Ontario Pesticide Landscape Exam flashcards
Ontario Pesticide Landscape Exam · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Economic threshold
- The pest population density at which the cost of control equals the value of damage prevented, signalling that treatment is warranted before losses exceed control costs.
- Economic injury level
- The lowest pest density that causes crop or turf damage equal to the cost of control; it is the biological reference point above which economic loss begins.
- Complete metamorphosis
- A four-stage life cycle of egg, larva, pupa, and adult in which the larva differs greatly from the adult and usually causes most feeding damage.
- Incomplete metamorphosis
- A three-stage life cycle of egg, nymph, and adult in which nymphs resemble small adults and feed on the same host as the mature stage.
- Degree-day accumulation
- A measure of heat accumulated above a pest's lower development threshold, used to predict egg hatch, larval emergence, and timing of control applications.
- Emulsifiable concentrate
- A liquid formulation in which the active ingredient dissolves in organic solvent with emulsifiers, forming a milky emulsion when diluted with water in the spray tank.
- Wettable powder
- A powdered formulation in which the active ingredient is mixed with inert carriers and dispersants, forming a suspension in water that requires constant agitation.
- Surfactant adjuvant
- A tank additive that lowers the surface tension of spray droplets, improving wetting and spreading of the spray deposit on waxy or hairy leaf surfaces.
- Contact herbicide
- A herbicide that kills only the plant tissue it directly contacts, requiring thorough coverage and offering little or no control of roots or regrowth.
- Systemic herbicide
- A herbicide absorbed by foliage or roots and translocated through xylem or phloem to untreated tissues, including roots of perennial weeds.
- Resistance management
- A strategy of rotating among pesticide mode-of-action groups and using full labelled rates to delay selection of resistant pest populations.
- Biological control
- The use of living natural enemies such as predators, parasitoids, and pathogens to suppress pest populations, most effective when pest numbers are low.
- Signal word
- A word on the label indicating acute toxicity category: Danger for highly toxic products, Warning for moderately toxic, and Caution for slightly toxic products.
- Restricted-entry interval
- The period after application during which entry into a treated area is prohibited without label-specified protective equipment, protecting workers from residues.
- Dermal exposure
- Absorption of pesticide through the skin, the most common exposure route for landscape applicators and the reason coveralls and gloves are required.
- Cholinesterase inhibition
- Blockage of the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, caused by organophosphates and carbamates and producing salivation, sweating, pinpoint pupils, and muscle twitching.
- Personal protective equipment
- Label-specified clothing and gear such as chemical-resistant gloves, coveralls, boots, eye protection, and respirators that reduce applicator exposure during handling and application.
- Pesticide class
- An Ontario regulatory category that determines who may sell or use a product, with Class 1, 2, and 3 products restricted to licensed or certified persons.
- Label directions
- The legally binding instructions on a registered pesticide label covering use sites, rates, timing, protective equipment, and precautions that must be followed.
- Buffer zone
- A label-specified untreated distance between an application area and sensitive sites such as water, dwellings, or habitat, intended to prevent drift and runoff contamination.
- Spray drift
- Off-target movement of pesticide droplets or particles through the air during application, reduced by larger droplets, lower boom height, and drift-reducing nozzles.
- Leaching
- Downward movement of pesticide through soil into groundwater, favoured by high water solubility, low soil adsorption, and high persistence in the environment.
- Pollinator protection
- Practices that reduce bee exposure, including avoiding applications to blooming plants, mowing flowering weeds, and applying in the evening when foragers are absent.
- Calibration formula
- Application rate in litres per hectare equals nozzle output in litres per minute times 600, divided by speed in kilometres per hour times swath width in metres.
- Nozzle wear check
- A procedure comparing each nozzle's output against a new nozzle or the average; nozzles varying by more than ten percent should be replaced.
- Flat fan nozzle
- A nozzle producing a tapered pattern used for broadcast spraying, typically spaced at fifty centimetres and operated at forty-five to sixty centimetres above the target.
- Spill response sequence
- The ordered actions of protecting people, stopping the source, containing the spill with absorbent material, collecting waste, and decontaminating the affected area.
- Triple rinsing
- A container cleaning method in which the empty container is filled, agitated, and drained three times, with rinsate added to the spray tank before disposal.
- Pesticide storage
- A locked, ventilated, dry area with an impermeable floor, separate from food, feed, and water, where labelled containers are kept upright and secure.
- Application record
- A document completed at application time listing product, rate, area, date, weather, and applicator, retained for regulatory inspection and traceability.
- Spill reporting
- Notification of a pesticide release to the appropriate authority, with documentation of the incident, the response taken, and any follow-up corrective actions.
- Professional conduct
- Applicator behaviour that follows label directions, respects buffer zones and neighbours, avoids drift-prone conditions, and stays within the limits of the certification held.