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AL Pesticide Applicator study materials
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AL Pesticide Applicator practice questions

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Question 1Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A pesticide label shows the signal word CAUTION. What does this indicate about the product?

  1. the product is highly toxic by all routes of exposure
  2. the product is moderately toxic and carries a warning
  3. the product has relatively low acute toxicity Correct answer.
  4. the product may be handled without protective equipment

Explanation

CAUTION is the signal word for products in Toxicity Categories III and IV, which have relatively low acute toxicity. Category I products carry DANGER (with POISON and a skull and crossbones when highly toxic), and Category II products carry WARNING.

Question 2Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Under FIFRA, what legal effect do the directions for use printed on a pesticide label have?

  1. They are enforceable requirements; use inconsistent with them is unlawful. Correct answer.
  2. They bind only the dealer who sold the product to the applicator.
  3. They are recommendations that a certified applicator may adjust as needed.
  4. They take effect only after the state adopts them by regulation.

Explanation

FIFRA makes it unlawful to use a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling, so the directions are enforceable requirements. Only the registrant can change them, and only through an EPA-approved amended or supplemental label.

Question 3Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A farmer uses a restricted-use pesticide on land he owns to produce corn for sale. Under FIFRA, how is he classified?

  1. Private applicator Correct answer.
  2. Commercial applicator
  3. Noncommercial applicator
  4. Public applicator

Explanation

A private applicator applies restricted-use pesticides on land he or she owns or rents, or on an employer's land, to produce an agricultural commodity. Commercial applicators apply for hire or on property they do not control.

Question 4Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Which federal agency has the authority to register pesticides under FIFRA?

  1. Environmental Protection Agency Correct answer.
  2. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  3. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
  4. Food and Drug Administration

Explanation

FIFRA gives EPA the authority to register pesticides and to classify them for general or restricted use. Other agencies have related roles, such as residue enforcement in food, but they do not register pesticides.

Question 5Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A label lists a rate of 2 to 4 pints per acre. A grower applies 1.5 pints per acre, and the label does not prohibit lower rates. How should this be viewed?

  1. It requires a special local need label from the state.
  2. It is unlawful because any departure from the labeled rate violates FIFRA.
  3. It is generally permitted unless the label prohibits lower rates. Correct answer.
  4. It is lawful only if the lower rate is noted in the application record.

Explanation

EPA treats application at a rate below the labeled range as generally consistent with the labeling unless the label specifically prohibits lower rates. Applying above the labeled rate, by contrast, is always a violation.

Question 6Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Which FIFRA authority allows EPA to permit a temporary use of a pesticide for an unforeseen pest emergency?

  1. Section 25(b)
  2. Section 18 Correct answer.
  3. Section 3
  4. Section 24(c)

Explanation

Section 18 of FIFRA authorizes EPA to grant emergency exemptions allowing temporary use of a pesticide for an unforeseen pest problem when no registered product is available. Section 3 is the standard registration provision.

Question 7Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Which statement correctly describes a FIFRA section 24(c) special local need registration?

  1. It registers a use for the requesting state only, after EPA review. Correct answer.
  2. It is issued by a state agency with no federal review at all.
  3. It permanently amends the federal label for use in every state.
  4. It removes the requirement to keep records of the application.

Explanation

A 24(c) registration lets a state add a use that is needed locally, but EPA must review and approve it, and the use is limited to that state. It does not change the federal label nationwide.

Question 8Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

How long must a certified applicator keep records of restricted-use pesticide applications?

  1. 6 months
  2. 30 days
  3. 2 years Correct answer.
  4. 1 year

Explanation

Certified applicators must keep records of restricted-use pesticide applications for two years from the date of application. Dealers who sell restricted-use pesticides have a similar two-year requirement.

Question 9Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A label states a 12-hour restricted-entry interval. Six hours after application, a worker wants to enter the treated area to move irrigation pipe. What does the Worker Protection Standard require?

  1. Entry is allowed if the worker wears gloves, boots, and a long-sleeved shirt.
  2. Entry is allowed because moving irrigation pipe is an emergency repair.
  3. Entry is prohibited in every circumstance until the full interval ends.
  4. Entry is allowed only for a trained early-entry worker in required PPE. Correct answer.

