7B MANAGEMENT OF WOOD
DESTROYING ORGANISMS: UNIT 2. PEST
IDENTIFICATION AND BIOLOGY - TEST
YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Questions 1–20 | Answers & Rationales
1. Which type of metamorphosis involves the stages egg → nymph → adult?
A. Complete metamorphosis
B. Incomplete metamorphosis
C. Hypermetamorphosis
D. None of the above
Correct Answer: B. Incomplete metamorphosis
Rationale: In incomplete metamorphosis, the insect develops through egg → nymph → adult.
The nymph usually resembles a smaller, immature version of the adult.
2. Which sequence represents complete metamorphosis?
A. Egg → nymph → adult
B. Egg → larva → pupa → adult
C. Egg → pupa → nymph → adult
D. Larva → egg → adult → pupa
Correct Answer: B. Egg → larva → pupa → adult
Rationale: Complete metamorphosis has four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Beetles are an important example among wood-destroying insects.
3. Why are scientific names useful when identifying wood-destroying organisms?
A. They describe the organism's habitat
B. They indicate the organism's size
,C. They provide a standardized identification system
D. They identify the type of damage caused
Correct Answer: C. They provide a standardized identification system
Rationale: Common names can differ between regions. Scientific names provide a consistent
way to identify a particular species.
4. Why is the termite order associated with the term “Isoptera”?
A. Termites have equal-sized front and hind wings
B. Termites have identical antennae
C. Termites have equal-sized legs
D. Termites have equal-sized mandibles
Correct Answer: A. Termites have equal-sized front and hind wings
Rationale: “Isoptera” refers to the relatively equal size and shape of the front and hind wings of
termite swarmers.
5. What helps termites digest cellulose?
A. Their wings
B. Microorganisms in their digestive tract
C. Their mandibles alone
D. Saliva produced by soldiers
Correct Answer: B. Microorganisms in their digestive tract
Rationale: Termites depend on microorganisms in their digestive system to help break down
cellulose, allowing them to obtain nutrients from wood.
6. Which of the following is characteristic of social insects?
A. They always live alone
B. They have no specialized individuals
C. They live in organized groups with specialized roles
D. Only adults participate in colony activities
Correct Answer: C. They live in organized groups with specialized roles
,Rationale: Social insects such as termites live in colonies with specialized castes. Termite
workers, soldiers, and reproductives perform different functions.
7. Which type of termite generally produces dry, cylindrical fecal pellets?
A. Subterranean termites
B. Drywood termites
C. Dampwood termites
D. Formosan termites only
Correct Answer: B. Drywood termites
Rationale: Drywood termites live directly in relatively dry wood and produce characteristic
small, dry fecal pellets, which can accumulate below infested wood.
8. Which group is generally considered one of the most economically important wood-
destroying termites in the United States?
A. Subterranean termites
B. Carpenter ants
C. Powderpost beetles
D. Carpenter bees
Correct Answer: A. Subterranean termites
Rationale: Subterranean termites are major structural pests because colonies can forage
extensively from the soil into buildings and attack structural wood.
9. What normally happens when termite swarmers leave an established colony?
A. They immediately become workers
B. They establish or attempt to establish new colonies
C. They become soldiers
D. They stop reproducing permanently
Correct Answer: B. They establish or attempt to establish new colonies
Rationale: Swarmers are winged reproductive termites. After dispersing and mating, they can
establish a new colony under suitable conditions.
, 10. What is termite swarming?
A. Movement of workers into damaged wood
B. Dispersal of winged reproductive termites
C. Movement of soldiers around the colony
D. Seasonal production of worker termites
Correct Answer: B. Dispersal of winged reproductive termites
Rationale: Swarming is the seasonal dispersal of winged reproductive termites. It allows
termites to leave an established colony and potentially establish new colonies.
11. Which termite caste is primarily responsible for gathering food and caring for the colony?
A. Soldiers
B. Workers
C. Primary reproductives
D. Swarmers
Correct Answer: B. Workers
Rationale: Worker termites perform many essential colony activities, including foraging, feeding
other colony members, caring for young, and maintaining galleries.
12. What is the primary defensive function of termite soldiers?
A. Producing eggs
B. Building wings
C. Defending the colony
D. Digesting cellulose
Correct Answer: C. Defending the colony
Rationale: Soldiers are specialized for colony defense. Their enlarged heads and mandibles help
them defend against predators and threats.
