TEXAS TERMITE TECHNICIAN NEWESET 2025/2026 COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE – EXPERT VERIFIED 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
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
Reproductive termites are produced in mature colonies ___ to ___ years old -ANSWER-3-5
years
Secondary reproductives develop under what conditions? -ANSWER-King and queen die
Part of the colony becomes separated from the main colony
Subterranean termites usually swarm from ___ to ___ -ANSWER-January to June depending
on temperature and rain conditions
The "rule of thumb" is that swarming will generally occur within ___ days after ____ -
ANSWER-10 days after a warm spring rain
T or F
Not all colonies swarm annually -ANSWER-True
A swarm is also referred to as a: -ANSWER-Dispersal Flight
, 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
STUDY GUIDE – EXPERT VERIFIED 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
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
Reproductive termites are produced in mature colonies ___ to ___ years old -ANSWER-3-5
years
Secondary reproductives develop under what conditions? -ANSWER-King and queen die
Part of the colony becomes separated from the main colony
Subterranean termites usually swarm from ___ to ___ -ANSWER-January to June depending
on temperature and rain conditions
The "rule of thumb" is that swarming will generally occur within ___ days after ____ -
ANSWER-10 days after a warm spring rain
T or F
Not all colonies swarm annually -ANSWER-True
A swarm is also referred to as a: -ANSWER-Dispersal Flight
, 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
