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MT Pesticide Applicator practice questions

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Question 1Agricultural Plant Pest Control

An insect that feeds by inserting needle-like stylets into plant tissue and withdrawing sap is best controlled by an insecticide that is:

  1. effective only on contact with the insect's cuticle
  2. applied as a dust that coats leaf surfaces
  3. active only when eaten with leaf tissue
  4. absorbed and translocated within the plant Correct answer.

Explanation

Piercing-sucking insects insert stylets into tissue and remove sap, so an insecticide that stays on the leaf surface may never contact them. Systemic products are absorbed and translocated to the feeding site inside the plant.

Question 2Agricultural Plant Pest Control

In an IPM program, the economic threshold is best described as the:

  1. pest density at which treatment prevents economic loss Correct answer.
  2. pest level at which the crop is always destroyed
  3. maximum pest population the crop can tolerate without any yield loss
  4. number of pests that one application can kill

Explanation

The economic threshold is the pest density at which control should begin so the population does not reach the economic injury level. It is deliberately set below the density at which yield loss starts.

Question 3Agricultural Plant Pest Control

A preemergence herbicide is applied to a crop field and no rain or irrigation occurs for three weeks. The most likely result is:

  1. no effect on weeds or crop because the herbicide is volatile
  2. crop injury because the herbicide moved too deep
  3. poor weed control because the herbicide was not activated Correct answer.
  4. excellent weed control because the herbicide stayed on the surface

Explanation

Most preemergence herbicides must be moved into the top inch or two of soil by rain or irrigation to form a treated barrier where weed seeds germinate. Without that moisture the herbicide remains on the dry surface and weeds emerge untreated.

Question 4Agricultural Plant Pest Control

A producer has used the same ALS-inhibiting herbicide on one field for eight consecutive years. Which practice best slows the selection of resistant weed populations?

  1. rotating to herbicides with different sites of action Correct answer.
  2. applying the same herbicide more frequently
  3. increasing the use rate of the same herbicide
  4. adding a nonionic surfactant to every application

Explanation

Continuous use of one site of action selects for weeds carrying a resistance mechanism, and those individuals then dominate the population. Rotating among sites of action and adding cultural tactics reduces that selection pressure.

Question 5Agricultural Plant Pest Control

The three components of the disease triangle are:

  1. susceptible host, virulent pathogen, favorable environment Correct answer.
  2. pathogen, weed host, and standing water
  3. resistant host, pathogen, and a fungicide program
  4. susceptible host, an insect vector, and a virus particle

Explanation

The disease triangle holds that disease occurs only when a susceptible host, a virulent pathogen, and favorable environmental conditions occur together. Removing any one of the three prevents an epidemic.

Question 6Agricultural Plant Pest Control

Which combination of application practices is most likely to reduce off-target spray drift?

  1. coarser droplets, lower boom height, and lower pressure Correct answer.
  2. coarser droplets, higher boom height, and higher pressure
  3. finer droplets, lower boom height, and lower carrier volume
  4. finer droplets, higher boom height, and higher pressure

Explanation

Drift is driven by the share of small droplets produced and by how far they fall before reaching the target. Coarser droplets, a boom closer to the target, and reduced pressure all reduce the amount of spray that can move off target.

Question 7Agricultural Plant Pest Control

When a sprayer is operated at higher pressure with the same nozzles, the:

  1. flow rate increases and droplets become larger
  2. flow rate decreases and droplets become larger
  3. flow rate increases and droplets become smaller Correct answer.
  4. flow rate stays the same and droplet size is unchanged

Explanation

Nozzle output varies roughly with the square root of pressure, and higher pressure breaks the liquid stream into finer droplets. Changing nozzles or ground speed is the better way to change application rate without adding drift.

Question 8Agricultural Plant Pest Control

A nonionic surfactant is added to a postemergence herbicide spray mainly to:

  1. raise the pH of the spray solution
  2. increase the droplet size of the spray
  3. reduce surface tension so spray spreads on waxy leaves Correct answer.
  4. supply nitrogen to the growing crop

Explanation

Surfactants lower the surface tension of water so droplets spread and adhere instead of bouncing off waxy or hairy leaf surfaces. They do not materially change droplet size or supply plant nutrients.