13. Which termite caste is characterized by an enlarged head and prominent mandibles?
DESTROYING ORGANISMS: UNIT 2. PEST
IDENTIFICATION AND BIOLOGY - TEST
YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Questions 1–20 | Answers & Rationales
1. Which type of metamorphosis involves the stages egg → nymph → adult?
A. Complete metamorphosis
B. Incomplete metamorphosis
C. Hypermetamorphosis
D. None of the above
Correct Answer: B. Incomplete metamorphosis
Rationale: In incomplete metamorphosis, the insect develops through egg → nymph → adult.
The nymph usually resembles a smaller, immature version of the adult.
2. Which sequence represents complete metamorphosis?
A. Egg → nymph → adult
B. Egg → larva → pupa → adult
C. Egg → pupa → nymph → adult
D. Larva → egg → adult → pupa
Correct Answer: B. Egg → larva → pupa → adult
Rationale: Complete metamorphosis has four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Beetles are an important example among wood-destroying insects.
3. Why are scientific names useful when identifying wood-destroying organisms?
A. They describe the organism's habitat
B. They indicate the organism's size
,C. They provide a standardized identification system
D. They identify the type of damage caused
Correct Answer: C. They provide a standardized identification system
Rationale: Common names can differ between regions. Scientific names provide a consistent
way to identify a particular species.
4. Why is the termite order associated with the term “Isoptera”?
A. Termites have equal-sized front and hind wings
B. Termites have identical antennae
C. Termites have equal-sized legs
D. Termites have equal-sized mandibles
Correct Answer: A. Termites have equal-sized front and hind wings
Rationale: “Isoptera” refers to the relatively equal size and shape of the front and hind wings of
termite swarmers.
5. What helps termites digest cellulose?
A. Their wings
B. Microorganisms in their digestive tract
C. Their mandibles alone
D. Saliva produced by soldiers
Correct Answer: B. Microorganisms in their digestive tract
Rationale: Termites depend on microorganisms in their digestive system to help break down
cellulose, allowing them to obtain nutrients from wood.
6. Which of the following is characteristic of social insects?
A. They always live alone
B. They have no specialized individuals
C. They live in organized groups with specialized roles
D. Only adults participate in colony activities
Correct Answer: C. They live in organized groups with specialized roles
,Rationale: Social insects such as termites live in colonies with specialized castes. Termite
workers, soldiers, and reproductives perform different functions.
7. Which type of termite generally produces dry, cylindrical fecal pellets?
A. Subterranean termites
B. Drywood termites
C. Dampwood termites
D. Formosan termites only
Correct Answer: B. Drywood termites
Rationale: Drywood termites live directly in relatively dry wood and produce characteristic
small, dry fecal pellets, which can accumulate below infested wood.
8. Which group is generally considered one of the most economically important wood-
destroying termites in the United States?
A. Subterranean termites
B. Carpenter ants
C. Powderpost beetles
D. Carpenter bees
Correct Answer: A. Subterranean termites
Rationale: Subterranean termites are major structural pests because colonies can forage
extensively from the soil into buildings and attack structural wood.
9. What normally happens when termite swarmers leave an established colony?
A. They immediately become workers
B. They establish or attempt to establish new colonies
C. They become soldiers
D. They stop reproducing permanently
Correct Answer: B. They establish or attempt to establish new colonies
Rationale: Swarmers are winged reproductive termites. After dispersing and mating, they can
establish a new colony under suitable conditions.
, 10. What is termite swarming?
A. Movement of workers into damaged wood
B. Dispersal of winged reproductive termites
C. Movement of soldiers around the colony
D. Seasonal production of worker termites
Correct Answer: B. Dispersal of winged reproductive termites
Rationale: Swarming is the seasonal dispersal of winged reproductive termites. It allows
termites to leave an established colony and potentially establish new colonies.
11. Which termite caste is primarily responsible for gathering food and caring for the colony?
A. Soldiers
B. Workers
C. Primary reproductives
D. Swarmers
Correct Answer: B. Workers
Rationale: Worker termites perform many essential colony activities, including foraging, feeding
other colony members, caring for young, and maintaining galleries.
12. What is the primary defensive function of termite soldiers?
A. Producing eggs
B. Building wings
C. Defending the colony
D. Digesting cellulose
Correct Answer: C. Defending the colony
Rationale: Soldiers are specialized for colony defense. Their enlarged heads and mandibles help
them defend against predators and threats.
13. Which termite caste is characterized by an enlarged head and prominent mandibles?
