OPM Termite Practice Exam

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Study for the OPM Termite Exam. With multiple choice questions and hints for each question, you'll be ready for your exam. Prepare to excel!

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Which termite caste aids in the egg-laying process?

Soldiers
Workers
Alates
Nymphs

The correct answer is: Alates

The caste that plays a vital role in the egg-laying process is the alates, which are the winged reproductive adults of the termite colony. During specific seasons, alates leave the nest in a nuptial flight to mate and establish new colonies. After mating, the female alate descends and sheds her wings, becoming a queen. The primary function of the queen is to lay eggs; therefore, this caste is essential in the reproduction and continuation of the termite population. While other castes have distinct and important roles within the colony—soldiers protect the colony, workers take care of foraging, nest maintenance, and feeding the colony—the primary responsibility of laying eggs is exclusive to the reproductive castes, including the queen derived from the alates. Understanding this distinction is crucial in grasping the social structure and reproductive strategy of termites.