Explanation

During the restricted-entry interval, entry is limited to workers trained for early entry who wear the personal protective equipment the label requires for that task. Ordinary workers may not enter, even for routine jobs.

Question 10Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Under the Worker Protection Standard, how must an agricultural employer notify workers of a pesticide application?

  1. By giving workers a copy of the label at the end of the season
  2. By oral warning or by posting the treated area Correct answer.
  3. By mailing a written notice to the home address of each worker
  4. By announcing each application on a local radio station

Explanation

The WPS allows employers to notify workers either orally or by posting the treated area, and the label or state rule may specify which method applies. Notification must occur before the application.

Question 11Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Which statement is required in the signal word box of pesticide labels to warn about accidental exposure to children?

  1. Not for use around children
  2. Harmful if swallowed by children
  3. Store away from schools and playgrounds
  4. Keep out of reach of children Correct answer.

Explanation

The child hazard warning KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN is required in the signal word box on pesticide labels. It is separate from the first aid and precautionary statements.

Question 12Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A grower wants to tank-mix two pesticide products. Which condition makes the mixture lawful?

  1. Both products are registered by the same manufacturer.
  2. The mixture is applied at a rate below the labeled rate for either product.
  3. Both products carry the same signal word.
  4. No label prohibits the mixture and all directions are followed. Correct answer.

Explanation

Tank mixing is lawful when no label involved prohibits it and every direction on each label, including rates, PPE, and restrictions, is followed. If either label forbids the combination, the mixture may not be used.

Question 13Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A certified applicator applies a herbicide at twice the labeled rate to control a heavy infestation. What is the legal status of this application?

  1. It is a use inconsistent with the labeling and violates FIFRA. Correct answer.
  2. It is lawful if the applicator is certified in that use category.
  3. It is lawful if the applicator records the reason for the higher rate.
  4. It is lawful if no sensitive crops are within a quarter mile.

Explanation

Applying above the labeled rate is a use inconsistent with the labeling and violates FIFRA, regardless of the applicator's certification or the reason for the decision. The applicator must follow the labeled rate unless an amended or supplemental label authorizes otherwise.

Question 14Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Which Alabama agency administers the state's pesticide law and issues applicator certifications?

  1. Alabama Department of Public Health
  2. Alabama Cooperative Extension System
  3. Alabama Department of Environmental Management
  4. Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Correct answer.

Explanation

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries administers the state pesticide law and issues applicator certifications and licenses. Other state agencies run separate environmental or public health programs.

Question 15Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Under federal certification standards, what is the minimum age for a certified applicator?

  1. 18 Correct answer.
  2. 21
  3. 16
  4. There is no minimum age under federal rules

Explanation

Federal standards require a certified applicator to be at least 18 years old and to demonstrate competence. A younger worker may handle restricted-use pesticides only under the direct supervision of a certified applicator.

Question 16Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Who may legally apply a restricted-use pesticide?

  1. Any employee of a licensed farm supply store
  2. Any licensed pesticide dealer who holds a current business license
  3. A certified applicator or a person under direct supervision Correct answer.
  4. Any person who has read the entire label and understands it

Explanation

Restricted-use pesticides may be applied only by a certified applicator or by a person working under a certified applicator's direct supervision. Holding a dealer license or reading the label does not confer that authority.

Question 17Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A label states "Do not apply within 21 days of harvest." What does this restriction represent?

  1. A preharvest interval Correct answer.
  2. A reapplication interval
  3. A restricted-entry interval
  4. A phytotoxicity warning

Explanation

A restriction on applying within a set number of days of harvest is a preharvest interval, which protects against illegal residues in the harvested commodity. A restricted-entry interval instead controls how soon workers may enter a treated area.

Question 18Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Under FIFRA, which of the following is included in the term "labeling"?

  1. Only the printed container label that the registrant attaches to the product
  2. Only directions that the state lead agency has formally approved
  3. The label plus supplemental written material that accompanies the product Correct answer.
  4. Only the signal word and the EPA registration number

Explanation

FIFRA defines labeling broadly to include the container label plus supplemental labels, brochures, and other written material that accompanies or supplements the product. This is why a supplemental label has the same legal force as the container label.

Question 19Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

How does FIFRA limit state regulation of pesticide use?