Question 9Agricultural Plant Pest Control

Atrazine carryover injury to a following soybean crop is most likely when soil pH is:

  1. neutral (7.0) with irrigation after application
  2. high (above 7.0) with heavy rain after application
  3. low (below 6.0) with frequent rain after application
  4. high (above 7.0) with a dry season after application Correct answer.

Explanation

Atrazine dissipates mainly by chemical hydrolysis and microbial breakdown, both of which are slower in neutral to alkaline soil, and dry soil further restricts microbial activity. High pH combined with a dry season leaves enough residue to injure a sensitive rotational crop such as soybean.

Question 10Agricultural Plant Pest Control

Fungicide seed treatments are primarily used to:

  1. protect germinating seed from seed- and soil-borne pathogens Correct answer.
  2. improve the germination of stored grain
  3. control foliar diseases that appear late in the season
  4. kill weeds that emerge with the crop

Explanation

Seed treatments place a small amount of fungicide where it protects the germinating seed and young seedling from pathogens carried on the seed or present in the surrounding soil. They provide little or no protection to foliage later in the season.

Question 11Agricultural Plant Pest Control

Releasing a parasitic wasp that lays its eggs inside an aphid is an example of:

  1. genetic control
  2. chemical control
  3. biological control Correct answer.
  4. cultural control

Explanation

Biological control uses living natural enemies such as predators, parasitoids, and pathogens to suppress pest populations. Cultural control instead relies on practices like crop rotation, tillage, or planting date.

Question 12Agricultural Plant Pest Control

Adding a broadleaf herbicide to a grass-killing herbicide in the same tank can reduce grass control because of:

  1. synergism between the two products
  2. antagonism between the two products Correct answer.
  3. increased surfactant concentration in the tank
  4. increased volatility of the mixture

Explanation

Antagonism means the mixture performs worse than the products applied separately, often because one product interferes with absorption or translocation of the other. Grass herbicides are commonly antagonized by broadleaf products, so separate applications a few days apart are preferred.

Question 13Agricultural Plant Pest Control

Which nozzle type produces a cone-shaped pattern of fine droplets that helps the spray penetrate a dense crop canopy when applying insecticides or fungicides?

  1. flooding nozzle
  2. raingun nozzle
  3. flat-fan nozzle
  4. hollow-cone nozzle Correct answer.

Explanation

Hollow-cone nozzles produce fine droplets in a cone-shaped pattern that helps spray penetrate and cover foliage inside a dense canopy. Flat-fan nozzles give a uniform broadcast pattern better suited to a relatively flat target such as the soil surface.

Question 14Agricultural Plant Pest Control

Which strategy best delays insecticide resistance in an insect population?

  1. rotating among insecticide groups with different modes of action Correct answer.
  2. treating on a calendar schedule regardless of pest numbers
  3. increasing the number of applications within a season
  4. applying the same insecticide at the highest labeled rate every year

Explanation

Resistance develops when a population is repeatedly exposed to one mode of action, favoring the individuals that survive it. Rotating among IRAC groups and using thresholds to limit sprays reduces that continuous selection pressure.

Question 15Agricultural Plant Pest Control

Canada thistle is a perennial that spreads by rhizomes. Which control approach is most appropriate?

  1. one contact herbicide application at full bloom
  2. a systemic herbicide applied in late bud stage Correct answer.
  3. mowing at full bloom and leaving the residue
  4. repeated shallow tillage that chops the rhizomes

Explanation

Perennial weeds regrow from root reserves, so the most reliable herbicide approach is a systemic product applied when carbohydrates are moving downward to the roots. Tillage that chops rhizomes can multiply the number of shoots and worsen the infestation.

Question 16Agricultural Plant Pest Control

Which practice most reduces the risk of selecting fungicide-resistant pathogen populations?

  1. alternating fungicides from different FRAC groups Correct answer.
  2. applying a single-site fungicide at reduced rates
  3. spraying only after symptoms are widespread
  4. applying the same systemic fungicide all season

Explanation

Single-site fungicides are prone to resistance, and repeated exposure to the same group selects resistant strains. Alternating or mixing different FRAC groups, using labeled rates, and treating preventively all reduce selection pressure.

Question 17Agricultural Plant Pest Control

The preharvest interval shown on a pesticide label indicates:

  1. the interval required between two consecutive sprays
  2. the time required for the spray deposit to dry
  3. the maximum number of applications allowed per season
  4. the minimum days between the last application and harvest Correct answer.

