Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) Home Inspection Practice Exam

What type of material is mixed with soil and wood particles to form shelter or mud tubes?

1. Masonry

2. Carbon

3. Plant

4. Fecal

The correct answer is: Fecal

The correct answer involves understanding the composition of mud tubes, which are often observed in the context of termite behavior. Termites construct these tubes to provide a protected pathway between their colony and food sources, often made from a combination of soil, wood particles, and their own fecal matter. This fecal material is used by termites to help create a stable structure, which protects them from predators and environmental factors while they are foraging. The mixture lends the tubes strength and moisture retention, essential for the survival of these wood-destroying organisms. On the other hand, masonry typically consists of brick, stone, or concrete materials and is not used by termites in their tube construction. Carbon, while a fundamental element found in organic compounds, does not directly play a role in the creation of shelter tubes. Plant materials may be part of the diet for termites, but they are not a primary component of the mud tubes themselves. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why fecal matter is the key ingredient in the formation of termite mud tubes.