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