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=co
ntrol=only=under=certain=conditions,=such=as=the=elimination=of=a=key=pest=or=the=abse
nce=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=identif
y=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=produ
ce=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=p
arts=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=suff
ering=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.=Arthropo
ds=have=an=external=skeleton=and=may=have=specialized=appendages=such=as=suckin
g=tubes,=chewing=mouth=parts,=antennae,=and=pincers.=they=have=no=backbones=like=v
ertebrates
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=pup
a=stage.=complete=metamorphosis=includes=4=stages:=egg,=larva,=pupa,=and=adult.=ins
ects=that=develop=via=complete=metamorphosis=change=body=form.=larvae=may=not=loo
k=at=all=like=adults=within=the=same=species.it=is=very=important=to=recognize=the=dama
ging=stage=for=best=treatment=results.=many=insect=are=pests=in=one=stage=but=not=ano
ther.=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=a
nd=lacewings).=with=out=pollinators=many=types=of=plants=could=not=reproduce=and=ben
eficial=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=t
hey=feed=on.
what=is=an=economic=threshold?=-=ans-
✔✔the=level=at=which=economic=losses=caused=by=pest=damage,=if=the=pest=populatio
n=continued=to=grow,=would=be=greater=than=the=cost=of=controlling=the=pests.=reachin
g=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=are
a=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
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=co
ntrol=only=under=certain=conditions,=such=as=the=elimination=of=a=key=pest=or=the=abse
nce=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=identif
y=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=produ
ce=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=p
arts=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=suff
ering=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.=Arthropo
ds=have=an=external=skeleton=and=may=have=specialized=appendages=such=as=suckin
g=tubes,=chewing=mouth=parts,=antennae,=and=pincers.=they=have=no=backbones=like=v
ertebrates
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=pup
a=stage.=complete=metamorphosis=includes=4=stages:=egg,=larva,=pupa,=and=adult.=ins
ects=that=develop=via=complete=metamorphosis=change=body=form.=larvae=may=not=loo
k=at=all=like=adults=within=the=same=species.it=is=very=important=to=recognize=the=dama
ging=stage=for=best=treatment=results.=many=insect=are=pests=in=one=stage=but=not=ano
ther.=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=a
nd=lacewings).=with=out=pollinators=many=types=of=plants=could=not=reproduce=and=ben
eficial=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=t
hey=feed=on.
what=is=an=economic=threshold?=-=ans-
✔✔the=level=at=which=economic=losses=caused=by=pest=damage,=if=the=pest=populatio
n=continued=to=grow,=would=be=greater=than=the=cost=of=controlling=the=pests.=reachin
g=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=are
a=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
