VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE
APPLICATORS CORE EXAM
Explain-the-difference-between-key-pests,-occasional-pests-and-secondary-pests---ans-
✔✔Key-pests-are-nearly-always-present-and-require-regular-control.-occasional-pests-are-
migratory-or-cyclical-and-require-intermittent-control.-secondary-pests-require-control-only-
under-certain-conditions,-such-as-the-elimination-of-a-key-pest-or-the-absence-of-a-natural-
host.
what-should-you-do-first-if-you-see-damage-to-a-plant,-animal,-or-valuable-product/---ans-
✔✔identify-the-cause
what-should-you-do-first-if-you-discover-a-pest-that-may-need-to-be-controlled?---ans-
✔✔make-sure-the-pest-is-actually-responsible-for-the-damage.-then-accurately-identify-
the-pest
how-can-pest-identification-help-you-develop-a-good-pest-control-strategy?---ans-✔✔it-
allows-you-to-determine-basic-information-about-the-pest,-including-its-life-cycle-and-
when-it-is-most-susceptible-to-control-measures.
name-the-5-basic-pest-groups---ans-✔✔weeds,-parasites-and-diseases,-mollusks,-
arthropods,-and-vertebrates.
why-do-weeds-present-such-a-challenge-to-pest-managers?---ans-✔✔weeds-are-often-
hardy,-aggressive,-and-tolerant-of-harsh-conditions.-many-produce-large-numbers-of-
seeds-which-can-spread-over-a-wide-area-and-remain-dormant-for-a-long-time.
how-can-you-tell-a-monocot-from-a-dicot?---ans-✔✔monocots-(sedges-and-grasses)-have-
one-cotyledon,-parallel-leaf-veins,-flower-parts-in-multiples-of-3-and-fibrous-roots.-Dicots-
have-2-cotyledons,-broad-leaves-with-netted-veination,-and-flower-parts-in-multiples-of-4-
and-5-and-usually-have-taproots.
name-the-pathogens-that-cause-most-plant-and-animal-diseases---ans-✔✔fungi,-bacteria,-
mycoplasma,-and-viruses
what-are-the-symptoms-of-viral-plant-diseases---ans-✔✔stunting,-yellow-rings-on-leaves,-
wilting,-and-mosaic-patterns
, how-do-plant-parasitic-nematodes-harm-plants?---ans-✔✔by-attacking-the-roots,-stems-
and-leaves.-nematode-root-feeding-interferes-with-a-plants-ability-to-take-up-water-and-
nutrients.-infected-plants-wilt-and-seem-to-be-suffering-from-a-lack-of-water-or-nutrients.
how-do-mollusks-harm-plants?---ans-✔✔by-feeding-on-foliage-and-fruit.-mollusks-reduce-
the-value-of-commercial-produce-if-they-feed-on-harvested-plants-and-fruit.
what-are-arthropods?-how-do-they-differ-from-vertebrates?---ans-✔✔arthropods-are-
animals-with-segmented-bodies-and-jointed-appendages.-Arthropods-have-an-external-
skeleton-and-may-have-specialized-appendages-such-as-sucking-tubes,-chewing-mouth-
parts,-antennae,-and-pincers.-they-have-no-backbones-like-vertebrates
what-is-the-difference-between-gradual-and-complete-metamorphosis?-why-is-it-important-
to-know-the-life-cycle-stage-of-an-insect?---ans-✔✔gradual-metamorphosis-includes-3-
stages:-egg,-nymph-and-adult.-there-is-no-pupa-stage.-complete-metamorphosis-includes-
4-stages:-egg,-larva,-pupa,-and-adult.-insects-that-develop-via-complete-metamorphosis-
change-body-form.-larvae-may-not-look-at-all-like-adults-within-the-same-species.it-is-very-
important-to-recognize-the-damaging-stage-for-best-treatment-results.-many-insect-are-
pests-in-one-stage-but-not-another.-especially-larval-form.
what-are-beneficial-insects?-and-why-are-they-important-to-agriculture?---ans-✔✔insects-
that-are-pollinators-(bees-and-butterflies)-or-pest-predators-(ladybeetles-and-lacewings).-
with-out-pollinators-many-types-of-plants-could-not-reproduce-and-beneficial-predators-
feed-on-harmful-insects,-mites,-and-weeds.
how-do-mites-harm-plants?---ans-✔✔They-suck-the-plant-juices,-eat-the-underside-of-
leaves,-and-disfigure-the-plants-they-feed-on.
what-is-an-economic-threshold?---ans-✔✔the-level-at-which-economic-losses-caused-by-
pest-damage,-if-the-pest-population-continued-to-grow,-would-be-greater-than-the-cost-of-
controlling-the-pests.-reaching-an-economic-threshold-usually-prompts-some-kind-of-pest-
control-action.
how-are-thresholds-important-to-a-sound-pest-control-strategy?---ans-✔✔setting-a-
treatment-or-action-threshold-is-essential-to-prevent-the-pests-in-an-area-from-causing-
unacceptable-injury-or-harm.-action-thresholds-vary:-sometimes-one-pest-is-too-many-
(like-a-rat-in-a-food-processing-facility).-Thresholds-help-producers-and-applicators-weigh-
the-cost-of-pest-control-against-the-cost-of-a-pest-infestation
what-is-monitoring-and-how-is-it-important-to-a-sound-pest-control-strategy?---ans-
✔✔regular-checking-or-scouting-for-pests-in-a-designated-area.-Monitoring-will-tell-you-
what-pests-are-in-an-area,-how-many-are-in-the-area,-and-how-much-damage-they-are-
causing.-it-will-help-determine-if-the-pest-population-has-reached-the-treatment-threshold-
and-whether-control-measures-have-worked.
