I85PREP
⌘ K
Ontario Pesticide Core Exam study materials
Ontario Pesticide Core Exam study resources

Ontario Pesticide Core Exam practice questions

One question at a time. Build your Ontario Pesticide Core Exam understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Which federal body is responsible for registering pest control products in Canada?

  1. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  2. Environment and Climate Change Canada
  3. The PMRA (Health Canada) Correct answer.
  4. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Explanation

Under the federal Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency evaluates and registers a product before it may be sold or used in Canada. Other departments play supporting roles but do not register pesticides.

Question 2Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

What does a "PCP Reg. No." printed on a pesticide label indicate?

  1. It is approved for organic production
  2. It is registered under the federal Act Correct answer.
  3. It meets provincial transportation requirements
  4. It is exempt from Ontario licensing rules

Explanation

The Pest Control Products Act registration number is assigned when Health Canada registers the product for sale and use in Canada. Selling or using a pest control product without federal registration is an offence.

Question 3Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Which Ontario ministry administers the Pesticides Act?

  1. Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Correct answer.
  2. Ministry of Health
  3. Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
  4. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Explanation

The Pesticides Act and its General regulation, O. Reg. 63/09, are administered by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Ministry inspectors enforce licensing, permit and use requirements.

Question 4Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Which regulation under the Pesticides Act sets out pesticide classes, licensing and permit requirements?

  1. O. Reg. 419/05
  2. O. Reg. 347
  3. O. Reg. 63/09 Correct answer.
  4. O. Reg. 213/07

Explanation

O. Reg. 63/09 (General) under the Pesticides Act contains the pesticide classification system, licensing rules, permit provisions and use restrictions. The other regulations listed deal with unrelated subject matter.

Question 5Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

In Ontario, a business that applies pesticides to lawns and landscapes for hire must hold which licence?

  1. An operator licence Correct answer.
  2. A vendor licence
  3. A pesticide permit
  4. An exterminator licence

Explanation

O. Reg. 63/09 requires a pesticide operator licence for businesses that apply pesticides to land, including lawn care and landscaping work. The licence is held by the business, while individual applicators must be certified.

Question 6Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Which licence is required for a business that controls pests such as cockroaches and rodents inside buildings?

  1. An operator licence
  2. An exterminator licence Correct answer.
  3. A vendor licence
  4. A pesticide permit

Explanation

Structural pest control, including cockroaches and rodents inside buildings, requires an exterminator licence under O. Reg. 63/09. Operator licences apply to land-based applications such as agriculture and landscaping.

Question 7Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

An applicator wants to use a registered product at a rate above the label rate to improve control. Under Ontario law this is:

  1. Permitted, because the applicator is certified
  2. Not permitted, as it exceeds the label rate Correct answer.
  3. Permitted, because the product is registered
  4. Permitted, if the client gives written consent

Explanation

Pesticides must be used in accordance with the directions on the registered label; applying a higher rate than the label allows is a contravention. Certification or client consent does not authorize using a product contrary to its label.

Question 8Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Pesticides offered for sale in Ontario must be:

  1. In the original labelled container Correct answer.
  2. In generic containers marked by the vendor
  3. Only in containers under one litre
  4. In bulk bins with a content label

Explanation

Pesticides must be sold in the manufacturer's original container bearing the approved label so the user receives the full directions, warnings and registration information. Repackaging or relabelling by a vendor is not permitted.

Question 9Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Which use does Ontario's cosmetic pesticides ban prohibit?

  1. Controlling poison ivy along a property line
  2. Treating a home lawn to improve its appearance Correct answer.
  3. Spraying an agricultural field for insect pests
  4. Controlling pests that pose a health risk indoors

Explanation

The cosmetic pesticides ban prohibits using pesticides on lawns, gardens and similar areas for aesthetic purposes only. Agricultural production and health or safety related pest control remain permitted uses.

