Illinois Pesticide applicator exam Illinois Pesticide applicator exam 2026-03-04
What is a pesticide
a substance used for destroying insects or other organisms harmful to cultivated plants or to animals.
Pesticides are made up of
Active and inert ingredients
AI
Active ingredient - chemical effective against pest
Inert ingredients
don't harm pest but make the AI more effective
Herbicide formulation
may be ready to use or may require dilution with carrier (oil or liquid)
Page 1 Illinois Pesticide applicator exam.pdf
,Illinois Pesticide applicator exam Illinois Pesticide applicator exam 2026-03-04
60WDG
60% AI water-dispersible granule
4EC
4 lbs ai per gallon of emulsifiable concentrate
SP
Soluable powder - dry formulation. Mixed with water. Dissolve readily and form true solution.
WP, P
Wettable Powder - dry formulation. Finely ground powder. Forms suspension not true solution.
Abrasive, requires agitation, inhalation risk
Page 2 Illinois Pesticide applicator exam.pdf
,Illinois Pesticide applicator exam Illinois Pesticide applicator exam 2026-03-04
DF, WDG
Dry flowables or water dispersible granules - dry formulation. Similar to WP except AI is in granule instead of
powder
form suspension. Less dust than WP
G
Granules - dry formulation. AI coated with clay, newspaper
Applied directly, no mixing
Low hazzard to applicators
P, PS
Pellets - dry formulation. Same as granules but larger
Page 3 Illinois Pesticide applicator exam.pdf
, Illinois Pesticide applicator exam Illinois Pesticide applicator exam 2026-03-04
D
Dusts - dry formulations.
Low percentage of AI on very fine carrier (talk, chalk, clay)
Most ready to use (no mixing)
Inhilation hazard
Drift hazzard (uncommon use)
EC
Emulsifiable concentrate - wet formulation.
AI mixed with 1+ solvents and emulsifier that allows mixing with water
Easily absorbed through skin (dermal hazzard)
ME
Microencapsulated - wet formulation
AI is surrounded by plastic coating suspended in liquid
Time- release product
Bees catty it back to hive and can poison colony
Page 4 Illinois Pesticide applicator exam.pdf
What is a pesticide
a substance used for destroying insects or other organisms harmful to cultivated plants or to animals.
Pesticides are made up of
Active and inert ingredients
AI
Active ingredient - chemical effective against pest
Inert ingredients
don't harm pest but make the AI more effective
Herbicide formulation
may be ready to use or may require dilution with carrier (oil or liquid)
Page 1 Illinois Pesticide applicator exam.pdf
,Illinois Pesticide applicator exam Illinois Pesticide applicator exam 2026-03-04
60WDG
60% AI water-dispersible granule
4EC
4 lbs ai per gallon of emulsifiable concentrate
SP
Soluable powder - dry formulation. Mixed with water. Dissolve readily and form true solution.
WP, P
Wettable Powder - dry formulation. Finely ground powder. Forms suspension not true solution.
Abrasive, requires agitation, inhalation risk
Page 2 Illinois Pesticide applicator exam.pdf
,Illinois Pesticide applicator exam Illinois Pesticide applicator exam 2026-03-04
DF, WDG
Dry flowables or water dispersible granules - dry formulation. Similar to WP except AI is in granule instead of
powder
form suspension. Less dust than WP
G
Granules - dry formulation. AI coated with clay, newspaper
Applied directly, no mixing
Low hazzard to applicators
P, PS
Pellets - dry formulation. Same as granules but larger
Page 3 Illinois Pesticide applicator exam.pdf
, Illinois Pesticide applicator exam Illinois Pesticide applicator exam 2026-03-04
D
Dusts - dry formulations.
Low percentage of AI on very fine carrier (talk, chalk, clay)
Most ready to use (no mixing)
Inhilation hazard
Drift hazzard (uncommon use)
EC
Emulsifiable concentrate - wet formulation.
AI mixed with 1+ solvents and emulsifier that allows mixing with water
Easily absorbed through skin (dermal hazzard)
ME
Microencapsulated - wet formulation
AI is surrounded by plastic coating suspended in liquid
Time- release product
Bees catty it back to hive and can poison colony
Page 4 Illinois Pesticide applicator exam.pdf
