TEXAS TERMITE TECHNICIAN QUESTIONS &
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 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
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 ___ forms of termites are most often discovered by homeowners, and confused for
___ - Answer -Primary reproductive
Flying ants
, Termites typically come to the attention of the homeowner in the ___ when the winged
reproductives form - Answer -Spring
The most critical condition for termite infestation is: - Answer -wood-to-soil contact
Subterranean termite feeding typically follows the grain of wood, and usually only the
____ is eaten - Answer -Soft Springwood
Termite earthen shelter tubes are usually ___ to ___" wide - Answer -1/4" to 1/2"
Coptotermes formosanus are also called: - Answer -Formosan Termites
Formosan termites do not need___ so long as ___ - Answer -Do not need constant
contact with the soil so long as there is a moisture supply
Formosan termite nests are referred to as: - Answer -Cartons or Galleries
Formosan colonies usually consist of ___ termites, and colonies of ___ are not unusual
- Answer -Several hundred thousand termites, and colonies of more than a MILLION
are not unusual
Larger formosan termite colonies are possible due to: - Answer -Greater than normal
reproductive capabilities - a queen can lay up to 1,000 eggs per day
T or F
Formosan termites can consume a greater variety of cellulose-containing material than
other termite species - Answer -True
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
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 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
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 ___ forms of termites are most often discovered by homeowners, and confused for
___ - Answer -Primary reproductive
Flying ants
, Termites typically come to the attention of the homeowner in the ___ when the winged
reproductives form - Answer -Spring
The most critical condition for termite infestation is: - Answer -wood-to-soil contact
Subterranean termite feeding typically follows the grain of wood, and usually only the
____ is eaten - Answer -Soft Springwood
Termite earthen shelter tubes are usually ___ to ___" wide - Answer -1/4" to 1/2"
Coptotermes formosanus are also called: - Answer -Formosan Termites
Formosan termites do not need___ so long as ___ - Answer -Do not need constant
contact with the soil so long as there is a moisture supply
Formosan termite nests are referred to as: - Answer -Cartons or Galleries
Formosan colonies usually consist of ___ termites, and colonies of ___ are not unusual
- Answer -Several hundred thousand termites, and colonies of more than a MILLION
are not unusual
Larger formosan termite colonies are possible due to: - Answer -Greater than normal
reproductive capabilities - a queen can lay up to 1,000 eggs per day
T or F
Formosan termites can consume a greater variety of cellulose-containing material than
other termite species - Answer -True
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
