Image: Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
About This Quiz
Most termites are actually beneficial -- they eat dead plant matter and contribute to the recycling of nutrients in the environment. Unfortunately, that dead plant matter could be the wood in your house.
How many termite species are there?
3,000
There are 3,000 termite species -- they basically live anyplace in the world where the ground doesn't freeze.
5,000
10,000
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What kind of termite is most destructive to houses?
drywood
dampwood
subterranean
Subterranean termites live underground and need to eat wood that's close to the ground. And basements are pretty convenient.
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Termites are most closely related to what other kind of insect?
ants
cockroaches
Termites kind of look like ants, but they're actually closer to cockroaches.
bees
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What's one way to tell a termite from an ant?
Ants have bigger wings.
Ants have eight legs and termites have six.
Ant antennae are bent, and termite antennae are straight.
There are a few physical differences between termites and ants, but one of the telltale signs is that termites have straight antennae.
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The king and queen of a termite colony are the only ones in the colony that have what body part?
wings
eyes
The king and queen are the only ones that have eyes. The rest of the colony is blind.
antennae
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What sex are worker termites?
male
female
both
Worker termites can be male or female -- in bee colonies, on the other hand, workers are only female.
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How long can the queen of a termite colony live?
a year
25 years
Termite queens can live for 25 years, sometimes laying thousands of eggs a day.
75 years
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What happens to a termite after it takes its first flight?
its wings break off
Some adult termites develop wings and take a "nuptial flight" outside the colony. They lose their wings when they land, so it's their first and only flight.
it dies
it doubles in size
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How can you tell if you have a termite infestation?
termite wings inside your house
Termite wings inside your home are a pretty sure sign -- remember, they shed their wings after they migrate. If they've made it inside, they most likely came through the walls.
a swarm of termites in your yard
termite droppings around the foundation of your house
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What's a termite bond?
a termite pesticide
a contract with a termite exterminator
You can sign a termite bond, or contract, with an exterminator who will inspect your home regularly and guarantee to future buyers that the home is termite-free.
a product that seals up termite entryways to your house
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You Got:
/10
Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
