Correct Answer: B. Six-sided with rounded ends, resembling coarse sand or coffee
grounds
Rationale: Drywood termites expel dry, hexagonal pellets through kick-out holes; the
six-sided shape with rounded ends is diagnostic. Distractor A describes powderpost
beetle frass.
Section A, Question 4 (Cognitive Level: Remembering | Question Type: MCQ)
Eastern subterranean termite soldiers are morphologically identified by their:
A. Oval-shaped heads with a fontanelle pore
B. Rectangular heads and large mandibles
C. Elongated snouts for spraying defensive secretions
D. Equal-sized wings retained permanently
Correct Answer: B. Rectangular heads and large mandibles
Rationale: Reticulitermes flavipes soldiers possess characteristically rectangular heads
with prominent mandibles used for colony defense. Distractor A describes Formosan
soldier head shape.
,Section A, Question 5 (Cognitive Level: Understanding | Question Type: MCQ)
A shelter tube constructed by subterranean termites differs from an exploratory tube in
that a shelter tube:
A. Is built entirely above ground without soil contact
B. Extends from the soil to a wood food source and is used for continuous foraging
C. Is constructed only by drywood termites for moisture retention
D. Contains no worker termites and is abandoned after one use
Correct Answer: B. Extends from the soil to a wood food source and is used for
continuous foraging
Rationale: Shelter (working) tubes maintain a protected soil-to-wood connection for
sustained colony foraging, whereas exploratory tubes are thinner, temporary probes.
Distractor C incorrectly attributes tube construction to drywood termites.
Section A, Question 6 (Cognitive Level: Understanding | Question Type: MCQ)
Drywood termites do not require soil contact because they:
A. Extract sufficient moisture from the wood they consume and the ambient air
B. Have specialized mandibles that synthesize water from cellulose
C. Live exclusively in irrigated landscaping timbers
D. Obtain moisture from mud tubes connected to the ground
Correct Answer: A. Extract sufficient moisture from the wood they consume and the
ambient air
Rationale: Drywood termites have evolved efficient water conservation mechanisms,
allowing them to colonize above-ground wood without soil moisture. Distractor D
describes subterranean termite behavior.
Section A, Question 7 (Cognitive Level: Understanding | Question Type: MCQ)
, A single Formosan subterranean termite colony may contain several million individuals,
whereas an Eastern subterranean colony typically contains:
A. 50 to 200 individuals
B. Several hundred thousand individuals
C. Only a king and queen without workers
D. Exactly 10,000 individuals regardless of age
Correct Answer: B. Several hundred thousand individuals
Rationale: Eastern subterranean colonies are large but generally smaller than Formosan
colonies, which can reach millions and cause more rapid structural damage. Distractor
A severely underestimates subterranean colony size.
Section A, Question 8 (Cognitive Level: Understanding | Question Type: MCQ)
Termite alates (swarmers) are distinguished from ant swarmers primarily by their:
A. Unequal-sized forewings and hindwings with few veins
B. Equal-sized forewings and hindwings with two prominent veins near the front margin
C. Complete absence of wings after landing
D. Elbowed antennae and constricted waist
Correct Answer: B. Equal-sized forewings and hindwings with two prominent veins near
the front margin
Rationale: Termite alates have two pairs of equal-length wings, whereas ants have larger
forewings and smaller hindwings; termites also have straight antennae and broad
waists. Distractor D describes ant morphology.
Section A, Question 9 (Cognitive Level: Applying | Question Type: Scenario-Based)
During a March inspection in Gainesville, an inspector observes swarmers near the
foundation at midday, mud tubes on the sill plate, and soldiers with rectangular heads.
The most likely species is:
Questions with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified – Pass
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SECTION A: TERMITE BIOLOGY & IDENTIFICATION
Section A, Question 1 (Cognitive Level: Remembering | Question Type: MCQ)
The Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) typically swarms in Florida
during:
A. Late summer and early fall afternoons
B. Spring, often between February and April
C. Midday throughout the winter months
D. Early evening in late summer
Correct Answer: B. Spring, often between February and April
Rationale: Eastern subterranean termites swarm during daylight hours in spring when
soil temperatures rise, a key identification feature for Florida inspectors. Distractor A
describes drywood termite swarm timing.