Question 10Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Ontario pesticide applicator certification remains valid for:

  1. Three years
  2. One year
  3. Ten years
  4. Five years Correct answer.

Explanation

Applicator certificates in Ontario are valid for five years, after which the applicator must renew by meeting the renewal requirements set by the certification program. Applying with an expired certificate is not permitted.

Question 11Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

A retailer that sells restricted pesticides to commercial applicators in Ontario must hold:

  1. A pesticide permit
  2. A vendor licence Correct answer.
  3. An exterminator licence
  4. An operator licence

Explanation

Selling pesticides beyond the limited products available to the general public requires a vendor licence under O. Reg. 63/09. The licence holder is responsible for ensuring sales comply with the Act and regulation.

Question 12Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

After applying a pesticide, a licensed operator must:

  1. Destroy the record within 30 days
  2. Publish the record on a public website
  3. Keep an application record for inspection Correct answer.
  4. Send the record to every nearby landowner

Explanation

O. Reg. 63/09 requires licensed operators to keep records of pesticide applications, including product, rate, date and location, and to produce them when requested by a ministry inspector. The records are not public documents.

Question 13Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

After treating a client's home, a licensed exterminator must:

  1. Remove the product label from the empty container
  2. Obtain a new pesticide permit for each additional visit
  3. Give the client written information about the pesticide Correct answer.
  4. Report every application to the local police service

Explanation

The exterminator must provide the client with written information about the pesticide used, such as the product name, active ingredient and other prescribed details. This allows the occupant to understand what was applied and any precautions.

Question 14Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Class 6 pesticides in Ontario are best described as:

  1. Lower-risk products, e.g. biopesticides Correct answer.
  2. Products sold only by licensed pesticide vendors
  3. Highly toxic fumigants
  4. Restricted agricultural products

Explanation

Class 6 covers lower-risk pesticides, including many biopesticides, which are subject to fewer restrictions than the more hazardous classes. The higher-risk restricted classes are Class 1 and Class 2.

Question 15Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Which Ontario pesticide class contains the most strictly controlled products, such as fumigants?

  1. Class 3
  2. Class 5
  3. Class 2
  4. Class 1 Correct answer.

Explanation

Class 1 is the most restricted class and includes highly hazardous products such as fumigants, which require strict controls and, in many cases, a permit. Lower numbers below Class 1 do not exist; higher classes are less restricted.

Question 16Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

A pesticide is registered federally, but Ontario prohibits its cosmetic use. What is the applicator's legal position?

  1. The applicator may choose either set of rules
  2. Provincial rules apply only to licensed vendors
  3. Both federal and provincial rules must be met Correct answer.
  4. Federal registration alone authorizes the use

Explanation

Federal registration is a prerequisite for sale and use, but it does not override provincial restrictions. An applicator must satisfy both the federal Pest Control Products Act and Ontario's Pesticides Act and regulation.

Question 17Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Under the Pesticides Act, a pesticide permit may be issued to allow:

  1. Selling pesticides without a vendor licence
  2. Exemption from federal registration
  3. Any certified applicator to use any product
  4. Research or emergency use of a pesticide Correct answer.

Explanation

The Director may issue a pesticide permit for limited purposes such as research trials or emergency pest situations that cannot be handled under the normal rules. A permit does not authorize routine application or sales.

Question 18Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Before a person can be certified as an exterminator in Ontario, the person must first:

  1. Complete the Core certification Correct answer.
  2. Own a pest control business
  3. Have five years of field experience
  4. Hold a vendor licence

Explanation

The Core certification covers legislation, safety, environmental protection and pest management principles and must be obtained before writing a category examination such as structural. Business ownership and licensing are separate from personal certification.

Question 19Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

The Ontario Pesticides Advisory Committee provides:

  1. Advice to the Minister on pesticide issues Correct answer.
  2. Writing of certification examinations
  3. Registration of pesticides for sale in Canada
  4. Enforcement of the federal Pest Control Products Act

Explanation

The committee is established to advise the Minister on pesticide-related matters, including classification and regulatory policy. Registration and enforcement of the federal Act are federal responsibilities.