Explanation

The preharvest interval is set so that residues at harvest fall below the established tolerance. Harvesting sooner than the label allows can leave illegal residues in the harvested crop.

Question 18Agricultural Plant Pest Control

Postemergence herbicides generally give the best results when applied:

  1. to weeds under cold stress in late fall
  2. to small, actively growing weeds Correct answer.
  3. to mature weeds after they have set seed
  4. during drought when weeds are dormant

Explanation

Postemergence herbicides are absorbed through foliage and move within the plant, so uptake and translocation are greatest in small, actively growing weeds. Treating large, stressed, or seed-bearing weeds usually gives poor control.

Question 19Agricultural Plant Pest Control

A sprayer used to apply 2,4-D will next be used to apply an insecticide on a sensitive broadleaf crop. The most important cleanout step is to:

  1. triple-rinse tank, boom, and hoses with a cleaner Correct answer.
  2. leave the tank empty overnight, then fill it with water
  3. wash only the outside of the sprayer with a hose
  4. rinse the tank once with clean water and drain it

Explanation

Growth-regulator herbicides such as 2,4-D can injure sensitive broadleaf crops at extremely low residues, so the tank, boom, and hoses must be cleaned thoroughly. Triple rinsing with a recommended cleaner is the standard procedure for removing those residues.

Question 20Agricultural Plant Pest Control

Rotating to a non-host crop is most useful for managing:

  1. soil-borne pathogens specific to one host Correct answer.
  2. insects that fly long distances each season
  3. weeds with long-lived seed banks
  4. wind-dispersed foliar fungi

Explanation

Rotation deprives host-specific soil-borne pathogens and nematodes of a suitable host, lowering inoculum in the field. It is much less useful against mobile insects, wind-blown spores, and long-lived weed seeds.

Question 21Agricultural Animal Pest Control

Horn flies reduce cattle performance mainly because they:

  1. chew hair and leave bare patches on the tail
  2. burrow into the hide and leave grub holes
  3. lay eggs around the eyes and cause pinkeye
  4. feed on blood and cause steady irritation Correct answer.

Explanation

Horn flies are blood-feeding flies that stay on cattle almost continuously, taking many small blood meals each day. The resulting irritation and blood loss reduce weight gain and milk production. The other kinds of damage described belong to different pests.

Question 22Agricultural Animal Pest Control

House flies in and around livestock buildings complete their larval development in:

  1. moist decaying organic matter Correct answer.
  2. clean dry straw bedding in stalls
  3. cracks in concrete walls
  4. standing water in stock tanks

Explanation

House fly larvae are maggots that require moist, decaying organic material such as manure packs, wet spilled feed and soiled bedding. Dry bedding, standing water and cracks in masonry do not support larval development.

Question 23Agricultural Animal Pest Control

When applying a pour-on insecticide to a beef animal, the label typically directs the applicator to place the product:

  1. on the legs and underline only
  2. as a fine mist over the entire hair coat
  3. in a single spot on the shoulder
  4. in a narrow strip along the backline Correct answer.

Explanation

Pour-ons are formulated to spread across the skin and hair, so a measured volume is applied in a strip down the top line from the shoulders toward the tailhead. Misting the whole body wastes product and increases applicator exposure.

Question 24Agricultural Animal Pest Control

Which practice most directly reduces fly breeding in accumulated cattle manure?

  1. adding fresh manure on top of the pack each day
  2. spraying the manure surface with adulticide every week
  3. removing manure often and keeping it dry Correct answer.
  4. flooding the manure pack with water daily

Explanation

Fly larvae need moist organic material to survive, so frequent removal and keeping surfaces dry destroys or eliminates larval habitat. Adulticides kill only adult flies and do not stop breeding in the pack.

Question 25Agricultural Animal Pest Control

A dust bag or back rubber is used with cattle because it:

  1. treats internal parasites as cattle consume the dust
  2. lets cattle apply insecticide to their own backs Correct answer.
  3. repels rodents from feed bunks and bunksides
  4. sterilizes the pasture surface beneath it

Explanation

These devices hold insecticide where the animal rubs while moving to feed or water, giving self-application of material to the back and shoulders for control of horn flies and some lice. They have no effect on internal parasites or rodents.

