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7B MANAGEMENT OF WOOD DESTROYING
ORGANISMS: UNIT 2. PEST
IDENTIFICATION AND BIOLOGY LATEST
Q&A 2026
What is the MAIN reason that subterranean termites build mud tubes? - correct-
answer - To keep from drying out (desiccating). Soil furnishes moisture, essential
for termite survival. Mud tubes allow termites to travel away from the soil and
still maintain their necessary body moisture.
Subterranean termites produce four kinds of aboveground mud tubes. Name and
describe them. - correct-answer - 1. Exploratory tubes - tubes that protect against
desiccation and predators such as ants while foraging above ground.
2. Utility tubes -more permanent mud tubes used to connect underground
termite galleries directly to the food source.
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3. Suspended or drop tubes - lighter color tubes (containing more wood fibers)
that drop from the structural wood sometimes reaching down to the ground.
4. Swarming tubes - tubes that are built seasonally and function as an exit port for
swarmers leaving the colony.
Name the three indicators of subterranean termite infestation. - correct-answer -
1. The presence of mud tubes.
2. The presence of swarmers inside or next to the structure.
3. Wood damage where the springwood has been eaten away; galleries are filled
with muddy frass.
How can you distinguish winged termites from winged ants? - correct-answer - 1.
Termites have straight antennae; ants have elbowed antennae.
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2. Termites have thick waists; ants have narrow waists.
3. Termites have four long wings of equal size and shape; ants have two large
forewings and two smaller hind wings.
Ants and termites are both social insects. What are three differences between
termite and ant colonies? - correct-answer - 1. Ants go through complete
metamorphosis; termites go through incomplete (gradual) metamorphosis.
2. Ant colonies can have either a single queen or multiple queens, depending on
the species. Termite colonies have a single king and queen (although secondary
reproductives can also produce offspring).
3. Ant colonies consist almost exclusively of females. Ants produce males only
once a year, in time for mating flights. Termite colonies, in contrast, contain both
male and female members at all times.
7B MANAGEMENT OF WOOD DESTROYING
ORGANISMS: UNIT 2. PEST
IDENTIFICATION AND BIOLOGY LATEST
Q&A 2026
What is the MAIN reason that subterranean termites build mud tubes? - correct-
answer - To keep from drying out (desiccating). Soil furnishes moisture, essential
for termite survival. Mud tubes allow termites to travel away from the soil and
still maintain their necessary body moisture.
Subterranean termites produce four kinds of aboveground mud tubes. Name and
describe them. - correct-answer - 1. Exploratory tubes - tubes that protect against
desiccation and predators such as ants while foraging above ground.
2. Utility tubes -more permanent mud tubes used to connect underground
termite galleries directly to the food source.
,2|Page
3. Suspended or drop tubes - lighter color tubes (containing more wood fibers)
that drop from the structural wood sometimes reaching down to the ground.
4. Swarming tubes - tubes that are built seasonally and function as an exit port for
swarmers leaving the colony.
Name the three indicators of subterranean termite infestation. - correct-answer -
1. The presence of mud tubes.
2. The presence of swarmers inside or next to the structure.
3. Wood damage where the springwood has been eaten away; galleries are filled
with muddy frass.
How can you distinguish winged termites from winged ants? - correct-answer - 1.
Termites have straight antennae; ants have elbowed antennae.
, 3|Page
2. Termites have thick waists; ants have narrow waists.
3. Termites have four long wings of equal size and shape; ants have two large
forewings and two smaller hind wings.
Ants and termites are both social insects. What are three differences between
termite and ant colonies? - correct-answer - 1. Ants go through complete
metamorphosis; termites go through incomplete (gradual) metamorphosis.
2. Ant colonies can have either a single queen or multiple queens, depending on
the species. Termite colonies have a single king and queen (although secondary
reproductives can also produce offspring).
3. Ant colonies consist almost exclusively of females. Ants produce males only
once a year, in time for mating flights. Termite colonies, in contrast, contain both
male and female members at all times.
