Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) Home Inspection Practice Exam

Baits for termites work on the basis of

1. Social feeding and grooming behaviors

2. Their solitary nature

3. Quick sensitivity to chemicals

4. Destruction of the wood itself

The correct answer is: Social feeding and grooming behaviors

Baits for termites function based on social feeding and grooming behaviors intrinsic to their colony dynamics. Termites are social insects that rely on pheromones and social interactions to communicate and share resources. When one termite encounters a bait that is toxic, it can be carried back to the colony through grooming behaviors and social feeding. The infected termite interacts closely with its peers, spreading the toxicant throughout the colony and disrupting their life cycle. This method is effective because it targets not just the individual termites consuming the bait, but also those that come into contact with them, ultimately leading to the elimination of the colony. The other options do not accurately capture the primary mechanism of how termite baits operate. For instance, while solitary behaviors might imply reduced interaction with others, termites are inherently social, and their group behaviors are key to the effectiveness of bait systems. Additionally, while quick sensitivity to chemicals may seem relevant, it does not describe how the bait's action leads to colony-wide effects. Destruction of the wood itself is not the method through which baits act; rather, baits prevent future colonies from causing wood damage by targeting the pests directly.