Question 20Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Which practice meets Ontario's requirements for storing pesticides?

  1. In an open pickup truck overnight
  2. Beside livestock feed for quick access
  3. In a locked, ventilated cabinet away from feed Correct answer.
  4. In unmarked drink bottles inside a garden shed

Explanation

Pesticides must be kept in their labelled containers in a secure, ventilated area that is separated from food, feed and living spaces. Secure storage prevents accidental poisoning and theft.

Question 21Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

For a Class 2 pesticide application, which statement is correct?

  1. Any employee of the property owner
  2. A vendor who holds a current vendor licence
  3. Anyone who has read the product label
  4. A certified applicator with a licensed operator Correct answer.

Explanation

Class 2 products are restricted and may only be applied by a certified applicator working under a licensed operator, in accordance with the label. Persons without certification and a licensed business cannot lawfully make the application.

Question 22Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

A sprayer ruptures and pesticide flows into a roadside ditch. The applicator should first:

  1. Finish spraying the field, then report later
  2. Report it to the Spills Action Centre Correct answer.
  3. Notify the client at the end of the day
  4. Dilute the spill with water and leave

Explanation

A pesticide release into the environment must be reported promptly to the Ministry's Spills Action Centre, and reasonable steps must be taken to contain and clean up the spill. Delaying the report or diluting the product can worsen environmental harm.

Question 23Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

A client asks an applicator to use a product on a crop that is not listed on the label. The applicator should:

  1. Apply it, because the product is registered in Canada
  2. Refuse, because the site is not on the label Correct answer.
  3. Ask the vendor for verbal approval
  4. Apply it at half the label rate to reduce risk

Explanation

Label directions define the registered use sites, and applying to an unlisted site is a contravention of both federal and provincial law. The applicator must decline until a product registered for that use is available.

Question 24Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

An unlicensed assistant applies a pesticide while the certified operator is off-site. This is:

  1. A contravention of Ontario pesticide law Correct answer.
  2. Acceptable for lower-risk pesticides only
  3. Acceptable if the client agrees in writing
  4. Acceptable if the assistant has read the label

Explanation

Only certified applicators, working under a licensed operator, may apply pesticides that require certification; an uncertified assistant cannot apply unsupervised. Doing so breaches the Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09 and can lead to charges against both individuals and the business.

Question 25Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Maximum residue limits for pesticides in food sold in Canada are established under:

  1. The Ontario Pesticides Act
  2. The Canada Labour Code
  3. The Pest Control Products Act Correct answer.
  4. Municipal property standards bylaws

Explanation

Health Canada sets maximum residue limits under the federal Pest Control Products Act, and the CFIA enforces them in the food supply. Provincial and municipal laws do not set food residue limits.

Question 26Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Which body is responsible for registering pest control products for sale and use in Canada?

  1. Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
  2. The Pest Control Products Industry Association of Canada
  3. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which audits pesticide residue testing laboratories
  4. Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency Correct answer.

Explanation

The federal Pest Control Products Act requires that pest control products be registered before they are sold or used in Canada, and that registration work is carried out by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, which reports to Health Canada. Provincial ministries regulate how registered products are classified, sold and applied within their own jurisdiction.

Question 27Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

Which document contains the legally binding directions that govern how a registered pesticide may be used in Ontario?

  1. A crop protection guide published by a grower association
  2. The safety data sheet supplied by the manufacturer
  3. The provincial classification list published each year by the ministry
  4. The label approved when the product was registered Correct answer.

Explanation

A pesticide may only be used in accordance with the directions on its approved label; the label states the permitted sites, rates, timing and application methods. Provinces may further restrict where or by whom a product is used, but they do not replace the label as the source of use directions.

Question 28Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

A technician holds a valid Ontario certificate limited to structural pest control. The employer assigns the technician to apply a herbicide to a corn field. What is required before that application?

