Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) Home Inspection 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The organism that can create significant structural damage over time is termites. These insects are particularly known for their ability to consume wood, which can lead to considerable damage to the structural integrity of buildings if their presence goes unchecked. Termites feed on cellulose, found in wood and other plant materials, and they can quickly infest a structure, making them one of the most destructive wood-destroying organisms.

While carpenter bees, powderpost beetles, and fungi can also cause damage, their impact is not typically as severe or widespread as that caused by termites. Carpenter bees primarily bore into wood to create nesting sites rather than consuming wood, which results in less overall structural damage. Powderpost beetles tend to infest wood that is already damaged or previously processed, and their impact is usually more localized. Fungi require specific moisture conditions to thrive and can cause decay in wood over time, but their effects are usually slower to manifest compared to the rapid destruction caused by termites. Thus, termites are the most notorious and damaging wood-destroying organism in terms of structural damage.