IIHS: Structural WDO exam Flashcards

1
Q

When shown a picture of an insect and asked if its a carpenter ant or a termite, how do you tell the difference?

A

It’s a carpenter ant. The termite has a consistent waist line (thorax to abdomen). The carpenter ant has a node or tiny connection between the thorax and the abdomen. Also cue in on the antenna that they are bent. Termites do not have bent antennae

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2
Q

Do Carpenter ants eat wood?

A

NO

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3
Q

Do carpenter ants burrow more often in “soft” or “hard” wood?

A

Soft wood

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4
Q

Describe Carpenter ant galleries

A

Carpenter ant galleries are generally smooth and clean.

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5
Q

Which Termite(s) have 6 sided fecal matter?

A

Dampwood and Drywood termites

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6
Q

Which active ingredients are IGRs for termites?

A

Hexaflumuron, difulbenzuron, noviflumuron

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7
Q

What is the best way to prevent back flow?

A

Always have an air gap.

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8
Q

Easiest way to contaminate ground water?

A

Mixing and cleaning by a well

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9
Q

What do you do with your residual product in an empty pesticide container?

A

Put it in your mix tank.

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10
Q

How does moisture in the home affect termites?

A

Keep the underside and surrounding areas of the home dry.

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11
Q

What is the ideal moisture content for preventing termite or other Wood Destroying Organism damage?

A

20% moisture content or less.

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12
Q

What is the proper way to mix product?

A

Follow the label. different labels may ask you to mix different things i.e. how much to fill before adding concentrate.

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13
Q

What the difference between Subterranean and Drywood termite wings? The test will show you a picture similar to the one on page 210 in the Trumans book. figure 9.7

A

Dry wood termites have a CROSS-VEIN running along the front margin of the wing. This vein is NOT FOUND in the subterranean termites wings.

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14
Q

What is the best tool for inspecting for termites in a crawl space?

A

A flashlight.

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15
Q

Is knocking a viable way to inspect for termites?

A

Yes. You can hear the difference in the wood.

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16
Q

What is the best type of wood to use in construction to prevent termites?

A

Pressure treated lumber

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17
Q

If there are Mudtubes is that a sign of active termite infestation?

A

Maybe. If they are hard and crumbly then no, if they are soft then they are active.

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18
Q

Are termites found above the first floor?

A

Occasionally but not usually.

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19
Q

In order subterranean termites to infest a home do they need direct contact with the wood on the ground?

A

No. They will build mud tubes over the other material to bridge the gap from the soil to the wood.

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20
Q

What do discarded termite wings indicate

A

Termite infestation has begun. Alate swarmers fly until they have found a new home. They then quickly shed their fragile wings and mate to form the new colony

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21
Q

What is the termite’s closest insect relative?

A

Cockroaches

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22
Q

What type of Metamorphosis do Termites go through?

A

Incomplete, simple, gradual, Hemimetabolous (these are all the same kind)

23
Q

What type of Metamorphosis do Carpenter Ants go through

A

Complete, complex, Holometabolous (these are all the same kind)

24
Q

When you have a brick veneer that sits on a concrete foundation how do you treat it?

A

Drill through both of them.

25
Q

How thick should the vapor barrier be in a crawlspace to prevent unwanted water condensation.

A

4-6 millimeters. The answer on the test is 6 millimeter vapor barrier

26
Q

If you are inspecting for Carpenter ants and you find the colony could there be other colonies (satellite) within the same structure.

A

Absolutely. Carpenter ants can have multiple satellite colonies near by. They even share workers.

27
Q

What is different about the treatment for Plenum housing?

A

You can’t use spray or fogger termiticides. You have to use baits.

28
Q

What should the pressure should you use when treating in a crawlspace?

A

LOW, 20-25psi

29
Q

Do Drywood termites seal themselves into the wood?

A

Yes, they create about an 1/8th inch diameter plug.

30
Q

How do Drywood termites eat wood?

A

They will eat across grain to make their galleries.

31
Q

What color are powder post beetle larvae?

A

Yellow and white

32
Q

Just like most other pests, which life stage of powder post beetle is most destructive?

A

Larvae

33
Q

The first evidence of powder post beetle infestation is:

A

Piles of very fine saw dust

34
Q

If the infestation is not wide spread how do you treat?

A

Limit treatment by surface area treatment or injection. Either liquids or aerosols can be used

35
Q

what is required for the growth of Fungi that causes rot?

A

Moisture in some form

36
Q

define leaching

A

Leaching is a process of extracting a substance from a solid material that is dissolved in a liquid. This process is commonly referred to as extraction, particularly in the chemical industry.

37
Q

define Run-off

A

Runoff can be described as the part of the water cycle that flows over land as surface water instead of being absorbed into groundwater or evaporating.

38
Q

What kind of damage do subterranean termites do?

A

WITH THE GRAIN. they will show you an actual picture of this kind of damage. WITH THE GRAIN

39
Q

What does a termite rod look like? What do you use it for?

A

Make sure you google this so you know what it looks like because the test will show you a picture. You use it for: Rodding

40
Q

E. What does a Hammer Drill look like? What pest is it used for?

A

Google it. There will be a picture on the test. Its a drill with a handle. Its used for drilling for subterranean termites.

41
Q

What makes up an Aerosol

A

Very fine particles mixed in air.

42
Q

Do Carpenter ants have different size workers?

A

YES. they are different sizes. This is called Polymorphic.

43
Q

On the label questions there will be one that asks about PPE about what you need while Rodding on the exterior of the house. Pay close attention

A

Pay close attention to where you need a respirator when outside because you DO NOT need one outside.

44
Q

What does active Powderpost beetle frass look like?

A

It is light in color and has a fine texture. OLD frass is dark in color.

45
Q

Where do you put the back flow preventer

A

between the faucet and the hose. If transferring water from a clean water source to your tank then it goes on the clean water side before it is transferred to the pesticide tank.

46
Q

Can pesticides contaminate wells, ground water, ponds

A

Yeppers

47
Q

Fungi can make wood appear what colors?

A

Blue and Bleached

48
Q

What is Plenum

A

A box that connects to the HVAC system that is used to distribute and remove air.

49
Q

What are the termite castes?

A

Workers, Soldiers, Primary Reproductives and Secondary Reproductives.

50
Q

What type of wood do Lycid Beetles attack?

A

Seasoned Hardwoord and Sapwood

51
Q

What type of wood do Old House Borers attack?

A

Seasoned Softwood and Sapwood

52
Q

What type of wood do Horntail wasp attack?

A

Seasoned Softwood

53
Q

The test will show you a picture of damaged wood and ask what type of pest did the damage.

A

Look onPage 298, Figure 8.9 - Subterranean Termites