WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026 FULL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ Ch.1 Describe the structural features of insects.
Answer: Insects have: body form has 3 regions: head, thorax,
abdomen; 3 pairs of legs attached to thorax; 0, 1, or 2 pairs of wings
attached to thorax; 1 pair of antennae
◉ Ch.1 Explain how to distinguish insects from other arthropods.
Answer: Arthropods have: exoskeleton; body form has 2 regions:
head & abdomen; usually 4 pairs of legs attached to head; no wings;
no antennae
◉ Ch.1 Contrast the difference between simple and complete
metamorphosis.
Answer: -Simple: "Incomplete Metamorphosis"; 3 stages: egg,
nymph, & adult
-Complete: 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, & adult
◉ Ch.1 Explain how temperature and humidity affect insect
development.
Answer: *Temperature & humidity preferences vary for each insect.
,*Combined effect of both on reproduction & development is more
dramatically different than the effect of either alone.
-Temperature: development is faster with heat & slower with cold
temps; insects die at the high levels of developmental threshold
temps and become inactive at low levels
-Humidity: effects insect diseases; effects moisture levels required
for survival
◉ Ch.1 List the advantages and disadvantages of using insecticides.
Answer: Advantages:
-Effective against economically damaging pests
-Can combine 1 or 2 insecticides to combat several pests
-They act quickly to control pests before reaching damaging levels
-For new pests, there are many compounds that have been proven
effective
-Effective insecticides, suitable formulations, & application
equipment are normally available
Disadvantages:
-Often eliminate beneficial insects, allowing target organisms to
rebound quickly
-Repeated exposure can lead to resistance in a pest population
-Yearly dependence on applications is an added cost
-Always a potential for drift, residues, and damage
,◉ Ch.2 Explain what determines whether a given plant is a weed.
Answer: Weeds are unwanted plants
◉ Ch.2 List the two main goals of weed management.
Answer: 1. Minimize weed competition
2. Limit the weed's reproduction so that you can still manage the
weed population in future years
◉ Ch.2 Describe ways that weeds can pose problems in turf and
landscapes (7).
Answer: -Interfere with management practices
-Produce chemical inhibitors that directly retard the growth of
desirable plants (allelopathy)
-Create a poor impression on customers
-Interferes with pesticide applications
-Support insect pests and plant diseases or provide cover for rodents
-Are poisonous, allergenic, or irritating to people or pets
-Dry out or die and become fire hazards
◉ Ch.2 Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and woody from
herbaceous plants.
, Answer: -Grasses (Monocots): most common weeds; have a single
seed leaf (cotyledon) when they germinate; narrow leaves with
parallel viens
-Broadleaves (Dicots): have 2 seed leaves when they germinate;
veins form a net-like or branching pattern; can be broken down into
Woody and Herbaceous plants
--> Woody: have thickened outer layer on stems (bark)
--> Herbaceous: lacks bark
◉ Ch. 2 Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial,
and perennial plants.
Answer: -Annuals: live less than 12 months; most seeds germinate
the following year, some are dormant taking several years; prolific
seed producers.
--> Summer Annuals: germinate from seed in spring,
flower/produce seeds in summer, die in late summer/early fall.
--> Winter Annuals: germinate from seed in fall, overwinter as low-
growing plants, flower/produce seeds in spring, then die.
-Biennials: live for 2 growing seasons; germinate from seeds in
spring or summer and produce a rosette of leaves, overwinter in
rosette stage, flower the following year, produce seed, and die.
-Perennials: live for at least 2 years, sometimes longer; may
reproduce by seed or spread vegetatively (stolons, rhizomes,
spreading roots, tubers, bulbs)
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026 FULL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ Ch.1 Describe the structural features of insects.
Answer: Insects have: body form has 3 regions: head, thorax,
abdomen; 3 pairs of legs attached to thorax; 0, 1, or 2 pairs of wings
attached to thorax; 1 pair of antennae
◉ Ch.1 Explain how to distinguish insects from other arthropods.
Answer: Arthropods have: exoskeleton; body form has 2 regions:
head & abdomen; usually 4 pairs of legs attached to head; no wings;
no antennae
◉ Ch.1 Contrast the difference between simple and complete
metamorphosis.
Answer: -Simple: "Incomplete Metamorphosis"; 3 stages: egg,
nymph, & adult
-Complete: 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, & adult
◉ Ch.1 Explain how temperature and humidity affect insect
development.
Answer: *Temperature & humidity preferences vary for each insect.
,*Combined effect of both on reproduction & development is more
dramatically different than the effect of either alone.
-Temperature: development is faster with heat & slower with cold
temps; insects die at the high levels of developmental threshold
temps and become inactive at low levels
-Humidity: effects insect diseases; effects moisture levels required
for survival
◉ Ch.1 List the advantages and disadvantages of using insecticides.
Answer: Advantages:
-Effective against economically damaging pests
-Can combine 1 or 2 insecticides to combat several pests
-They act quickly to control pests before reaching damaging levels
-For new pests, there are many compounds that have been proven
effective
-Effective insecticides, suitable formulations, & application
equipment are normally available
Disadvantages:
-Often eliminate beneficial insects, allowing target organisms to
rebound quickly
-Repeated exposure can lead to resistance in a pest population
-Yearly dependence on applications is an added cost
-Always a potential for drift, residues, and damage
,◉ Ch.2 Explain what determines whether a given plant is a weed.
Answer: Weeds are unwanted plants
◉ Ch.2 List the two main goals of weed management.
Answer: 1. Minimize weed competition
2. Limit the weed's reproduction so that you can still manage the
weed population in future years
◉ Ch.2 Describe ways that weeds can pose problems in turf and
landscapes (7).
Answer: -Interfere with management practices
-Produce chemical inhibitors that directly retard the growth of
desirable plants (allelopathy)
-Create a poor impression on customers
-Interferes with pesticide applications
-Support insect pests and plant diseases or provide cover for rodents
-Are poisonous, allergenic, or irritating to people or pets
-Dry out or die and become fire hazards
◉ Ch.2 Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and woody from
herbaceous plants.
, Answer: -Grasses (Monocots): most common weeds; have a single
seed leaf (cotyledon) when they germinate; narrow leaves with
parallel viens
-Broadleaves (Dicots): have 2 seed leaves when they germinate;
veins form a net-like or branching pattern; can be broken down into
Woody and Herbaceous plants
--> Woody: have thickened outer layer on stems (bark)
--> Herbaceous: lacks bark
◉ Ch. 2 Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial,
and perennial plants.
Answer: -Annuals: live less than 12 months; most seeds germinate
the following year, some are dormant taking several years; prolific
seed producers.
--> Summer Annuals: germinate from seed in spring,
flower/produce seeds in summer, die in late summer/early fall.
--> Winter Annuals: germinate from seed in fall, overwinter as low-
growing plants, flower/produce seeds in spring, then die.
-Biennials: live for 2 growing seasons; germinate from seeds in
spring or summer and produce a rosette of leaves, overwinter in
rosette stage, flower the following year, produce seed, and die.
-Perennials: live for at least 2 years, sometimes longer; may
reproduce by seed or spread vegetatively (stolons, rhizomes,
spreading roots, tubers, bulbs)