  1. A state may be stricter but may not allow a use federal law prohibits. Correct answer.
  2. A state may relax federal restrictions when local conditions justify it.
  3. A state may exempt its own agencies from complying with the label.
  4. A state may not regulate pesticide use once EPA registers a product.

Explanation

FIFRA allows states to regulate pesticide use more strictly than federal law but does not let them authorize a use that federal law prohibits. Additional uses in a state must come through a 24(c) registration or a section 18 exemption.

Question 20Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A label lists field corn as a use site but does not name the specific insect a grower wants to control. Under FIFRA, applying the product against that insect is:

  1. Permitted only after the registrant adds the pest to the label
  2. Generally permitted, because the site is on the label Correct answer.
  3. Permitted only under a written section 18 emergency exemption
  4. A violation, because every target pest must be named on the label

Explanation

FIFRA allows a pesticide to be used against a pest not named on the label as long as the site is on the label and the label does not prohibit that use. The labeled site, not the pest list, defines the legal boundary.

Question 21Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A pesticide dealer sells restricted-use pesticides. What recordkeeping obligation does federal law impose on the dealer?

  1. No records are required when the buyer is a certified applicator.
  2. Records of the sale must be kept for 2 years. Correct answer.
  3. Records must be sent to EPA at the end of each month.
  4. Records must be kept for 30 days after the sale.

Explanation

Dealers who sell restricted-use pesticides must keep records of each sale for two years. The records identify the purchaser and must be available to inspectors.

Question 22Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

An applicator needs to know what protective clothing the label requires. Which section of the label contains that information?

  1. The EPA registration number
  2. The net contents statement
  3. The storage and disposal directions
  4. The precautionary statements Correct answer.

Explanation

The precautionary statements list the personal protective equipment and other precautions required for handling and applying the product. They appear near the signal word and the directions for use.

Question 23Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A label directs the user to triple-rinse the container and offer it for recycling. What must the applicator do?

  1. Burn the container on site if recycling is inconvenient.
  2. Nothing; container handling is the responsibility of the landfill operator.
  3. Reuse the container for mixing only if it is clearly relabeled.
  4. Follow the labeled instructions, because they are part of the labeling. Correct answer.

Explanation

Container disposal directions are part of the labeling, so the user must follow them, including rinsing and the specified recycling or disposal method. Improper disposal is a use inconsistent with the labeling.

Question 24Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A commercial applicator certified only in agricultural plant pest control is hired to treat a building for termites. What is the result?

  1. The applicator may proceed if the state is notified within 24 hours.
  2. The applicator must be certified in the termite or structural category. Correct answer.
  3. The applicator may proceed, because commercial certification covers all categories.
  4. The applicator may proceed whenever a general-use product is used.

Explanation

Certification is issued by category, and an applicator may perform only the types of work covered by the categories held. Structural or termite work requires the corresponding category certification.

Question 25Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A registrant issues a supplemental label for an additional use of a product. What must the applicator do to use that use lawfully?

  1. Keep the supplemental labeling on hand and follow it with the container label. Correct answer.
  2. Obtain a section 18 crisis exemption from EPA for each application.
  3. Notify the state lead agency before each application is made.
  4. Wait until the container label itself is reprinted with the new use.

Explanation

Supplemental labeling carries the same legal force as the container label, so the user must have it available and follow it together with the container label. Using the new use without the supplemental label is a violation.

Question 26Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Before a pesticide can be legally sold or distributed in the United States, it must be

  1. registered by EPA Correct answer.
  2. listed in the Federal Register
  3. approved by USDA
  4. certified by a trade association

Explanation

FIFRA requires that every pesticide sold or distributed in the United States be registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Registration is granted only after EPA reviews the required efficacy, chemistry, toxicology, and environmental data. Selling an unregistered pesticide is a violation of federal law unless a specific exemption applies.

Question 27Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

What does the EPA registration number printed on a pesticide label identify?

  1. The specific product and its registered formulation Correct answer.
  2. The date on which the product's federal registration expires
  3. The facility where the product was manufactured
  4. The lot or batch of product in the container

Explanation

The EPA registration number is assigned to a specific registered product and its formulation, and it appears on the label as required by FIFRA. It allows the product to be traced to the registration and the approved labeling. Facility and batch information are handled by other label or shipping statements.

Question 28Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Which signal word is required on the label of a pesticide that falls in the most acutely toxic category?

