NEW HAMPSHIRE COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
CATEGORY F3 EXAM — TERMITES AND WOOD
DESTROYING INSECTS QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS .PDF
New Hampshire Commercial Pesticide Applicator Category F3
Termites and Other Wood-Destroying Insects
Description:
This professional practice examination covers identification, biology, inspection, prevention,
integrated pest management, control strategies, pesticide safety, equipment, environmental
protection, and New Hampshire regulatory considerations relevant to Category F3. The F3
category encompasses preventive and remedial pesticide control of termites, ants, powder-post
beetles, and other wood-destroying insects in and around structures.
Question distribution: 200 questions
Format: Multiple choice, A–D
Difficulty: Approximately 30% recall, 50% application, 20% analysis
Answer format: Correct answer + 2–3 sentence rationale
Table of Contents
1. F3 Scope, Pest Identification & Inspection — Q1–Q25
2. Termite Biology, Identification & Behavior — Q26–Q50
3. Carpenter Ants & Other Wood-Destroying Hymenoptera — Q51–Q75
4. Wood-Destroying & Wood-Infesting Beetles — Q76–Q100
5. Prevention, IPM & Structural Conditions — Q101–Q125
6. Control Strategies & Application Practices — Q126–Q150
7. Pesticide Safety, Equipment & Environmental Protection — Q151–Q175
8. New Hampshire Requirements & Integrated Case Analysis — Q176–Q200
Section 1 — F3 Scope, Pest Identification & Inspection
Questions 1–25
Question 1
,Which pest group is specifically included within the scope of New Hampshire commercial
applicator Category F3?
A. Aquatic weeds
B. Termites and other wood-destroying insects
C. Agricultural nematodes
D. Mosquitoes
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Category F3 covers preventive and remedial control of termites, ants, powder-post
beetles, and other wood-destroying insects in and around structures. Mosquito control is
addressed under a different commercial category.
Question 2
What is the primary purpose of a wood-destroying-insect inspection?
A. To determine the maximum pesticide rate that can be applied
B. To identify evidence of pests, damage, conducive conditions, and potential treatment areas
C. To determine the property's market value
D. To eliminate the need for pest identification
Correct answer: B
Rationale: A competent inspection establishes what pest is present, where it is located, what
evidence exists, and which structural conditions may support the infestation. It provides the basis
for selecting an appropriate control strategy rather than automatically determining a pesticide
rate.
Question 3
Which observation would provide the strongest evidence that an apparent wood defect may be
associated with an active wood-destroying insect infestation?
A. Fresh insect evidence accompanied by current damage
B. The age of the building alone
C. The color of the exterior paint
D. The presence of ceramic flooring
Correct answer: A
, Rationale: Current insect activity combined with recent damage is much stronger evidence of an
active infestation than age or unrelated construction features. A historic defect may remain
visible long after the insects have disappeared.
Question 4
During an inspection, an applicator discovers damaged wood but no live insects. What is the
most appropriate conclusion?
A. The infestation is definitely active
B. The infestation is definitely eliminated
C. Additional evidence should be evaluated before determining whether activity is current
D. The wood should automatically be removed
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Damage alone does not establish whether insects are currently active. The applicator
should examine additional evidence such as galleries, frass, exit holes, shelter tubes, live insects,
moisture conditions, or other signs appropriate to the suspected pest.
Question 5
Why is accurate pest identification important before selecting a treatment?
A. Different wood-destroying insects have different biology and vulnerabilities
B. All wood-destroying insects respond identically to pesticides
C. Identification is required only for recordkeeping
D. Identification determines the property's insurance value
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Pest biology, feeding location, life cycle, and behavior determine where and how
control can be effective. Treating without identification can result in an ineffective application
and unnecessary pesticide exposure.
Question 6
An applicator finds a hollow-sounding section of wood during an inspection. What should this
finding be treated as?
A. Conclusive proof of termites
B. A clue requiring further investigation
CATEGORY F3 EXAM — TERMITES AND WOOD
DESTROYING INSECTS QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS .PDF
New Hampshire Commercial Pesticide Applicator Category F3
Termites and Other Wood-Destroying Insects
Description:
This professional practice examination covers identification, biology, inspection, prevention,
integrated pest management, control strategies, pesticide safety, equipment, environmental
protection, and New Hampshire regulatory considerations relevant to Category F3. The F3
category encompasses preventive and remedial pesticide control of termites, ants, powder-post
beetles, and other wood-destroying insects in and around structures.
Question distribution: 200 questions
Format: Multiple choice, A–D
Difficulty: Approximately 30% recall, 50% application, 20% analysis
Answer format: Correct answer + 2–3 sentence rationale
Table of Contents
1. F3 Scope, Pest Identification & Inspection — Q1–Q25
2. Termite Biology, Identification & Behavior — Q26–Q50
3. Carpenter Ants & Other Wood-Destroying Hymenoptera — Q51–Q75
4. Wood-Destroying & Wood-Infesting Beetles — Q76–Q100
5. Prevention, IPM & Structural Conditions — Q101–Q125
6. Control Strategies & Application Practices — Q126–Q150
7. Pesticide Safety, Equipment & Environmental Protection — Q151–Q175
8. New Hampshire Requirements & Integrated Case Analysis — Q176–Q200
Section 1 — F3 Scope, Pest Identification & Inspection
Questions 1–25
Question 1
,Which pest group is specifically included within the scope of New Hampshire commercial
applicator Category F3?
A. Aquatic weeds
B. Termites and other wood-destroying insects
C. Agricultural nematodes
D. Mosquitoes
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Category F3 covers preventive and remedial control of termites, ants, powder-post
beetles, and other wood-destroying insects in and around structures. Mosquito control is
addressed under a different commercial category.
Question 2
What is the primary purpose of a wood-destroying-insect inspection?
A. To determine the maximum pesticide rate that can be applied
B. To identify evidence of pests, damage, conducive conditions, and potential treatment areas
C. To determine the property's market value
D. To eliminate the need for pest identification
Correct answer: B
Rationale: A competent inspection establishes what pest is present, where it is located, what
evidence exists, and which structural conditions may support the infestation. It provides the basis
for selecting an appropriate control strategy rather than automatically determining a pesticide
rate.
Question 3
Which observation would provide the strongest evidence that an apparent wood defect may be
associated with an active wood-destroying insect infestation?
A. Fresh insect evidence accompanied by current damage
B. The age of the building alone
C. The color of the exterior paint
D. The presence of ceramic flooring
Correct answer: A
, Rationale: Current insect activity combined with recent damage is much stronger evidence of an
active infestation than age or unrelated construction features. A historic defect may remain
visible long after the insects have disappeared.
Question 4
During an inspection, an applicator discovers damaged wood but no live insects. What is the
most appropriate conclusion?
A. The infestation is definitely active
B. The infestation is definitely eliminated
C. Additional evidence should be evaluated before determining whether activity is current
D. The wood should automatically be removed
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Damage alone does not establish whether insects are currently active. The applicator
should examine additional evidence such as galleries, frass, exit holes, shelter tubes, live insects,
moisture conditions, or other signs appropriate to the suspected pest.
Question 5
Why is accurate pest identification important before selecting a treatment?
A. Different wood-destroying insects have different biology and vulnerabilities
B. All wood-destroying insects respond identically to pesticides
C. Identification is required only for recordkeeping
D. Identification determines the property's insurance value
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Pest biology, feeding location, life cycle, and behavior determine where and how
control can be effective. Treating without identification can result in an ineffective application
and unnecessary pesticide exposure.
Question 6
An applicator finds a hollow-sounding section of wood during an inspection. What should this
finding be treated as?
A. Conclusive proof of termites
B. A clue requiring further investigation
