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