  1. DANGER Correct answer.
  2. WARNING
  3. CAUTION
  4. NOTICE

Explanation

EPA places pesticides in four acute toxicity categories, and Category I, the most acutely toxic, carries the signal word DANGER. When the toxicity is high by the oral, dermal, or inhalation route, the label reads DANGER-POISON with the skull and crossbones symbol. Categories II, III, and IV carry WARNING, CAUTION, and CAUTION respectively.

Question 29Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A pesticide label states "Net contents 2.5 gallons." What does this statement tell the user?

  1. The weight of the active ingredient in the container
  2. The volume of product in the container Correct answer.
  3. The amount to mix into a full spray tank
  4. The maximum area one container can treat

Explanation

The net contents statement gives the amount of product in the package, expressed by weight or volume, and it is a required label element. It lets the user calculate mixing rates and know how much product is being purchased. It says nothing about active ingredient concentration by itself.

Question 30Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

An EPA establishment number on a pesticide label indicates which of the following?

  1. The registration number of the product's primary distributor
  2. The facility where the pesticide was formulated or packaged Correct answer.
  3. The registration category assigned to the active ingredient
  4. The state in which the product is approved for agricultural use

Explanation

The establishment number identifies the specific production facility where the pesticide was produced or packaged, and the label must show it. It is separate from the EPA registration number, which identifies the product itself. This allows EPA to trace a container back to its manufacturing site.

Question 31Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Products that meet EPA's criteria for minimum-risk pesticides under FIFRA section 25(b) are

  1. required to carry a restricted-use classification
  2. registered only for use by certified applicators
  3. exempt from federal registration requirements Correct answer.
  4. limited to a maximum of one acre per application

Explanation

Section 25(b) exempts products whose active and inert ingredients appear on EPA's minimum-risk lists from federal registration, so they are not required to carry an EPA registration number. These products remain subject to state regulation and to any state registration requirements. Users are still responsible for following the product's directions.

Question 32Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Under federal law, a pesticide tolerance establishes which of the following?

  1. The minimum concentration of active ingredient in a formulated product
  2. The maximum residue level allowed in or on a food commodity Correct answer.
  3. The maximum number of applications allowed per season
  4. The longest interval permitted between application and harvest

Explanation

A tolerance is the maximum amount of pesticide residue that may legally remain in or on a raw agricultural commodity, and EPA sets tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Food with residues above the tolerance, or with residues of a pesticide that has no tolerance, is generally considered adulterated and may not be sold. Tolerances are separate from label use restrictions such as seasonal limits.

Question 33Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A pesticide is considered misbranded when

  1. its label makes a false or misleading claim Correct answer.
  2. its container is made of a material that is not recyclable
  3. it is sold in a container larger than one gallon
  4. its label bears the EPA registration number

Explanation

FIFRA treats a pesticide as misbranded when its label or labeling is false or misleading in any particular, or when required label elements are missing. A misbranded product may not be legally sold or distributed. EPA and states may take enforcement action, including stop-sale orders, against misbranded products.

Question 34Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

What does an experimental use permit (EUP) issued by EPA allow?

  1. Limited testing of an unregistered pesticide or use to gather data Correct answer.
  2. Application of a registered product at rates above the labeled maximum
  3. Unlimited commercial distribution while registration data are reviewed
  4. Sale of a newly registered pesticide before the label is printed

Explanation

An EUP authorizes limited testing of an unregistered pesticide, or of a new use of a registered product, so that required data can be collected. EUP work is conducted under conditions and acreage limits set by EPA and does not authorize full commercial distribution. Applying a registered product above the labeled rate is never permitted by an EUP.

Question 35Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A pesticide product label must carry the Agricultural Use Requirements box when the product

  1. is packaged in containers larger than five gallons
  2. is covered by the Worker Protection Standard Correct answer.
  3. bears a DANGER signal word on the front panel
  4. may be applied only by aircraft or ground rig

Explanation

EPA requires the Agricultural Use Requirements box on labels of agricultural pesticides that fall under the Worker Protection Standard. The box summarizes the WPS duties, including entry restrictions and posting or notice requirements for workers. Whether a product carries this box depends on its agricultural use, not on its signal word or container size.

Question 36Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

The Directions for Use section of a pesticide label must state which of the following?

