Georgia Correctional Officer (CO) Practice Exam

What is a characteristic feature of worker termites?

1. They are the largest in size.

2. They have specialized structures.

3. They can see and have wings.

4. They do not have eyes or wings.

The correct answer is: They do not have eyes or wings.

The characteristic feature of worker termites is that they do not have eyes or wings. This adaptation allows them to thrive in their roles within the colony. Workers are responsible for foraging for food, caring for the queen's offspring, and maintaining the nest. Their lack of eyes is beneficial as it enables them to navigate through dark and humid environments underground where they typically reside. Furthermore, not having wings reflects their dedicated role as workers rather than reproductive individuals, who are typically the only termites with wings for dispersal and mating during certain times of the year. On the other hand, other options present attributes that do not align with the worker termites' physical characteristics or function within the colony. For instance, the largest termites in size are usually the kings and queens, which are focused on reproduction, and while worker termites may have some specialized structures for their tasks, they lack the wings found in reproductive members. Their inability to see is also a result of their adaptation to a subterranean lifestyle, making eyesight unnecessary.