1|Page
Virginia Pesticide Applicator Exam – Public Health
(Category 8)||Verified Questions with Correct Answers
and explanations LATEST THIS YEAR -JUST
RELEASED.pdf||NEWEST EXAM!!!
why do weeds present such a challenge to pest
managers? - Answer-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? - Answer-
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 - Answer-fungi, bacteria, mycoplasma, and
viruses
,2|Page
what are the symptoms of viral plant diseases - Answer-
stunting, yellow rings on leaves, wilting, and mosaic
patterns
how do plant parasitic nematodes harm plants? - Answer-
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? - Answer-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?
- Answer-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? - Answer-gradual metamorphosis
,3|Page
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.
Explain the difference between key pests, occasional
pests and secondary pests - Answer-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/ - Answer-identify the cause
what should you do first if you discover a pest that may
need to be controlled? - Answer-make sure the pest is
actually responsible for the damage. then accurately
identify the pest
, 4|Page
how can pest identification help you develop a good pest
control strategy? - Answer-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 - Answer-weeds, parasites
and diseases, mollusks, arthropods, and vertebrates.
what are beneficial insects? and why are they important to
agriculture? - Answer-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? - Answer-They suck the plant
juices, eat the underside of leaves, and disfigure the
plants they feed on.
what is an economic threshold? - Answer-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
Virginia Pesticide Applicator Exam – Public Health
(Category 8)||Verified Questions with Correct Answers
and explanations LATEST THIS YEAR -JUST
RELEASED.pdf||NEWEST EXAM!!!
why do weeds present such a challenge to pest
managers? - Answer-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? - Answer-
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 - Answer-fungi, bacteria, mycoplasma, and
viruses
,2|Page
what are the symptoms of viral plant diseases - Answer-
stunting, yellow rings on leaves, wilting, and mosaic
patterns
how do plant parasitic nematodes harm plants? - Answer-
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? - Answer-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?
- Answer-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? - Answer-gradual metamorphosis
,3|Page
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.
Explain the difference between key pests, occasional
pests and secondary pests - Answer-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/ - Answer-identify the cause
what should you do first if you discover a pest that may
need to be controlled? - Answer-make sure the pest is
actually responsible for the damage. then accurately
identify the pest
, 4|Page
how can pest identification help you develop a good pest
control strategy? - Answer-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 - Answer-weeds, parasites
and diseases, mollusks, arthropods, and vertebrates.
what are beneficial insects? and why are they important to
agriculture? - Answer-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? - Answer-They suck the plant
juices, eat the underside of leaves, and disfigure the
plants they feed on.
what is an economic threshold? - Answer-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
