Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) Home Inspection Practice Exam

What feature of carpenter ants allows them to create galleries in wood?

1. Strong jaws

2. Sharp stingers

3. Specialized enzymes

4. Social behavior

The correct answer is: Strong jaws

The feature of carpenter ants that allows them to create galleries in wood is their strong jaws. These powerful mandibles are well-adapted for chewing through wood, allowing carpenter ants to excavate and remove material efficiently. Unlike termites, which digest wood with the help of microorganisms in their guts, carpenter ants simply break down the wood physically. They typically do not consume the wood; instead, they use it for nesting purposes. This behavior is indicative of their nesting habits, as they prefer to establish their colonies in decayed or damp wood, making them significant wood-destroying organisms in homes. The other options, while they represent interesting aspects of carpenter ants, do not directly contribute to their ability to create galleries. For instance, while they do have social behaviors that enable them to work together as a colony, it’s their physical adaptation—strong jaws—that is the key factor in wood gallery construction.