APPLICATORS CORE EXAM
Explain-the-difference-between-key-pests,-occasional-pests-and-secondary-pests---ans-
✔✔Key-pests-are-nearly-always-present-and-require-regular-control.-occasional-pests-are-
migratory-or-cyclical-and-require-intermittent-control.-secondary-pests-require-control-only-
under-certain-conditions,-such-as-the-elimination-of-a-key-pest-or-the-absence-of-a-natural-
host.
what-should-you-do-first-if-you-see-damage-to-a-plant,-animal,-or-valuable-product/---ans-
✔✔identify-the-cause
what-should-you-do-first-if-you-discover-a-pest-that-may-need-to-be-controlled?---ans-
✔✔make-sure-the-pest-is-actually-responsible-for-the-damage.-then-accurately-identify-
the-pest
how-can-pest-identification-help-you-develop-a-good-pest-control-strategy?---ans-✔✔it-
allows-you-to-determine-basic-information-about-the-pest,-including-its-life-cycle-and-
when-it-is-most-susceptible-to-control-measures.
name-the-5-basic-pest-groups---ans-✔✔weeds,-parasites-and-diseases,-mollusks,-
arthropods,-and-vertebrates.
why-do-weeds-present-such-a-challenge-to-pest-managers?---ans-✔✔weeds-are-often-
hardy,-aggressive,-and-tolerant-of-harsh-conditions.-many-produce-large-numbers-of-
seeds-which-can-spread-over-a-wide-area-and-remain-dormant-for-a-long-time.
how-can-you-tell-a-monocot-from-a-dicot?---ans-✔✔monocots-(sedges-and-grasses)-have-
one-cotyledon,-parallel-leaf-veins,-flower-parts-in-multiples-of-3-and-fibrous-roots.-Dicots-
have-2-cotyledons,-broad-leaves-with-netted-veination,-and-flower-parts-in-multiples-of-4-
and-5-and-usually-have-taproots.
name-the-pathogens-that-cause-most-plant-and-animal-diseases---ans-✔✔fungi,-bacteria,-
mycoplasma,-and-viruses
what-are-the-symptoms-of-viral-plant-diseases---ans-✔✔stunting,-yellow-rings-on-leaves,-
wilting,-and-mosaic-patterns
, how-do-plant-parasitic-nematodes-harm-plants?---ans-✔✔by-attacking-the-roots,-stems-
and-leaves.-nematode-root-feeding-interferes-with-a-plants-ability-to-take-up-water-and-
nutrients.-infected-plants-wilt-and-seem-to-be-suffering-from-a-lack-of-water-or-nutrients.
how-do-mollusks-harm-plants?---ans-✔✔by-feeding-on-foliage-and-fruit.-mollusks-reduce-
the-value-of-commercial-produce-if-they-feed-on-harvested-plants-and-fruit.
what-are-arthropods?-how-do-they-differ-from-vertebrates?---ans-✔✔arthropods-are-
animals-with-segmented-bodies-and-jointed-appendages.-Arthropods-have-an-external-
skeleton-and-may-have-specialized-appendages-such-as-sucking-tubes,-chewing-mouth-
parts,-antennae,-and-pincers.-they-have-no-backbones-like-vertebrates
what-is-the-difference-between-gradual-and-complete-metamorphosis?-why-is-it-important-
to-know-the-life-cycle-stage-of-an-insect?---ans-✔✔gradual-metamorphosis-includes-3-
stages:-egg,-nymph-and-adult.-there-is-no-pupa-stage.-complete-metamorphosis-includes-
4-stages:-egg,-larva,-pupa,-and-adult.-insects-that-develop-via-complete-metamorphosis-
change-body-form.-larvae-may-not-look-at-all-like-adults-within-the-same-species.it-is-very-
important-to-recognize-the-damaging-stage-for-best-treatment-results.-many-insect-are-
pests-in-one-stage-but-not-another.-especially-larval-form.
what-are-beneficial-insects?-and-why-are-they-important-to-agriculture?---ans-✔✔insects-
that-are-pollinators-(bees-and-butterflies)-or-pest-predators-(ladybeetles-and-lacewings).-
with-out-pollinators-many-types-of-plants-could-not-reproduce-and-beneficial-predators-
feed-on-harmful-insects,-mites,-and-weeds.
how-do-mites-harm-plants?---ans-✔✔They-suck-the-plant-juices,-eat-the-underside-of-
leaves,-and-disfigure-the-plants-they-feed-on.
what-is-an-economic-threshold?---ans-✔✔the-level-at-which-economic-losses-caused-by-
pest-damage,-if-the-pest-population-continued-to-grow,-would-be-greater-than-the-cost-of-
controlling-the-pests.-reaching-an-economic-threshold-usually-prompts-some-kind-of-pest-
control-action.
how-are-thresholds-important-to-a-sound-pest-control-strategy?---ans-✔✔setting-a-
treatment-or-action-threshold-is-essential-to-prevent-the-pests-in-an-area-from-causing-
unacceptable-injury-or-harm.-action-thresholds-vary:-sometimes-one-pest-is-too-many-
(like-a-rat-in-a-food-processing-facility).-Thresholds-help-producers-and-applicators-weigh-
the-cost-of-pest-control-against-the-cost-of-a-pest-infestation
what-is-monitoring-and-how-is-it-important-to-a-sound-pest-control-strategy?---ans-
✔✔regular-checking-or-scouting-for-pests-in-a-designated-area.-Monitoring-will-tell-you-
what-pests-are-in-an-area,-how-many-are-in-the-area,-and-how-much-damage-they-are-
causing.-it-will-help-determine-if-the-pest-population-has-reached-the-treatment-threshold-
and-whether-control-measures-have-worked.
