CA BRANCH 3 STRUCTURAL PEST
CONTROL LATEST STUDY GUIDE 2026-
2027 GRADED A+
No. Question Verified Answer
Wood infested with brown rot appears dark brown,
How can you tell the
shows excessive shrinkage, develops cross-grain
difference between
cracking, and can be crushed easily into a brownish
wood suffering from
1 powder. Wood infested with white rot appears
brown rot and wood
whiter than normal, shows normal shrinkage, does
suffering from white
not crack across the grain, and is spongy to the
rot?
touch.
Sapstain fungi live on starch in wood cells,
What is the discoloring sapwood in patches. This stain is deep
difference between and cannot be removed by brushing or
2 the stains caused by planing. Mold fungi cause superficial discoloration
stain (sapstain) fungi that can usually be removed by brushing or
vs. mold fungi? planing, though on open-pore hardwoods (like
oaks), stains may be too deep to remove easily.
Look at their antennae, waists, and wings. Winged
How can you
termites have straight antennae, thick waists, and
distinguish between
3 wings equal in size and shape. Winged ants have
winged termites and
bent antennae, narrow waists, and forewings larger
winged ants?
than hind wings.
Name the four basic Workers – gather food, maintain galleries, tend
4 castes of termites. young, and groom others. Soldiers – guard the
Describe the basic colony against predators. Primary reproductives –
,No. Question Verified Answer
function(s) of each "swarmers" that fly out to start new
caste. colonies. Secondary reproductives – develop
within the colony and aid in egg production if the
queen is lost.
Describe the frass Drywood termite frass pellets are small, cylindrical,
5 pellets of drywood and have six depressions on the sides. These pellets
termites. are unique and used for identification.
Where do drywood Drywood termites most often occur in coastal and
6 termites most often southern California, including the Los Angeles, San
occur? Diego, and San Francisco Bay areas.
What is the most
common species of
7 Incisitermes minor, the Western drywood termite.
drywood termite in
California?
What is a "Section 2" A "Section 2" item refers to a condition or defect
8 item on a standard that is not an active infestation but is deemed likely
inspection report? to lead to infestation or infection.
What conditions are Earth-wood contacts, excessive moisture (including
deemed likely to lead plumbing leaks), cellulose debris, faulty grade
9
to infestation or levels, evidence of roof leaks, and insufficient
infection? ventilation.
To protect wood
Use physical barriers on foundations and use
from subterranean
10 properly preserved wood, which makes it
and drywood
undesirable as a food source.
termites, you can:
, No. Question Verified Answer
Powderpost beetle frass appears as a fine wood
dust or powder. Slight jarring of infested wood can
Describe the frass of
11 cause the frass to sift from holes, which is a sure
powderpost beetles.
sign of infestation. Anobiid beetle frass has a
distinctive "hotdog bun" shape.
For most wood-
boring beetles, what
life stage causes the The larvae (grub). The exception is the ambrosia
12
most damage to beetle, in which the adult bores within the wood.
wood by boring
inside the wood?
How do ambrosia They degrade wood by staining it, creating
13 beetles damage numerous entrance holes (pinholes), and boring
wood? inside the wood.
Ambrosia beetles – green logs or lumber;
softwoods/hardwoods. Powderpost beetles –
What type of wood
seasoned lumber/timbers;
does each group of
14 softwoods/hardwoods. Old house borers –
wood-boring beetles
seasoned wood; softwoods (pine, spruce,
prefer?
fir). Flatheaded borers – living trees, recently felled,
dead standing softwoods; rustic structures.
Larvae leave undigested wood particles ("frass") in
How do powderpost their tunnels. Frass appears as a fine wood dust or
15 beetles get their powder. Cutting or breaking infested wood reveals
name? galleries filled with frass, and jarring causes fine
powder to sift from holes—sure signs of infestation.
CONTROL LATEST STUDY GUIDE 2026-
2027 GRADED A+
No. Question Verified Answer
Wood infested with brown rot appears dark brown,
How can you tell the
shows excessive shrinkage, develops cross-grain
difference between
cracking, and can be crushed easily into a brownish
wood suffering from
1 powder. Wood infested with white rot appears
brown rot and wood
whiter than normal, shows normal shrinkage, does
suffering from white
not crack across the grain, and is spongy to the
rot?
touch.
Sapstain fungi live on starch in wood cells,
What is the discoloring sapwood in patches. This stain is deep
difference between and cannot be removed by brushing or
2 the stains caused by planing. Mold fungi cause superficial discoloration
stain (sapstain) fungi that can usually be removed by brushing or
vs. mold fungi? planing, though on open-pore hardwoods (like
oaks), stains may be too deep to remove easily.
Look at their antennae, waists, and wings. Winged
How can you
termites have straight antennae, thick waists, and
distinguish between
3 wings equal in size and shape. Winged ants have
winged termites and
bent antennae, narrow waists, and forewings larger
winged ants?
than hind wings.
Name the four basic Workers – gather food, maintain galleries, tend
4 castes of termites. young, and groom others. Soldiers – guard the
Describe the basic colony against predators. Primary reproductives –
,No. Question Verified Answer
function(s) of each "swarmers" that fly out to start new
caste. colonies. Secondary reproductives – develop
within the colony and aid in egg production if the
queen is lost.
Describe the frass Drywood termite frass pellets are small, cylindrical,
5 pellets of drywood and have six depressions on the sides. These pellets
termites. are unique and used for identification.
Where do drywood Drywood termites most often occur in coastal and
6 termites most often southern California, including the Los Angeles, San
occur? Diego, and San Francisco Bay areas.
What is the most
common species of
7 Incisitermes minor, the Western drywood termite.
drywood termite in
California?
What is a "Section 2" A "Section 2" item refers to a condition or defect
8 item on a standard that is not an active infestation but is deemed likely
inspection report? to lead to infestation or infection.
What conditions are Earth-wood contacts, excessive moisture (including
deemed likely to lead plumbing leaks), cellulose debris, faulty grade
9
to infestation or levels, evidence of roof leaks, and insufficient
infection? ventilation.
To protect wood
Use physical barriers on foundations and use
from subterranean
10 properly preserved wood, which makes it
and drywood
undesirable as a food source.
termites, you can:
, No. Question Verified Answer
Powderpost beetle frass appears as a fine wood
dust or powder. Slight jarring of infested wood can
Describe the frass of
11 cause the frass to sift from holes, which is a sure
powderpost beetles.
sign of infestation. Anobiid beetle frass has a
distinctive "hotdog bun" shape.
For most wood-
boring beetles, what
life stage causes the The larvae (grub). The exception is the ambrosia
12
most damage to beetle, in which the adult bores within the wood.
wood by boring
inside the wood?
How do ambrosia They degrade wood by staining it, creating
13 beetles damage numerous entrance holes (pinholes), and boring
wood? inside the wood.
Ambrosia beetles – green logs or lumber;
softwoods/hardwoods. Powderpost beetles –
What type of wood
seasoned lumber/timbers;
does each group of
14 softwoods/hardwoods. Old house borers –
wood-boring beetles
seasoned wood; softwoods (pine, spruce,
prefer?
fir). Flatheaded borers – living trees, recently felled,
dead standing softwoods; rustic structures.
Larvae leave undigested wood particles ("frass") in
How do powderpost their tunnels. Frass appears as a fine wood dust or
15 beetles get their powder. Cutting or breaking infested wood reveals
name? galleries filled with frass, and jarring causes fine
powder to sift from holes—sure signs of infestation.