  1. The technician must be certified in the appropriate agricultural category Correct answer.
  2. The technician only needs to apply the product at a rate below the label rate
  3. The technician may proceed if a licensed operator is present on the same farm
  4. Nothing further; a valid Ontario certificate is not limited by category or class of use

Explanation

Ontario issues applicator certificates for specific categories of pesticide use, and a certificate holder may only carry out applications within the category or categories certified. Applying pesticides outside that scope requires obtaining the appropriate additional certification.

Question 29Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

A greenhouse grower in Ontario wants to buy and use a pest control product that is approved in the United States but has never been registered in Canada. What is the grower's legal position?

  1. The grower may import it because products used only inside greenhouses fall outside the federal scheme
  2. The grower may not import or use it unless it is registered under federal law Correct answer.
  3. The grower may import it for personal use if the quantity is small and a certified applicator applies it
  4. The grower may use it if the Ontario ministry issues a permit naming the greenhouse crop

Explanation

Only pest control products registered under the federal Pest Control Products Act may be imported, sold or used in Canada, and there is no personal-use import exemption for pesticides. Provincial permits deal with restricted uses of products already registered and classified in Ontario; they cannot authorize an unregistered product.

Question 30Pesticide legislation, certification, and regulatory responsibilities (Ontario Pesticides Act and O. Reg. 63/09; federal Pest Control Products Act)

An advertisement for a registered pesticide states that the product is 'completely safe for children, pets and the environment.' How does the federal Pest Control Products Act treat this claim?

  1. It is permitted, because the product holds a valid registration and therefore meets the safety standards set by Health Canada
  2. It is prohibited unless the Ontario ministry approves the wording in advance
  3. It is permitted, as long as the same wording also appears somewhere on the approved label
  4. It is prohibited, because advertising must not create a false or misleading impression about a product's safety Correct answer.

Explanation

The Pest Control Products Act prohibits advertising a product in a manner that is false, misleading or likely to create a false impression about its safety or efficacy. Registration confirms acceptable risk under conditions of use; it does not make a product harmless, so an absolute safety claim is unlawful regardless of where it appears.

Question 31Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

An insect that develops through the stages egg, larva, pupa, and adult is said to have which type of life cycle?

  1. Viviparous development
  2. Complete metamorphosis Correct answer.
  3. Incomplete metamorphosis
  4. Gradual metamorphosis

Explanation

Complete metamorphosis has four distinct stages, and the larva looks very different from the adult. Beetles, moths, butterflies, flies, and wasps are examples. Knowing the life cycle tells you which stage is the damaging one and which stage is easiest to target.

Question 32Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

Which feature distinguishes gradual metamorphosis from complete metamorphosis?

  1. Each moult produces a resting pupa
  2. The adult stage stops feeding entirely
  3. Nymphs resemble small adults and no pupa occurs Correct answer.
  4. The immature stages are worm-like larvae that pupate

Explanation

In gradual (incomplete) metamorphosis the insect passes through egg, nymph, and adult, with the nymph resembling a small version of the adult and wings developing externally. Complete metamorphosis inserts a pupal stage between a distinctly different larva and the adult.

Question 33Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

Which of these pests feeds with chewing mouthparts?

  1. Aphid
  2. Leafhopper
  3. Caterpillar Correct answer.
  4. Spider mite

Explanation

Chewing mouthparts bite and tear plant tissue, producing holes, notches, or skeletonized leaves; caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers are typical examples. Contact insecticides work well against them because the insect picks up spray as it feeds.

Question 34Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

Why is a slug not classified as an insect?

  1. It has more than six legs
  2. It has a hard exoskeleton
  3. It is a mollusc with a soft body and no jointed legs Correct answer.
  4. It undergoes complete metamorphosis

Explanation

Insects have three body regions, six jointed legs, and a hard exoskeleton. Slugs are gastropod molluscs with a soft, unsegmented body and a muscular foot, so insecticide programs aimed at insects often do not control them.