Section A, Question 2 (Cognitive Level: Remembering | Question Type: MCQ)
Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus) are distinguished from
Eastern subterraneans primarily by their:
A. Smaller colony size and lack of mud tubes
B. Larger colonies, carton nest construction, and late spring/early evening swarming
C. Exclusive preference for dry, above-ground wood
D. Six-sided fecal pellets shed from kick-out holes
Correct Answer: B. Larger colonies, carton nest construction, and late spring/early
evening swarming
,Rationale: Formosan termites build carton nests from soil, wood, and saliva, maintain
colonies exceeding one million individuals, and swarm at dusk in late spring. Distractor
D describes drywood termite frass.
Section A, Question 3 (Cognitive Level: Remembering | Question Type: MCQ)
Drywood termite fecal pellets (frass) are best described as:
A. Fine powdery dust without distinct shape
B. Six-sided with rounded ends, resembling coarse sand or coffee grounds
C. Elongated cylindrical pellets mixed with wood fragments
D. Moist, muddy deposits found in galleries
Correct Answer: B. Six-sided with rounded ends, resembling coarse sand or coffee
grounds
Rationale: Drywood termites expel dry, hexagonal pellets through kick-out holes; the
six-sided shape with rounded ends is diagnostic. Distractor A describes powderpost
beetle frass.
Section A, Question 4 (Cognitive Level: Remembering | Question Type: MCQ)
Eastern subterranean termite soldiers are morphologically identified by their:
A. Oval-shaped heads with a fontanelle pore
B. Rectangular heads and large mandibles
C. Elongated snouts for spraying defensive secretions
D. Equal-sized wings retained permanently
Correct Answer: B. Rectangular heads and large mandibles
Rationale: Reticulitermes flavipes soldiers possess characteristically rectangular heads
with prominent mandibles used for colony defense. Distractor A describes Formosan
soldier head shape.
,Section A, Question 5 (Cognitive Level: Understanding | Question Type: MCQ)
A shelter tube constructed by subterranean termites differs from an exploratory tube in
that a shelter tube:
A. Is built entirely above ground without soil contact
B. Extends from the soil to a wood food source and is used for continuous foraging
C. Is constructed only by drywood termites for moisture retention
D. Contains no worker termites and is abandoned after one use
Correct Answer: B. Extends from the soil to a wood food source and is used for
continuous foraging
Rationale: Shelter (working) tubes maintain a protected soil-to-wood connection for
sustained colony foraging, whereas exploratory tubes are thinner, temporary probes.
Distractor C incorrectly attributes tube construction to drywood termites.
Section A, Question 6 (Cognitive Level: Understanding | Question Type: MCQ)
Drywood termites do not require soil contact because they:
A. Extract sufficient moisture from the wood they consume and the ambient air
B. Have specialized mandibles that synthesize water from cellulose
C. Live exclusively in irrigated landscaping timbers
D. Obtain moisture from mud tubes connected to the ground
Correct Answer: A. Extract sufficient moisture from the wood they consume and the
ambient air
Rationale: Drywood termites have evolved efficient water conservation mechanisms,
allowing them to colonize above-ground wood without soil moisture. Distractor D
describes subterranean termite behavior.
Section A, Question 7 (Cognitive Level: Understanding | Question Type: MCQ)
, A single Formosan subterranean termite colony may contain several million individuals,
whereas an Eastern subterranean colony typically contains:
A. 50 to 200 individuals
B. Several hundred thousand individuals
C. Only a king and queen without workers
D. Exactly 10,000 individuals regardless of age
Correct Answer: B. Several hundred thousand individuals
Rationale: Eastern subterranean colonies are large but generally smaller than Formosan
colonies, which can reach millions and cause more rapid structural damage. Distractor
A severely underestimates subterranean colony size.
Section A, Question 8 (Cognitive Level: Understanding | Question Type: MCQ)
Termite alates (swarmers) are distinguished from ant swarmers primarily by their:
A. Unequal-sized forewings and hindwings with few veins
B. Equal-sized forewings and hindwings with two prominent veins near the front margin
C. Complete absence of wings after landing
D. Elbowed antennae and constricted waist
Correct Answer: B. Equal-sized forewings and hindwings with two prominent veins near
the front margin
Rationale: Termite alates have two pairs of equal-length wings, whereas ants have larger
forewings and smaller hindwings; termites also have straight antennae and broad
waists. Distractor D describes ant morphology.
Section A, Question 9 (Cognitive Level: Applying | Question Type: Scenario-Based)
During a March inspection in Gainesville, an inspector observes swarmers near the
foundation at midday, mud tubes on the sill plate, and soldiers with rectangular heads.
The most likely species is:
