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Sample questions
Which caste of the Reticulitermes flavipes colony is typically comprised of only 1–2% of the total population?
- Workers
- Reproductives
- Soldiers
- Alates
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A colony has three main castes: reproductives..., soldiers, and workers — and soldiers are usually only 1–2% of a Reticulitermes colony.🔗 Source
How does the impact of Reticulitermes flavipes change based on its location?
- It is a pest in forests but a decomposer in buildings.
- It is a pest in urban areas but a decomposer in the wild.
- It is a pest in Ontario but a decomposer in Florida.
- It is a pest in spring but a decomposer in winter.
Show answer
UC IPM/UGA explains that in the wild subterranean termites are a key part of forest ecosystems, breaking cellulose into the basic building blocks plants and animals can reuse. It comes down to location: helpful recycling deadfall in the woods, costly inside a building.🔗 Source
Which of the following is considered a primary sign of infestation that people notice most often?
- Presence of many swarmers indoors
- Presence of wood-eating insects in soil
- Mud (shelter) tubes
- Hollowed out galleries in structural lumber
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The sign you are most likely to spot is the mud (shelter) tube — UC IPM ranks these the infestation evidence people notice most often.🔗 Source
Which physical feature is used to identify a worker termite?
- Yellowish head with oversized mandibles
- Dark brown to black body with four equal-length wings
- Wingless, eyeless, soft-bodied, and white to cream colored
- Pinched waist and bent antennae
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Workers are wingless, eyeless, soft-bodied, white to cream, and about 1/4–3/8 inch long.🔗 Source
When identifying a swarming insect, how can you distinguish a termite from a winged ant based on physical characteristics?
- Termites have bent antennae and a pinched waist
- Termites have straight antennae, four equal-length wings, and a thick waist
- Termites have mismatched wings and a thick waist
- Termites have bent antennae and equal-length wings
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Per Kansas State Extension, termites have straight (unbent) antennae, four equal-length wings, and a thick waist; ants have bent antennae, mismatched wings, and a pinched waist.🔗 Source
What are the two main professional treatment approaches identified by UF/IFAS for subterranean termites?
- DIY wood treatments and chemical sprays
- Non-repellent liquid termiticides and chitin-synthesis-inhibitor (CSI) baits
- Moisture control and wood replacement
- Soil barriers and moisture reduction
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UF/IFAS identifies the two main options as non-repellent liquid termiticides and chitin-synthesis-inhibitor (CSI) baits.🔗 Source
What is the typical lifespan of a worker termite according to UGA?
- 5 to 10 years
- 1 to 4 years
- 10 to 20 years
- Less than 1 year
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UGA puts a worker's lifespan at about 1–4 years.🔗 Source
According to UF/IFAS, how long does a colony typically need to mature before it begins producing alates?
- 1 to 4 years
- 2 to 3 years
- 5 to 10 years
- 10 to 15 years
Show answer
UF/IFAS notes a colony needs five to ten years before producing alates.🔗 Source
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