Georgia Correctional Officer (CO) Practice Exam

What type of caste does a new subterranean termite colony produce from the first eggs laid by the Queen?

1. Soldiers

2. Workers

3. Reproductives

4. Nymphs

The correct answer is: Workers

In a new subterranean termite colony, the first eggs laid by the queen typically develop into workers. This is significant because workers are crucial for the survival and establishment of the colony. They are responsible for foraging food, taking care of the queen and her eggs, building and repairing the nest, and tending to other members of the colony. The worker caste lays the foundation for a successful termite colony by ensuring that essential tasks are carried out. As the colony matures, other castes, such as soldiers and reproductives, can develop from later eggs laid by the queen. However, the initial focus on producing workers is vital during the early stages of colony development to establish food sources and structural integrity within the nest. In contrast, soldiers serve a protective role and are not produced until there is a stable environment to defend. Reproductives, which include future kings and queens, arise later when the colony is established and can afford to invest in future generations. Nymphs are immature stages that can molt into other castes later on but are not the immediate production from the queen's first eggs. Therefore, identifying that the first eggs produce workers highlights the workers' essential role in the foundational phase of a subterranean termite colony.