Question 35Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

The disease triangle model states that a plant disease develops only when which three factors occur together?

  1. A susceptible host, a virulent pathogen, favourable environment Correct answer.
  2. A susceptible host, abundant insects, and low soil pH levels
  3. A resistant host, a weak pathogen, and persistently dry weather
  4. A virulent pathogen, high fertilizer rates, and warm soil

Explanation

The disease triangle requires a susceptible host, a virulent pathogen, and environmental conditions that favour infection, such as leaf wetness or suitable temperature. Management works by removing at least one side of the triangle, for example by growing resistant varieties or improving airflow.

Question 36Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

Which description best identifies poison ivy?

  1. Three leaflets on a single stem, often glossy Correct answer.
  2. Opposite oval leaves with toothed edges and red berries
  3. Five or more leaflets arranged along a stem
  4. Needle-like leaves growing in dense clumps

Explanation

Poison ivy is recognised by its compound leaf of three leaflets, which may be glossy or dull and can turn red in autumn. All parts of the plant contain an oil that causes skin irritation, so control should avoid bare-skin contact.

Question 37Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

A gardener finds an alligator-like, orange-marked larva crawling among an aphid colony. This is most likely:

  1. A slug that will damage seedlings
  2. A pest caterpillar that should be controlled
  3. A lady beetle larva, a predator of aphids Correct answer.
  4. A white grub that feeds on roots

Explanation

Lady beetle larvae are active, alligator-shaped predators that patrol foliage and consume large numbers of aphids. Recognising common beneficial larvae prevents unnecessary sprays that would remove natural control.

Question 38Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

Which practice is an example of cultural control?

  1. Spraying a microbial product such as Btk
  2. Rotating crops to break pest life cycles Correct answer.
  3. Releasing purchased predatory mites into the crop
  4. Applying a registered insecticide at a threshold population

Explanation

Cultural controls modify the growing environment or management practices, such as rotation, sanitation, resistant varieties, or planting dates, to make life harder for the pest. Rotation interrupts the sequence where a pest builds up in soil or crop residue.

Question 39Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

Sticky honeydew and black sooty mould coating the upper leaves are most characteristic of an infestation by:

  1. Slugs
  2. Cutworms
  3. White grubs
  4. Aphids Correct answer.

Explanation

Aphids insert piercing-sucking mouthparts into the phloem and excrete excess sugary liquid as honeydew. Sooty mould fungi grow on the honeydew, and ants often tend the aphid colonies.

Question 40Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

Which description matches the damage caused by spider mites?

  1. Fine pale stippling on leaves, often with webbing Correct answer.
  2. Seedlings cut off at the soil line overnight
  3. Wilting caused by root feeding
  4. Large ragged holes chewed in the middle of leaves

Explanation

Spider mites rasp and empty individual plant cells, leaving tiny pale dots called stippling, and heavy populations produce fine silk webbing. Mite outbreaks are favoured by hot, dry weather and by sprays that kill their natural enemies.

Question 41Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

Seedlings in a garden bed are severed at ground level, with the tops lying nearby. Which pest is most likely responsible?

  1. Aphids
  2. Spider mites
  3. Cutworms Correct answer.
  4. White grubs

Explanation

Cutworm larvae hide in the soil or surface litter during the day and chew through seedling stems at night, leaving wilted tops beside the plant. Scouting at dusk or looking for soil disturbance around damaged stems confirms the diagnosis.

Question 42Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

White grub larvae found under dead patches of turf are best described as:

  1. Sap-feeding insects that cause yellow stippling
  2. Slugs that feed at night on foliage
  3. C-shaped larvae of scarab beetles that feed on roots Correct answer.
  4. Surface-feeding caterpillars that chew the grass blades

Explanation

White grubs are the soil-dwelling larvae of scarab beetles such as Japanese beetle and chafer species. They feed on turf roots, so damaged sod lifts away easily like a loose carpet.