Question 26Agricultural Animal Pest Control

A livestock insecticide label states a 21-day meat withdrawal period. This means:

  1. slaughter may occur any time if the dose is doubled
  2. the animal must be retreated every 21 days to stay legal
  3. cattle cannot be moved to another pasture for 21 days
  4. slaughter must wait 21 days after treatment Correct answer.

Explanation

The withdrawal period is the interval between the last treatment and slaughter that allows residues in edible tissue to fall below the established tolerance. It comes from the label and must be observed no matter what dose is used.

Question 27Agricultural Animal Pest Control

Face flies are a concern in cattle herds primarily because they:

  1. burrow into the hide of the back
  2. irritate the eyes and spread pinkeye bacteria Correct answer.
  3. suck blood along the backline and the shoulders
  4. cause hair loss on the tail switch

Explanation

Face flies feed on secretions around the eyes, nose and mouth and can transfer Moraxella bovis, the bacterium involved in infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis. They take very little blood and cause no hide damage.

Question 28Agricultural Animal Pest Control

Stable fly larvae typically develop in:

  1. wet decaying matter such as spilled feed Correct answer.
  2. cracks and crevices in barn walls
  3. standing water in stock tanks and waterers
  4. dry grain dust and cracked corn in a feed room

Explanation

Stable flies breed in moist, decaying organic material, often a mixture of spilled feed, manure and bedding around feed bunks and barns. Their painful bites on the legs and belly reduce weight gain and milk yield.

Question 29Agricultural Animal Pest Control

To slow insecticide resistance in horn flies, producers should:

  1. leave ear tags in place year-round indefinitely
  2. use the same pyrethroid ear tag every year
  3. place two insecticide ear tags in each ear
  4. rotate chemical classes and remove old tags Correct answer.

Explanation

Horn flies complete many generations per season, so continuous exposure to a single mode of action quickly selects resistant individuals. Rotating among IRAC groups and removing tags at the end of the season reduces that selection pressure.

Question 30Agricultural Animal Pest Control

Sarcoptic mange mites differ from cattle lice in that the mites:

  1. burrow into the skin and can also infest people Correct answer.
  2. feed only on spilled grain in the bedding
  3. are found only on cattle and cannot affect other species
  4. live only on the hair shaft and never contact skin

Explanation

Sarcoptic mites tunnel into the epidermis, producing intense itching and crusted lesions, and they can cause temporary infestations on people handling the animals. Cattle lice remain on the skin surface and hair and are host-specific.

Question 31Agricultural Animal Pest Control

The specific antidote for poisoning by anticoagulant rodenticides is:

  1. vitamin K1 Correct answer.
  2. activated charcoal alone
  3. calcium gluconate
  4. atropine sulfate

Explanation

Anticoagulant rodenticides block the recycling of vitamin K, depleting clotting factors and causing hemorrhage, and vitamin K1 restores that cycle. Atropine is used for organophosphate toxicity, and charcoal is only a general adsorbent.

Question 32Agricultural Animal Pest Control

Which sign best distinguishes house mouse activity from rat activity in a barn?

  1. greasy rub marks along the base of a wall
  2. droppings about 1/8 to 1/4 inch long Correct answer.
  3. burrows dug into soil banks
  4. gnaw marks on wooden edges

Explanation

House mouse droppings are small and pointed, while rat droppings are distinctly larger and blunt-ended, making size the most reliable field distinction. Gnaw marks, rub marks, and soil burrows can be produced by either group or are typical of rats.

Question 33Agricultural Animal Pest Control

Rodenticide bait placed in a livestock facility must be:

  1. in open feed bunks where rodents concentrate
  2. only where animals can reach them easily
  3. scattered loosely along the alley floor
  4. in tamper-resistant stations secured from stock Correct answer.

Explanation

Label directions and stewardship require that bait be inaccessible to livestock, pets, children and wildlife. Tamper-resistant, anchored stations prevent accidental exposure and reduce the risk of secondary poisoning.

Question 34Agricultural Animal Pest Control

Cattle lice populations usually increase during winter because:

  1. lice reproduce on the host and thrive in thick winter coats Correct answer.
  2. lice migrate from pasture grasses onto animals in cold weather
  3. lice are transmitted by face flies in winter
  4. lice are only active when temperatures fall below freezing

Explanation

Cattle lice are permanent, host-specific parasites with a direct life cycle completed on the animal. Long winter hair and close confinement favor their reproduction and spread from animal to animal. They do not come from pasture and are not limited to freezing conditions.

