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Virginia Commercial Applicator Category 3B Turf
Pest Control Key Terms Exam || 2026 (Actual
Exam)
Calibrate ......ANSWER......To measure the delivery rate and distribution
of application equipment; to adjust application equipment so the
desired amount of pesticide is applied evenly to a given area.
Disease ......ANSWER......An abnormal, unhealthy condition. Turf
diseases may be caused by abiotic or biotic factors. However, they are
typically due to infectious organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and
viruses.
Exclusion ......ANSWER......Using some sort of barrier to keep a pest out
of an area.
Exposure ......ANSWER......Coming in contact with a pesticide either by
ingestion (oral), inhalation, or absorption through the skin (dermal).
Habitat ......ANSWER......A specific area or environment in which an
organism normally lives.
pg. 1
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Insect ......ANSWER......An arthropod with three body regions: a head
(front), a thorax (middle), and an abdomen (rear). Most insects have
one pair of antennae on the head, two pairs of Wings, and three pairs
of legs on the thorax. Most have complex mouthparts adapted for a
special type of feeding.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) ......ANSWER......VA management
system that uses all appropriate pest control strategies to reduce pest
populations to an acceptable level. IPM uses an ecological approach to
pest management.
Life Cycle ......ANSWER......An 0rganism's progression through
developmental stages. As some organisms go through their life cycle,
they change in body form and habits.
Mite ......ANSWER......A small arachnid with eight legs in the adult stage.
Mites have a single body region, which seems to lack segmentation.
Some mites are plant pests.
Mollusk ......ANSWER......A soft-bodied animal. A mollusk does not have
a backbone. Mollusks have a hard calcium-based shell covering its body.
Clams, snails, and slugs are mollusks.
Monitoring ......ANSWER......The process of assessing-"keeping tabs
on"—the size and distribution of a pest population in an area.
pg. 2
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Natural Controls ......ANSWER......Natural forces that affect pest
populations. Examples include climate, natural enemies, natural
barriers, and the availability of food, water, and shelter. These natural
forces act independently and may either help or hinder human
attempts to control pests.
Nematode ......ANSWER......A small, unsegmented roundworm. Most
nematodes are so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Leaching ......ANSWER......Movement of a substance (such as a
pesticide) in solution downward through soil.
Nematicide ......ANSWER......A pesticide that controls nematodes.
Parasite ......ANSWER......An organism that obtains its food from another
living thing, and in so doing, harms that organism (its host). The disease
organism is the parasite, and the infected organism is the host.
Perennial ......ANSWER......A plant that lives for more than two growing
seasons.
Pesticide ......ANSWER......Any substance used to control or repel a pest,
or to reduce the unwanted or harmful effects of a pest.
Phloem ......ANSWER......A specialized plant tissue, that conducts food.
pg. 3
Virginia Commercial Applicator Category 3B Turf
Pest Control Key Terms Exam || 2026 (Actual
Exam)
Calibrate ......ANSWER......To measure the delivery rate and distribution
of application equipment; to adjust application equipment so the
desired amount of pesticide is applied evenly to a given area.
Disease ......ANSWER......An abnormal, unhealthy condition. Turf
diseases may be caused by abiotic or biotic factors. However, they are
typically due to infectious organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and
viruses.
Exclusion ......ANSWER......Using some sort of barrier to keep a pest out
of an area.
Exposure ......ANSWER......Coming in contact with a pesticide either by
ingestion (oral), inhalation, or absorption through the skin (dermal).
Habitat ......ANSWER......A specific area or environment in which an
organism normally lives.
pg. 1
,2|Page
Insect ......ANSWER......An arthropod with three body regions: a head
(front), a thorax (middle), and an abdomen (rear). Most insects have
one pair of antennae on the head, two pairs of Wings, and three pairs
of legs on the thorax. Most have complex mouthparts adapted for a
special type of feeding.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) ......ANSWER......VA management
system that uses all appropriate pest control strategies to reduce pest
populations to an acceptable level. IPM uses an ecological approach to
pest management.
Life Cycle ......ANSWER......An 0rganism's progression through
developmental stages. As some organisms go through their life cycle,
they change in body form and habits.
Mite ......ANSWER......A small arachnid with eight legs in the adult stage.
Mites have a single body region, which seems to lack segmentation.
Some mites are plant pests.
Mollusk ......ANSWER......A soft-bodied animal. A mollusk does not have
a backbone. Mollusks have a hard calcium-based shell covering its body.
Clams, snails, and slugs are mollusks.
Monitoring ......ANSWER......The process of assessing-"keeping tabs
on"—the size and distribution of a pest population in an area.
pg. 2
, 3|Page
Natural Controls ......ANSWER......Natural forces that affect pest
populations. Examples include climate, natural enemies, natural
barriers, and the availability of food, water, and shelter. These natural
forces act independently and may either help or hinder human
attempts to control pests.
Nematode ......ANSWER......A small, unsegmented roundworm. Most
nematodes are so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Leaching ......ANSWER......Movement of a substance (such as a
pesticide) in solution downward through soil.
Nematicide ......ANSWER......A pesticide that controls nematodes.
Parasite ......ANSWER......An organism that obtains its food from another
living thing, and in so doing, harms that organism (its host). The disease
organism is the parasite, and the infected organism is the host.
Perennial ......ANSWER......A plant that lives for more than two growing
seasons.
Pesticide ......ANSWER......Any substance used to control or repel a pest,
or to reduce the unwanted or harmful effects of a pest.
Phloem ......ANSWER......A specialized plant tissue, that conducts food.
pg. 3