Question 43Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

In integrated pest management, the economic threshold is best defined as:

  1. The pest density that causes the maximum possible yield loss
  2. The number of pests a single pesticide application can kill
  3. The level of pest damage growers are willing to tolerate for cosmetic reasons
  4. The pest density at which control should be applied Correct answer.

Explanation

The economic threshold is the pest density at which action must be taken to stop the population from reaching the economic injury level. Treating below the threshold wastes money and removes natural enemies unnecessarily.

Question 44Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

When scouting a field to estimate pest numbers, the most reliable approach is to:

  1. Wait until damage is visible from the roadside before sampling
  2. Examine only plants along the field margin nearest the road
  3. Count pests on the largest, most vigorous plants only
  4. Sample plants at random points across the whole field Correct answer.

Explanation

Pest populations are often patchy, and field edges can differ from the interior, so samples must be taken at random or in a set pattern across the whole area. Consistent sampling methods allow counts to be compared with thresholds and with previous visits.

Question 45Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk) controls caterpillars because:

  1. It is absorbed by plant roots and kills sap-feeding insects
  2. Its toxin must be eaten and acts in the caterpillar gut Correct answer.
  3. It infects insects through the exoskeleton
  4. It releases a fumigant gas that kills eggs on contact

Explanation

Bt products are stomach poisons: the caterpillar must ingest treated foliage, and the toxin is activated in the alkaline gut and destroys the gut lining. Because it must be eaten, it is not effective against sucking insects and coverage of foliage is essential.

Question 46Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

Pheromone traps are used most commonly in IPM programs to:

  1. Attract pollinators to improve fruit set
  2. Repel egg-laying females from the crop
  3. Kill enough adults to collapse the population each season
  4. Detect adult flight and time control actions Correct answer.

Explanation

Pheromone traps attract males of a target species and give an early warning of adult emergence and flight peaks. Trap counts are used with degree-day models to time scouting or sprays rather than to reduce the population directly.

Question 47Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

A pest population survives repeated applications of the same insecticide. The best resistance-management response is to:

  1. Apply the same product more frequently during the season
  2. Mix the same product with a sticker to improve coverage
  3. Increase the application rate until control improves
  4. Rotate to a different mode-of-action group Correct answer.

Explanation

Resistance develops when survivors of a treatment pass on inherited tolerance, so repeatedly exposing a population to one mode of action selects for resistance. Rotating among chemical groups with different modes of action, and using non-chemical tactics, slows that selection.

Question 48Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

Dandelion is difficult to remove by hand because it:

  1. Regrows from a thick fleshy taproot Correct answer.
  2. Roots at every node along trailing stems
  3. Has a network of deep creeping rhizomes
  4. Reproduces mainly from bulbils on the leaves

Explanation

Dandelion is a perennial with a long, fleshy taproot; if the crown and upper root are left in the soil, the plant regrows. Effective hand removal must extract the whole taproot, and preventing seed production stops wind-blown seed from starting new plants.

Question 49Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

Canada thistle is especially difficult to control because it:

  1. Spreads by an extensive creeping root system Correct answer.
  2. Requires shade in order to germinate
  3. Only reproduces by wind-blown seed
  4. Is a summer annual that produces seed only once

Explanation

Canada thistle is a perennial that spreads through an extensive, deep rhizome network, and cultivation can chop these roots into fragments that each produce a new plant. Control requires repeated depletion of the root reserves as well as preventing seed set.

Question 50Pest identification, biology, and integrated pest management principles

Crabgrass is a summer annual grassy weed. Pre-emergent herbicides for crabgrass are most effective when applied:

  1. In the fall, just before the first frost
  2. After seedlings are visible and tillering has begun
  3. In spring before soil temperatures favour germination Correct answer.
  4. In late summer after the plants have flowered

Explanation

Pre-emergent herbicides form a barrier in the soil surface layer and must be in place before weed seeds germinate. Crabgrass germinates when soil warms in late spring, so applications are timed to soil temperature and are useless once seedlings are established.