  1. the use sites, target pests, and application rates Correct answer.
  2. the name of the EPA official who signed the registration
  3. the wholesale price the dealer paid for the product
  4. the name and address of the dealer who sold the product

Explanation

The Directions for Use must tell the user where the product may be applied, what pests or problems it controls, and at what rate and timing, along with required precautions. Use of the product in a manner inconsistent with these directions is a violation of FIFRA. Price, dealer identity, and agency officials do not appear in this section.

Question 37Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

In what language must the required statements on a federally registered pesticide label appear?

  1. In the language of the state where the product is sold
  2. In Spanish only
  3. In English Correct answer.
  4. In both English and Spanish

Explanation

EPA requires that all required label statements on a registered pesticide be presented in English. Additional languages may be included as long as the required English text is also present and complete. This ensures the mandatory warnings and directions are uniformly understandable to regulators and users.

Question 38Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

A laboratory finds residues of a pesticide on a food crop at a level above the established tolerance. What is the legal status of that food?

  1. It may be sold if the grower holds a certified applicator license
  2. It may be sold only within the state where it was grown
  3. It is adulterated and may not be sold in interstate commerce Correct answer.
  4. It may be sold only after the residue is diluted by processing

Explanation

Food bearing residues above the tolerance, or residues of a pesticide with no tolerance for that commodity, is deemed adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and may not be marketed. The grower's certification status does not change the residue standard. Processing does not legally cure an over-tolerance residue in the raw commodity.

Question 39Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

Under FIFRA, what must a registrant do upon learning that its registered pesticide has caused an unexpected adverse effect?

  1. Report the information to EPA Correct answer.
  2. Refer the matter to the state agriculture department only
  3. Wait until the next registration review to disclose the information
  4. Issue a supplemental label immediately without notifying EPA

Explanation

FIFRA requires registrants to submit information about unexpected adverse effects from their registered products to EPA, typically within a defined reporting period. This duty continues after registration and supports EPA's ability to reassess risks. Unilateral label changes or state-only notification do not satisfy the federal obligation.

Question 40Pesticide Labeling and Federal/State Regulations

When EPA concludes that continued use of a registered pesticide would cause unreasonable adverse effects, what action does FIFRA authorize EPA to take?

  1. Require the registrant to lower the price of the product
  2. Cancel or suspend the product's registration Correct answer.
  3. Delegate the decision to the state lead agencies
  4. Reclassify the product as minimum risk and exempt it

Explanation

FIFRA gives EPA authority to cancel or suspend a registration when a pesticide causes unreasonable adverse effects on people or the environment. Cancellation and suspension follow administrative procedures that include notice and opportunity for comment or hearing. States cannot make this federal registration decision, although they may impose additional restrictions.

Question 41Pest Identification and Integrated Pest Management

Which statement best describes the foundation of integrated pest management?

  1. Combining multiple control tactics based on monitoring and pest thresholds Correct answer.
  2. Eliminating all insects from the field before planting
  3. Applying a preventive broad-spectrum insecticide on a fixed calendar schedule
  4. Relying on the single most effective pesticide available

Explanation

IPM is a decision-making system that blends cultural, biological, genetic, physical, and chemical tactics. Those tactics are selected after pest populations are monitored and compared with established thresholds. Calendar spraying and eradication of all insects are not IPM principles.

Question 42Pest Identification and Integrated Pest Management

In IPM, the term economic threshold refers to:

  1. The number of pests present when a field is first scouted
  2. The maximum number of pests one insecticide application can suppress
  3. The total seasonal crop loss caused by a pest species
  4. The pest density at which control action should be taken Correct answer.

Explanation

The economic threshold is the pest density at which a control measure should be applied to keep the population from reaching the economic injury level. It is an action point, not a measure of pesticide performance or a record of crop loss. Scouting counts are compared with this value to make treatment decisions.

Question 43Pest Identification and Integrated Pest Management

Which of the following is the best example of a cultural control tactic?

  1. Applying a preemergence herbicide before weeds emerge
  2. Rotating crops to break pest life cycles Correct answer.
  3. Releasing purchased lady beetles into a greenhouse
  4. Using a pheromone trap to monitor moth flights

Explanation

Cultural controls are management practices that make the cropping system less favorable to pests, such as rotation, planting date adjustment, sanitation, and resistant varieties. Releasing natural enemies is biological control, herbicides are chemical control, and pheromone traps are a monitoring tool.

