TEXAS TERMITE TECHNICIAN EXAM
2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
______ pose the least problem as pests, occurring mainly in dead, damp, and rotting logs -
ANS Dampwood Termites
Because termites rely on soil moisture, they are generally more prevalent and able to survive in
____ - ANS sandy soils
Termites have ___ and ___ in their hindgut that allow them to digest cellulose -
ANS Protozoa and bacteria
The three forms (or castes) of termites are: - ANS Workers (pseudergates)
Soldiers
Reproductives
___ are by far the most numerous members of a colony - ANS Workers
____ are creamy white, wingless, eyeless, and soft-bodied, with chewing mouth-parts -
ANS workers
Workers are sometimes mistaken for: - ANS White ants
Workers mature within ___ and may live for ___ - ANS A few months
2-3 years
___ to ___ % of a colony's population are ___ - ANS 1-3%
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,Soldiers
Soldier termites can be distinguished by what characteristics? - ANS Greatly enlarged
reddish-brown heads
sword-like mandibles
The three types of reproductive termites are: - ANS Primary (alate)
Secondary
Tertiary
Kings and queens develop from which type of reproductives? - ANS Primary (alate)
A queen termite may lay up to ___ eggs in her lifetime - ANS 60,000
Reproductive termites are produced in mature colonies ___ to ___ years old - ANS 3-5 years
Secondary reproductives develop under what conditions? - ANS King and queen die
Part of the colony becomes separated from the main colony
Subterranean termites usually swarm from ___ to ___ - ANS January to June depending on
temperature and rain conditions
The "rule of thumb" is that swarming will generally occur within ___ days after ____ - ANS 10
days after a warm spring rain
T or F
Not all colonies swarm annually - ANS True
A swarm is also referred to as a: - ANS Dispersal Flight
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, 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. - ANS 6 to 12 eggs
Reproductive forms are typically not produced in the ____ - ANS First year
It typically takes ___ to ___ years for a newly established colony to start doing serious damage
to a structure - ANS 2 to 3 years
Outside of swarming, a colony can be produced/formed by what process? - ANS 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: - ANS 1/32" or 1/64" - both
listed in book
The ___ forms of termites are most often discovered by homeowners, and confused for ___ -
ANS Primary reproductive
Flying ants
Termites typically come to the attention of the homeowner in the ___ when the winged
reproductives form - ANS Spring
The most critical condition for termite infestation is: - ANS wood-to-soil contact
Subterranean termite feeding typically follows the grain of wood, and usually only the ____ is
eaten - ANS Soft Springwood
Termite earthen shelter tubes are usually ___ to ___" wide - ANS 1/4" to 1/2"
Coptotermes formosanus are also called: - ANS Formosan Termites
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2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
______ pose the least problem as pests, occurring mainly in dead, damp, and rotting logs -
ANS Dampwood Termites
Because termites rely on soil moisture, they are generally more prevalent and able to survive in
____ - ANS sandy soils
Termites have ___ and ___ in their hindgut that allow them to digest cellulose -
ANS Protozoa and bacteria
The three forms (or castes) of termites are: - ANS Workers (pseudergates)
Soldiers
Reproductives
___ are by far the most numerous members of a colony - ANS Workers
____ are creamy white, wingless, eyeless, and soft-bodied, with chewing mouth-parts -
ANS workers
Workers are sometimes mistaken for: - ANS White ants
Workers mature within ___ and may live for ___ - ANS A few months
2-3 years
___ to ___ % of a colony's population are ___ - ANS 1-3%
Copyright ©2025 BRIGHTSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Soldiers
Soldier termites can be distinguished by what characteristics? - ANS Greatly enlarged
reddish-brown heads
sword-like mandibles
The three types of reproductive termites are: - ANS Primary (alate)
Secondary
Tertiary
Kings and queens develop from which type of reproductives? - ANS Primary (alate)
A queen termite may lay up to ___ eggs in her lifetime - ANS 60,000
Reproductive termites are produced in mature colonies ___ to ___ years old - ANS 3-5 years
Secondary reproductives develop under what conditions? - ANS King and queen die
Part of the colony becomes separated from the main colony
Subterranean termites usually swarm from ___ to ___ - ANS January to June depending on
temperature and rain conditions
The "rule of thumb" is that swarming will generally occur within ___ days after ____ - ANS 10
days after a warm spring rain
T or F
Not all colonies swarm annually - ANS True
A swarm is also referred to as a: - ANS Dispersal Flight
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, 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. - ANS 6 to 12 eggs
Reproductive forms are typically not produced in the ____ - ANS First year
It typically takes ___ to ___ years for a newly established colony to start doing serious damage
to a structure - ANS 2 to 3 years
Outside of swarming, a colony can be produced/formed by what process? - ANS 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: - ANS 1/32" or 1/64" - both
listed in book
The ___ forms of termites are most often discovered by homeowners, and confused for ___ -
ANS Primary reproductive
Flying ants
Termites typically come to the attention of the homeowner in the ___ when the winged
reproductives form - ANS Spring
The most critical condition for termite infestation is: - ANS wood-to-soil contact
Subterranean termite feeding typically follows the grain of wood, and usually only the ____ is
eaten - ANS Soft Springwood
Termite earthen shelter tubes are usually ___ to ___" wide - ANS 1/4" to 1/2"
Coptotermes formosanus are also called: - ANS Formosan Termites
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