Question 35Agricultural Animal Pest Control

The most effective way to reduce sparrow and starling problems inside a poultry house is to:

  1. set out avicide-treated grain along the feed lines
  2. spray the rafters with insecticide
  3. increase lighting so birds leave on their own
  4. exclude birds by sealing openings and netting Correct answer.

Explanation

Bird control in occupied poultry houses relies mainly on exclusion, sanitation and removal of roosts, because very few avicides are labeled for use around poultry. Sealing openings and installing netting keeps birds from entering and contaminating feed and water.

Question 36Agricultural Animal Pest Control

Before a premise spray is applied inside an occupied swine barn, the applicator must:

  1. apply the product until the floor is visibly wet
  2. close all vents to keep the spray from escaping
  3. follow label directions for removal and ventilation Correct answer.
  4. double the label rate to shorten the residual period

Explanation

The label specifies whether animals must be removed, how soon the building may be reoccupied, and what ventilation and protective equipment are required. Exceeding labeled rates is illegal, and closing vents concentrates both pesticide and animal exposure.

Question 37Agricultural Animal Pest Control

Cattle grubs must be treated at the time stated on the label because treating after the larvae reach the back can:

  1. make the product ineffective against horn flies and lice
  2. allow grubs to multiply rapidly in wet manure packs
  3. cause reactions when grubs die near the spine Correct answer.
  4. leave illegal residues in the milk of treated cows

Explanation

Cattle grub larvae migrate through the esophagus and spinal canal before reaching the back. Killing them at that stage can cause swelling, bloat or paralysis, so labeled treatment timing targets the earlier stages of the migration.

Question 38Agricultural Animal Pest Control

A concern with frequent use of ivermectin-type dewormers in pastured cattle is that:

  1. the products sterilize pasture soil for several years
  2. the products kill forage plants at labeled rates
  3. manure residues harm dung insects that suppress horn flies Correct answer.
  4. the products cause immediate pyrethroid resistance in flies

Explanation

Macrocyclic lactones are excreted largely in the dung, where residues can reduce survival of dung beetles and other insects that break down manure and help suppress pest flies. This is a recognized ecological concern with frequent whole-herd treatment.

Question 39Agricultural Animal Pest Control

A producer alternates two horn fly products, one containing permethrin and the other cypermethrin. This is poor resistance management because:

  1. both are pyrethroids acting at the same target site Correct answer.
  2. permethrin is not labeled for use on cattle
  3. the two products cannot legally be used in one season
  4. alternating products always increases applicator exposure

Explanation

Permethrin and cypermethrin both belong to the pyrethroid group and act on the same sodium channel target. Switching between them does not relieve selection pressure; effective rotation uses products from different IRAC groups.

Question 40Agricultural Animal Pest Control

Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides pose a greater secondary poisoning risk than first-generation products because they:

  1. they persist longer in rodents and accumulate in predators Correct answer.
  2. are applied as fumigants that escape from burrows
  3. they act only on mice and not on rats
  4. they are not required to be placed in bait stations

Explanation

Second-generation compounds have long half-lives in rodent liver, so a rodent can carry a lethal dose for days and a predator eating several rodents can accumulate a toxic dose. They are still required to be used in secured bait stations.

Question 41Forest Pest Control

Which of these forest pests is primarily a defoliator?

  1. Southern pine beetle
  2. Spruce budworm Correct answer.
  3. White pine weevil
  4. Emerald ash borer

Explanation

Defoliators consume needles or leaves and reduce growth without immediately killing the wood. Spruce budworm larvae feed heavily on the current and older foliage of spruce and fir. Bark and cambium feeders attack the vascular tissue instead of the foliage.

Question 42Forest Pest Control

What does the signal word DANGER on a forestry pesticide label tell the applicator?

  1. It shows the product requires no re-entry interval
  2. It indicates the product is a restricted-use pesticide
  3. It means the product is exempt from label requirements
  4. It marks the highest acute toxicity category Correct answer.

Explanation

Signal words rank acute toxicity: DANGER is the most toxic category, followed by WARNING and then CAUTION. A DANGER label usually also carries a statement of the specific hazard, such as corrosive or poison. Signal words say nothing about restricted-use status or re-entry intervals, which are stated separately on the label.

