Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) Practice Exam

Which insect is known as the most common builder of tube-like mud structures?

1. Termites

2. Carpenter ants

3. Ants

4. Cockroaches

The correct answer is: Termites

The correct answer is termites, which are well-known for their unique ability to construct elaborate tube-like mud structures, commonly referred to as mud tubes. These structures serve multiple purposes, primarily for protecting the termites from predators and environmental conditions while allowing them to access food sources above ground. Termites possess specialized mandibles that enable them to manipulate soil and saliva to create these mud tubes, making them skilled architects in their ecosystems. In contrast, carpenter ants, while known for their nesting behavior within wood and creating galleries, do not build mud structures. They tend to excavate wood rather than construct mud tubes. Other types of ants generally do not create mud structures; their nesting behaviors vary widely, including building nests in the soil or leaf litter. Cockroaches are also not known for constructing mud structures; they typically seek shelter in crevices, not mud tubes. Therefore, termites stand out as the insects most frequently associated with the building of these impressive tube-like structures.