Ontario Pesticide Landscape Exam key terms

The pest population level or damage level at which control measures should begin to prevent unacceptable economic or aesthetic loss. Below it, monitoring continues rather than treatment.

The pest density at which the cost of control equals the value of damage prevented. It is the break-even point used to set practical action thresholds.

Systematic, regular inspection of a site or crop to detect pests, assess their numbers and stage, and evaluate natural enemies and plant condition before deciding on treatment.

A calculation using daily temperature accumulation above a pest's developmental minimum to predict when life stages such as egg hatch or adult emergence will occur, so timing of control is precise.

One of the growth stages between molts of an insect or other arthropod. Larval instars often differ greatly in feeding damage and in susceptibility to pesticides.

The immature stage of insects with incomplete metamorphosis, such as aphids, true bugs, and grasshoppers. Nymphs resemble small adults and feed on the same hosts.

The developmental change from immature to adult form. Complete metamorphosis has egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages; incomplete metamorphosis has egg, nymph, and adult stages.

The inherited ability of a plant variety to limit or tolerate attack by a pest. Using resistant varieties is a foundational, low-risk pest management tactic.

Routine management practices such as sanitation, resistant varieties, crop rotation, pruning, mulching, and irrigation timing that reduce pest establishment, reproduction, or spread without pesticides.

Managing pests by encouraging, releasing, or conserving living natural enemies such as predators, parasitoids, and pathogens. Success depends on protecting these organisms from broad-spectrum pesticides.

An insect that develops in or on a single host insect, usually killing it. Many wasps and flies are parasitoids and are important natural controls of caterpillars and aphids.

An organism that attacks and consumes multiple prey during its life. Lady beetles, lacewings, and spiders are common predators that help suppress pest populations.

A decision-making approach that combines monitoring, thresholds, cultural, biological, physical, and chemical tactics, choosing pesticides only when other methods cannot keep pests below acceptable levels.

Removing or destroying pest habitat and breeding material, such as plant debris, fallen fruit, weeds, and infested prunings, to reduce carryover populations between seasons.

The biochemical or physiological process by which a pesticide kills or inhibits a target, such as nerve transmission, respiration, or cell division. It is used to group products and plan rotations.

Rotating among pesticide groups with different modes of action and using non-chemical tactics to delay the evolution of pest populations that survive labeled rates of a product.

A classification, often shown by a number or letter on the label, that identifies products sharing a mode of action or chemical family so applicators can rotate between them.

The physical mixture in which an active ingredient is sold, such as emulsifiable concentrate, wettable powder, suspension concentrate, or granule. It affects mixing, handling, and equipment needs.

A product added to a spray mixture to improve performance, for example by improving spreading, sticking, penetration, or drift control. It is not itself a pesticide.

A surface-active adjuvant that lowers the surface tension of spray droplets, improving wetting and coverage of leaf surfaces. Overuse can cause runoff or crop injury.

A required word on the label, such as Caution, Warning, or Danger, indicating the relative acute hazard of the product and warning users of toxicity or hazard to skin and eyes.

The legally approved document attached to a pesticide container. Its directions, restrictions, and precautions must be followed; use inconsistent with the label is an offence.

The minimum number of days the label requires between the last pesticide application and harvest of the treated crop, protecting consumers from illegal residues.

The period after an application during which workers may not enter a treated area without the protective equipment specified on the label, limiting exposure to residues.

A label-required untreated distance between the application area and sensitive features such as water bodies, dwellings, or schools, intended to protect people and the environment from drift.

The clothing and equipment specified on the label, such as gloves, coveralls, boots, eye protection, and respirators, worn to reduce contact with pesticides during handling and application.

Entering a treated area after application. It is governed by the restricted-entry interval and any label requirements for protective equipment or notification of workers.

Pesticide contact with the skin, the most common route of applicator exposure. It is reduced by wearing label-specified gloves, coveralls, and prompt washing after handling.

Blocking of the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, caused by organophosphate and carbamate insecticides. It leads to symptoms such as salivation, sweating, and muscle twitching.

Movement of pesticide droplets, particles, or vapour off the target area by wind, air currents, or volatilization. It can injure non-target plants, contaminate water, and expose bystanders.

Conversion of a pesticide from a liquid or solid into a gas after application, allowing it to move in air. It is influenced by temperature, formulation, and soil moisture.

Practices that reduce pesticide risk to bees and other pollinators, including avoiding applications during bloom, applying in the evening, and following label pollinator warnings.

The component that breaks spray liquid into droplets and determines output, pattern, and droplet size. Worn or wrong nozzles cause poor coverage, overdosing, or excessive drift.

Measuring and adjusting application equipment so it delivers the labeled rate uniformly over the target area. It is done before use and repeated when nozzles, pressure, or speed change.

The amount of product or active ingredient applied per unit area, such as litres per hectare or grams per 100 square metres, as specified on the label.

A cleaning procedure that fills a container about one-tenth full, rinses, and drains into the spray tank three times, then punctures or crushes the empty container for disposal.

The planned actions after a pesticide release: protect people, stop the source, contain and absorb the material, clean the area, and report as required. A spill kit should be on hand.

The required handling of empty pesticide containers, such as triple rinsing, draining, and delivering to an approved collection program, so they cannot be reused or contaminate sites.

Documentation of each pesticide use, typically including date, location, crop, product and registration number, rate, area treated, applicator, and weather conditions.

A supplier document summarizing a product's hazards, first-aid measures, handling, and spill procedures. It supplements but does not replace the approved label directions.