Question 44Pest Identification and Integrated Pest Management

Which of these insects is a beneficial predator commonly found in Alabama field crops?

  1. Green lacewing larva Correct answer.
  2. Fall armyworm
  3. Corn earworm
  4. Tarnished plant bug

Explanation

Lacewing larvae are generalist predators that feed on aphids, mites, eggs, and small caterpillars. Tarnished plant bug, corn earworm, and fall armyworm are all pest species that feed on crops. Recognizing natural enemies helps avoid unnecessary sprays that would kill them.

Question 45Pest Identification and Integrated Pest Management

The primary purpose of scouting a field is to:

  1. Determine pest species and densities to compare with thresholds Correct answer.
  2. Record the number of pesticide applications made during the season
  3. Verify that the previous pesticide application was mixed correctly
  4. Estimate the final yield before harvest

Explanation

Scouting provides current information on which pests are present and in what numbers, along with their natural enemies and crop stage. Those counts are compared with thresholds so treatment decisions are based on data rather than habit. Scouting is not a record-keeping or mixing-verification activity.

Question 46Pest Identification and Integrated Pest Management

Why must a pest be correctly identified before a control tactic is chosen?

  1. Because the product label requires a photograph of the pest before spraying
  2. Because control tactics must match the pest's biology and life cycle Correct answer.
  3. Because all pests respond to the same pesticide program
  4. Because identification determines the legal application rate

Explanation

Effective control depends on knowing whether the problem is an insect, mite, weed, nematode, or pathogen and what stage or vulnerability the tactic can target. A parasitoid release, a cultivator, and a fungicide work only against the right kind of organism. Rate selection is set by the label, not by the pest identity alone.

Question 47Pest Identification and Integrated Pest Management

Which practice most directly helps delay the development of pesticide resistance?

  1. Applying the maximum labeled rate of one product repeatedly
  2. Rotating among pesticide groups with different modes of action Correct answer.
  3. Treating on a fixed calendar schedule regardless of pest numbers
  4. Using the same product at reduced rates for many years

Explanation

Resistance management relies on reducing selection pressure by alternating modes of action and integrating non-chemical tactics. Repeated use of one product, at any rate, favors survival of resistant individuals. Calendar treatments also spray when pests are absent, which selects without benefit.

Question 48Pest Identification and Integrated Pest Management

Which three components must be present for a plant disease to develop?

  1. Sunlight, nitrogen, and available water
  2. A susceptible host, a pathogen, and favorable weather Correct answer.
  3. Seed, soil, and fertilizer
  4. Insect vectors, herbicide injury, and plant-parasitic nematodes

Explanation

The disease triangle states that disease occurs only when a susceptible host, a virulent pathogen, and favorable environmental conditions coincide. Management works by removing or weakening at least one side of the triangle. Light, nutrients, and fertilizer inputs influence plant health but are not the triangle's elements.

Question 49Pest Identification and Integrated Pest Management

How does an action threshold differ from an economic injury level?

  1. It is set below the economic injury level to trigger control before losses occur Correct answer.
  2. It is always set above the economic injury level to avoid unnecessary sprays
  3. It applies only to weed pests, while the economic injury level applies only to insects
  4. It is the point at which crop loss exactly equals the cost of control

Explanation

The action threshold is deliberately set somewhat below the economic injury level because control takes time to work and pest numbers can rise quickly. The economic injury level is the density at which loss equals control cost. Setting an action threshold above that level would mean treating only after damage has already paid for the spray.

Question 50Pest Identification and Integrated Pest Management

Degree-day models are used in IPM to:

  1. Determine the economic injury level for a disease
  2. Estimate the number of pesticide applications a field will need
  3. Predict pest development stages and time scouting or treatment Correct answer.
  4. Measure the concentration of the pesticide spray mixture

Explanation

Insects develop in response to accumulated heat above a lower developmental threshold, so degree-day totals predict when eggs hatch or a damaging stage appears. That timing lets scouts and applicators target the most vulnerable stage. Degree-days are a weather-driven biological tool, not a spray-count or spray-mix calculation.