OPM Termite Practice Exam

Who holds the primary reproductive role in a termite colony?

1. Worker and Soldier

2. King and Queen

3. Nymph and Alate

4. Subterranean and Drywood

The correct answer is: King and Queen

In a termite colony, the primary reproductive role is held by the king and queen. This pair is crucial for the colony's survival and growth, as they are responsible for producing the next generation of termites. The queen, particularly, can lay thousands of eggs daily, ensuring the continuation of the colony. The king supports the queen and helps in mating and protecting the colony. The reproductive roles of the king and queen are essential in maintaining the population and social structure within the colony. Other roles, such as those held by workers or soldiers, do not encompass reproduction. Workers maintain the nest, foraging for food and caring for the young, while soldiers protect the colony from predators. Nymphs and alates refer to life stages and castes; nymphs are immature termites that can develop into any caste, and alates are winged termites that leave the colony to mate and establish new colonies, but they do not play a primary reproductive role in the existing colony. The terms "subterranean" and "drywood" describe different types of termites, which is a classification related to their habitat and behavior, rather than their reproductive roles.