Question 43Forest Pest Control

Which nozzle type produces a tapered fan pattern that must be overlapped for uniform broadcast coverage?

  1. Whirl-chamber nozzle
  2. Flat-fan nozzle Correct answer.
  3. Solid-stream nozzle
  4. Hollow-cone nozzle

Explanation

Flat-fan nozzles discharge a tapered fan that is heaviest in the center, so adjacent swaths must be overlapped to even out the deposit. They are the standard choice for broadcast herbicide work with boom or backpack sprayers. Solid-stream and cone tips are used for other purposes such as directed or banded work.

Question 44Forest Pest Control

Under federal rules, how long must a certified applicator keep records of restricted-use pesticide applications?

  1. Two years Correct answer.
  2. Six months
  3. One year
  4. Five years

Explanation

Federal regulations require certified applicators to keep records of restricted-use pesticide applications for two years from the date of application. Some states impose longer retention periods, so the state lead agency's rule should always be checked. Records must be made available to authorized officials on request.

Question 45Forest Pest Control

A forestry crew wants to re-enter a block treated with a restricted-use insecticide. They may enter without label-specified protective equipment once:

  1. The supervisor has notified the landowner
  2. The application has been recorded in the log
  3. The re-entry interval has expired Correct answer.
  4. The spray has dried on the foliage

Explanation

The re-entry interval is the time after application during which entry is restricted, regardless of how dry the deposit looks. Only after the interval has elapsed may workers enter without the protection the label requires for early entry. Dry foliage is not a substitute for the interval.

Question 46Forest Pest Control

Which spray droplets are most likely to be carried off target by wind?

  1. Coarse droplets above 400 microns
  2. Fine droplets under about 150 microns Correct answer.
  3. Droplets delivered from a flooding tip
  4. Droplets large enough to form visible wet spots

Explanation

Small droplets have little mass relative to their surface area, so they lose velocity quickly and stay suspended in moving air. Droplet size is the single strongest spray-related predictor of drift. Coarse droplets fall out close to the nozzle and are far less prone to off-site movement.

Question 47Forest Pest Control

Why is Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki often chosen over a broad-spectrum insecticide for gypsy moth control in a mixed forest?

  1. It moves systemically through the tree to protect new growth
  2. It kills adult moths before they lay eggs
  3. It mainly affects caterpillars that eat treated foliage Correct answer.
  4. It stays active in the soil for several seasons

Explanation

Btk must be ingested, and its activity depends on the alkaline gut of caterpillars, so feeding larvae are the stage affected while most other organisms are spared. It has little contact activity and no systemic movement. That selectivity makes it valuable where sensitive non-target insects or aquatic resources are a concern.

Question 48Forest Pest Control

Pheromone traps placed in a stand before a spray program are used primarily to:

  1. Trap out enough adults to prevent an outbreak
  2. Measure pesticide residue remaining on foliage
  3. Attract predatory insects into the stand
  4. Detect adult emergence and time the spray Correct answer.

Explanation

Pheromone traps sample adult activity, and trap catch trends show when emergence and egg laying are under way. That information lets the applicator time a treatment against the vulnerable larval stage. Trap densities used for monitoring are far too low to suppress a population.

Question 49Forest Pest Control

Why does thinning a dense, overstocked pine stand reduce losses to southern pine beetle?

  1. It changes the pheromone chemistry of the stand
  2. It removes the understory that shelters overwintering beetles
  3. It raises soil moisture so trees can outgrow the beetles
  4. It leaves trees with more water and resin to resist attack Correct answer.

Explanation

Overstocked trees compete for water and nutrients and produce less oleoresin, the main physical defense against bark beetles. Thinning restores growth and resin pressure in the residual trees and also alters stand microclimate. Vigorously growing trees are better able to pitch out attacking beetles.

Question 50Forest Pest Control

Treating freshly cut conifer stumps with borax is intended to prevent:

  1. Gypsy moth pupation in the duff
  2. Oak wilt
  3. Annosus root disease Correct answer.
  4. White pine blister rust

Explanation

Spores of the annosus root disease fungus land on fresh stump surfaces and colonize the wood, later spreading through root contacts to nearby trees. Treating the stump immediately after felling with borax creates a chemical barrier on the cut surface. The treatment must be applied before the stump surface dries and cracks.