OPM Termite Practice Exam

Which of the following beetles do not reinfest?

1. Deathwatch Beetles

2. Longhorned Beetles

3. Jewel Beetles

4. Carpenter Ants

The correct answer is: Longhorned Beetles

The correct answer is that longhorned beetles do not reinfest wood after their larvae have matured and exited. Longhorned beetles have a lifecycle that involves the larvae feeding on wood for several months or years, depending on the species and environmental conditions. Once the adult beetles emerge, they leave the wood to mate and lay eggs, but they do not return to infest the same piece of wood. In contrast, deathwatch beetles and jewel beetles can re-infest wood as they have similar feeding and lifecycle behaviors that allow their larvae to continue developing in the same habitat and potentially causing more damage if conditions are favorable. Carpenter ants, while not beetles, are also known for creating colonies in wood, where they can repeatedly infest structures. Thus, longhorned beetles stand out as the group that does not reinfest the same wood after their lifecycle is complete.