CA BRANCH 3 Structural Pest Control
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1. How can you tell the dif- Wood infested with brown rot typically:
ference between wood
suffering from brown rot
• appears dark brown,
and wood suffering from
white rot?
• shows excessive shrinkage,
• develops cross-grain cracking, and
• can be crushed easily to form a brownish powder.
Wood infested with white rot on the other hand, often:
• appears whiter than normal,
• shows normal shrinkage,
• does not crack across the grain,
• is spongy to the touch.
2. What is the difference be- Sapstain fungi live on the starch in wood cells. These fungi may
tween the stains caused discolor the sapwood entirely or in patches. This stain is deep within
by stain (sapstain) fungi the wood and cannot be removed by brushing or planing.
vs. mold fungi?
On the other hand, discoloration caused by mold fungi is superficial.
, CA BRANCH 3 Structural Pest Control
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_3kdp4g
This means that you can usually remove the discoloration by brushing
or planing. However, on hardwoods with open pores (very large and
visible vessels) such as the oaks, the surface molds may cause stains
that are too deep to remove easily.
3. How can you distinguish Look at their antennae, waists, and wings. Winged termites have
between winged ter- straight antennae, thick waists, and wings that are equal in size
mites and winged ants? and shape. Winged ants have bent antennae, narrow waists, and
forewings that are larger than the hind wings.
4. Name the four basic Workers - gather food, maintain the galleries, tend the young, and
castes of termites. De- groom the other termites.
scribe the basic func-
tion(s) of each caste. Soldiers - guard the colony against predators.
Primary reproductives - "swarmers" that fly out of their colonies to
start new colonies of their own. They are the future kinds and queens
of new colonies.
Secondary reproductives - supplement egg production in the pres-
ence of the king and queen and can take over the egg laying if the
queen dies or begins to fail.
5. Do subterranean ter- No, because they require a constant source of moisture to survive.
mites live entirely within However, they can live in wood with less than 20% moisture by getting
wood? Why or why not? their moisture from the ground. They transport this moisture through
flattened, earthen shelter tubes that serve as passageways from the
soil to the infested wood.
6. How do subterranean They gain entry through untreated wood that touches or is close to
termites most often in- the ground, particularly at porches, steps, and terraces. They can also
fest wood in buildings? infest buildings through cracks or voids in foundations or concrete
, CA BRANCH 3 Structural Pest Control
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_3kdp4g
floors that make it easy for termites to reach wood that is not close to
the soil.
7. Describe the frass pellets They are small and cylindrical with six depressions on the sides. These
of drywood termites. pellets are unique to drywood termites and are used for identification.
8. Where do drywood ter- In southern Florida, southern California, and along the southern gulf
mites most often occur? coast of the United States.
9. Do drywood termites live Yes, because they require little moisture (wood MCs as low as 5%).
entirely within wood? Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites have no connection
Why or why not? with the soil.
10. List several ways you can To protect wood from subterranean termites, you can:
protect wood from ter-
mites.
• apply insecticides to the soil around buildings, and
• avoid using wood mulches next to buildings.
To protect wood from subterranean and drywood termites, you can:
• use physical barriers on foundations, and
• use properly preserved wood, which makes it undesirable as a food
source.
11. Describe the frass of Powderpost beetle frass appears as a fine wood dust or powder.
powderpost beetles. Slight jarring of infested wood can cause the frass to sift from holes.
This is a sure sign of a powderpost beetle infestation. In addition, the
frass of anobiid beetles has a distinctive hotdog bun shape.
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_3kdp4g
1. How can you tell the dif- Wood infested with brown rot typically:
ference between wood
suffering from brown rot
• appears dark brown,
and wood suffering from
white rot?
• shows excessive shrinkage,
• develops cross-grain cracking, and
• can be crushed easily to form a brownish powder.
Wood infested with white rot on the other hand, often:
• appears whiter than normal,
• shows normal shrinkage,
• does not crack across the grain,
• is spongy to the touch.
2. What is the difference be- Sapstain fungi live on the starch in wood cells. These fungi may
tween the stains caused discolor the sapwood entirely or in patches. This stain is deep within
by stain (sapstain) fungi the wood and cannot be removed by brushing or planing.
vs. mold fungi?
On the other hand, discoloration caused by mold fungi is superficial.
, CA BRANCH 3 Structural Pest Control
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_3kdp4g
This means that you can usually remove the discoloration by brushing
or planing. However, on hardwoods with open pores (very large and
visible vessels) such as the oaks, the surface molds may cause stains
that are too deep to remove easily.
3. How can you distinguish Look at their antennae, waists, and wings. Winged termites have
between winged ter- straight antennae, thick waists, and wings that are equal in size
mites and winged ants? and shape. Winged ants have bent antennae, narrow waists, and
forewings that are larger than the hind wings.
4. Name the four basic Workers - gather food, maintain the galleries, tend the young, and
castes of termites. De- groom the other termites.
scribe the basic func-
tion(s) of each caste. Soldiers - guard the colony against predators.
Primary reproductives - "swarmers" that fly out of their colonies to
start new colonies of their own. They are the future kinds and queens
of new colonies.
Secondary reproductives - supplement egg production in the pres-
ence of the king and queen and can take over the egg laying if the
queen dies or begins to fail.
5. Do subterranean ter- No, because they require a constant source of moisture to survive.
mites live entirely within However, they can live in wood with less than 20% moisture by getting
wood? Why or why not? their moisture from the ground. They transport this moisture through
flattened, earthen shelter tubes that serve as passageways from the
soil to the infested wood.
6. How do subterranean They gain entry through untreated wood that touches or is close to
termites most often in- the ground, particularly at porches, steps, and terraces. They can also
fest wood in buildings? infest buildings through cracks or voids in foundations or concrete
, CA BRANCH 3 Structural Pest Control
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_3kdp4g
floors that make it easy for termites to reach wood that is not close to
the soil.
7. Describe the frass pellets They are small and cylindrical with six depressions on the sides. These
of drywood termites. pellets are unique to drywood termites and are used for identification.
8. Where do drywood ter- In southern Florida, southern California, and along the southern gulf
mites most often occur? coast of the United States.
9. Do drywood termites live Yes, because they require little moisture (wood MCs as low as 5%).
entirely within wood? Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites have no connection
Why or why not? with the soil.
10. List several ways you can To protect wood from subterranean termites, you can:
protect wood from ter-
mites.
• apply insecticides to the soil around buildings, and
• avoid using wood mulches next to buildings.
To protect wood from subterranean and drywood termites, you can:
• use physical barriers on foundations, and
• use properly preserved wood, which makes it undesirable as a food
source.
11. Describe the frass of Powderpost beetle frass appears as a fine wood dust or powder.
powderpost beetles. Slight jarring of infested wood can cause the frass to sift from holes.
This is a sure sign of a powderpost beetle infestation. In addition, the
frass of anobiid beetles has a distinctive hotdog bun shape.
