IOWA CORE EXAM REVIEW PESTICIDE
APPLICATORS PRACTICE TEST 2026
TESTED 122 QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ Ch.1 Describe the structural features of insects. Answer: Insects have:
body form has 3 regions: head, thorax, abdomen; 3 pairs of legs attached
to thorax; 0, 1, or 2 pairs of wings attached to thorax; 1 pair of antennae
⩥ Ch.1 Explain how to distinguish insects from other arthropods.
Answer: Arthropods have: exoskeleton; body form has 2 regions: head
& abdomen; usually 4 pairs of legs attached to head; no wings; no
antennae
⩥ Ch.1 Contrast the difference between simple and complete
metamorphosis. Answer: -Simple: "Incomplete Metamorphosis"; 3
stages: egg, nymph, & adult
-Complete: 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, & adult
⩥ Ch.1 Explain how temperature and humidity affect insect
development. Answer: *Temperature & humidity preferences vary for
each insect.
*Combined effect of both on reproduction & development is more
dramatically different than the effect of either alone.
,-Temperature: development is faster with heat & slower with cold
temps; insects die at the high levels of developmental threshold temps
and become inactive at low levels
-Humidity: effects insect diseases; effects moisture levels required for
survival
⩥ Ch.1 List the advantages and disadvantages of using insecticides.
Answer: Advantages:
-Effective against economically damaging pests
-Can combine 1 or 2 insecticides to combat several pests
-They act quickly to control pests before reaching damaging levels
-For new pests, there are many compounds that have been proven
effective
-Effective insecticides, suitable formulations, & application equipment
are normally available
Disadvantages:
-Often eliminate beneficial insects, allowing target organisms to rebound
quickly
-Repeated exposure can lead to resistance in a pest population
-Yearly dependence on applications is an added cost
-Always a potential for drift, residues, and damage
⩥ Ch.2 Explain what determines whether a given plant is a weed.
Answer: Weeds are unwanted plants
,⩥ Ch.2 List the two main goals of weed management. Answer: 1.
Minimize weed competition
2. Limit the weed's reproduction so that you can still manage the weed
population in future years
⩥ Ch.2 Describe ways that weeds can pose problems in turf and
landscapes (7). Answer: -Interfere with management practices
-Produce chemical inhibitors that directly retard the growth of desirable
plants (allelopathy)
-Create a poor impression on customers
-Interferes with pesticide applications
-Support insect pests and plant diseases or provide cover for rodents
-Are poisonous, allergenic, or irritating to people or pets
-Dry out or die and become fire hazards
⩥ Ch.2 Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and woody from
herbaceous plants. Answer: -Grasses (Monocots): most common weeds;
have a single seed leaf (cotyledon) when they germinate; narrow leaves
with parallel viens
-Broadleaves (Dicots): have 2 seed leaves when they germinate; veins
form a net-like or branching pattern; can be broken down into Woody
and Herbaceous plants
--> Woody: have thickened outer layer on stems (bark)
, --> Herbaceous: lacks bark
⩥ Ch. 2 Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and
perennial plants. Answer: -Annuals: live less than 12 months; most seeds
germinate the following year, some are dormant taking several years;
prolific seed producers.
--> Summer Annuals: germinate from seed in spring, flower/produce
seeds in summer, die in late summer/early fall.
--> Winter Annuals: germinate from seed in fall, overwinter as low-
growing plants, flower/produce seeds in spring, then die.
-Biennials: live for 2 growing seasons; germinate from seeds in spring or
summer and produce a rosette of leaves, overwinter in rosette stage,
flower the following year, produce seed, and die.
-Perennials: live for at least 2 years, sometimes longer; may reproduce
by seed or spread vegetatively (stolons, rhizomes, spreading roots,
tubers, bulbs)
⩥ Ch.2 Outline what is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial
weeds and when it is easiest to do so. Answer: -Annuals: kill the whole
shoot by tillage or with herbicides during seeding stage.
--> Summer Annuals: kill with tillage or herbicides during seeding stage.
--> Winter Annuals: kill with tillage or herbicides during seeding stage.
-Biennials: best controlled with herbicides during rosette stage.
Perennials: controlled by repeatedly tilling or with herbicides that
translocates to all plant parts.
