Texas Termite Technician - Structural Pest Control Service (SPCS) Study Guide Questions & Answers
______ pose the least problem as pests, occurring mainly in dead, damp, and rotting logs ✔️Dampwood
Termites
Because termites rely on soil moisture, they are generally more prevalent and able to survive in ____
✔️sandy soils
Termites have ___ and ___ in their hindgut that allow them to digest cellulose ✔️Protozoa and bacteria
The three forms (or castes) of termites are: ✔️Workers (pseudergates)
Soldiers
Reproductives
___ are by far the most numerous members of a colony ✔️Workers
____ are creamy white, wingless, eyeless, and soft-bodied, with chewing mouth-parts ✔️workers
Workers are sometimes mistaken for: ✔️White ants
Workers mature within ___ and may live for ___ ✔️A few months
2-3 years
___ to ___ % of a colony's population are ___ ✔️1-3%
Soldiers
Soldier termites can be distinguished by what characteristics? ✔️Greatly enlarged reddish-brown heads
sword-like mandibles
The three types of reproductive termites are: ✔️Primary (alate)
Secondary
Tertiary
Kings and queens develop from which type of reproductives? ✔️Primary (alate)
A queen termite may lay up to ___ eggs in her lifetime ✔️60,000
Reproductive termites are produced in mature colonies ___ to ___ years old ✔️3-5 years
Secondary reproductives develop under what conditions? ✔️King and queen die
Part of the colony becomes separated from the main colony
Subterranean termites usually swarm from ___ to ___ ✔️January to June depending on temperature and
rain conditions
, The "rule of thumb" is that swarming will generally occur within ___ days after ____ ✔️10 days after a
warm spring rain
T or F
Not all colonies swarm annually ✔️True
A swarm is also referred to as a: ✔️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. ✔️6 to 12 eggs
Reproductive forms are typically not produced in the ____ ✔️First year
It typically takes ___ to ___ years for a newly established colony to start doing serious damage to a
structure ✔️2 to 3 years
Outside of swarming, a colony can be produced/formed by what process? ✔️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: ✔️1/32" or 1/64" - both listed in book
The ___ forms of termites are most often discovered by homeowners, and confused for ___ ✔️Primary
reproductive
Flying ants
Termites typically come to the attention of the homeowner in the ___ when the winged reproductives
form ✔️Spring
The most critical condition for termite infestation is: ✔️wood-to-soil contact
Subterranean termite feeding typically follows the grain of wood, and usually only the ____ is eaten
✔️Soft Springwood
Termite earthen shelter tubes are usually ___ to ___" wide ✔️1/4" to 1/2"
Coptotermes formosanus are also called: ✔️Formosan Termites
Formosan termites do not need___ so long as ___ ✔️Do not need constant contact with the soil so long
as there is a moisture supply
Formosan termite nests are referred to as: ✔️Cartons or Galleries
Formosan colonies usually consist of ___ termites, and colonies of ___ are not unusual ✔️Several
hundred thousand termites, and colonies of more than a MILLION are not unusual
Larger formosan termite colonies are possible due to: ✔️Greater than normal reproductive capabilities -
a queen can lay up to 1,000 eggs per day
T or F
______ pose the least problem as pests, occurring mainly in dead, damp, and rotting logs ✔️Dampwood
Termites
Because termites rely on soil moisture, they are generally more prevalent and able to survive in ____
✔️sandy soils
Termites have ___ and ___ in their hindgut that allow them to digest cellulose ✔️Protozoa and bacteria
The three forms (or castes) of termites are: ✔️Workers (pseudergates)
Soldiers
Reproductives
___ are by far the most numerous members of a colony ✔️Workers
____ are creamy white, wingless, eyeless, and soft-bodied, with chewing mouth-parts ✔️workers
Workers are sometimes mistaken for: ✔️White ants
Workers mature within ___ and may live for ___ ✔️A few months
2-3 years
___ to ___ % of a colony's population are ___ ✔️1-3%
Soldiers
Soldier termites can be distinguished by what characteristics? ✔️Greatly enlarged reddish-brown heads
sword-like mandibles
The three types of reproductive termites are: ✔️Primary (alate)
Secondary
Tertiary
Kings and queens develop from which type of reproductives? ✔️Primary (alate)
A queen termite may lay up to ___ eggs in her lifetime ✔️60,000
Reproductive termites are produced in mature colonies ___ to ___ years old ✔️3-5 years
Secondary reproductives develop under what conditions? ✔️King and queen die
Part of the colony becomes separated from the main colony
Subterranean termites usually swarm from ___ to ___ ✔️January to June depending on temperature and
rain conditions
, The "rule of thumb" is that swarming will generally occur within ___ days after ____ ✔️10 days after a
warm spring rain
T or F
Not all colonies swarm annually ✔️True
A swarm is also referred to as a: ✔️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. ✔️6 to 12 eggs
Reproductive forms are typically not produced in the ____ ✔️First year
It typically takes ___ to ___ years for a newly established colony to start doing serious damage to a
structure ✔️2 to 3 years
Outside of swarming, a colony can be produced/formed by what process? ✔️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: ✔️1/32" or 1/64" - both listed in book
The ___ forms of termites are most often discovered by homeowners, and confused for ___ ✔️Primary
reproductive
Flying ants
Termites typically come to the attention of the homeowner in the ___ when the winged reproductives
form ✔️Spring
The most critical condition for termite infestation is: ✔️wood-to-soil contact
Subterranean termite feeding typically follows the grain of wood, and usually only the ____ is eaten
✔️Soft Springwood
Termite earthen shelter tubes are usually ___ to ___" wide ✔️1/4" to 1/2"
Coptotermes formosanus are also called: ✔️Formosan Termites
Formosan termites do not need___ so long as ___ ✔️Do not need constant contact with the soil so long
as there is a moisture supply
Formosan termite nests are referred to as: ✔️Cartons or Galleries
Formosan colonies usually consist of ___ termites, and colonies of ___ are not unusual ✔️Several
hundred thousand termites, and colonies of more than a MILLION are not unusual
Larger formosan termite colonies are possible due to: ✔️Greater than normal reproductive capabilities -
a queen can lay up to 1,000 eggs per day
T or F