APPLICATORS PRACTICE TEST 2026
TESTED 122 QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ Ch.1 Describe the structural features of insects. Answer: Insects have:
body form has 3 regions: head, thorax, abdomen; 3 pairs of legs attached
to thorax; 0, 1, or 2 pairs of wings attached to thorax; 1 pair of antennae
⩥ Ch.1 Explain how to distinguish insects from other arthropods.
Answer: Arthropods have: exoskeleton; body form has 2 regions: head
& abdomen; usually 4 pairs of legs attached to head; no wings; no
antennae
⩥ Ch.1 Contrast the difference between simple and complete
metamorphosis. Answer: -Simple: "Incomplete Metamorphosis"; 3
stages: egg, nymph, & adult
-Complete: 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, & adult
⩥ Ch.1 Explain how temperature and humidity affect insect
development. Answer: *Temperature & humidity preferences vary for
each insect.
*Combined effect of both on reproduction & development is more
dramatically different than the effect of either alone.
,-Temperature: development is faster with heat & slower with cold
temps; insects die at the high levels of developmental threshold temps
and become inactive at low levels
-Humidity: effects insect diseases; effects moisture levels required for
survival
⩥ Ch.1 List the advantages and disadvantages of using insecticides.
Answer: Advantages:
-Effective against economically damaging pests
-Can combine 1 or 2 insecticides to combat several pests
-They act quickly to control pests before reaching damaging levels
-For new pests, there are many compounds that have been proven
effective
-Effective insecticides, suitable formulations, & application equipment
are normally available
Disadvantages:
-Often eliminate beneficial insects, allowing target organisms to rebound
quickly
-Repeated exposure can lead to resistance in a pest population
-Yearly dependence on applications is an added cost
-Always a potential for drift, residues, and damage
⩥ Ch.2 Explain what determines whether a given plant is a weed.
Answer: Weeds are unwanted plants
,⩥ Ch.2 List the two main goals of weed management. Answer: 1.
Minimize weed competition
2. Limit the weed's reproduction so that you can still manage the weed
population in future years
⩥ Ch.2 Describe ways that weeds can pose problems in turf and
landscapes (7). Answer: -Interfere with management practices
-Produce chemical inhibitors that directly retard the growth of desirable
plants (allelopathy)
-Create a poor impression on customers
-Interferes with pesticide applications
-Support insect pests and plant diseases or provide cover for rodents
-Are poisonous, allergenic, or irritating to people or pets
-Dry out or die and become fire hazards
⩥ Ch.2 Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and woody from
herbaceous plants. Answer: -Grasses (Monocots): most common weeds;
have a single seed leaf (cotyledon) when they germinate; narrow leaves
with parallel viens
-Broadleaves (Dicots): have 2 seed leaves when they germinate; veins
form a net-like or branching pattern; can be broken down into Woody
and Herbaceous plants
--> Woody: have thickened outer layer on stems (bark)
, --> Herbaceous: lacks bark
⩥ Ch. 2 Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and
perennial plants. Answer: -Annuals: live less than 12 months; most seeds
germinate the following year, some are dormant taking several years;
prolific seed producers.
--> Summer Annuals: germinate from seed in spring, flower/produce
seeds in summer, die in late summer/early fall.
--> Winter Annuals: germinate from seed in fall, overwinter as low-
growing plants, flower/produce seeds in spring, then die.
-Biennials: live for 2 growing seasons; germinate from seeds in spring or
summer and produce a rosette of leaves, overwinter in rosette stage,
flower the following year, produce seed, and die.
-Perennials: live for at least 2 years, sometimes longer; may reproduce
by seed or spread vegetatively (stolons, rhizomes, spreading roots,
tubers, bulbs)
⩥ Ch.2 Outline what is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial
weeds and when it is easiest to do so. Answer: -Annuals: kill the whole
shoot by tillage or with herbicides during seeding stage.
--> Summer Annuals: kill with tillage or herbicides during seeding stage.
--> Winter Annuals: kill with tillage or herbicides during seeding stage.
-Biennials: best controlled with herbicides during rosette stage.
Perennials: controlled by repeatedly tilling or with herbicides that
translocates to all plant parts.
