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Minnesota Commercial Pesticide Applicator
Certification Category J: Structural Pest Control
Exam QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES JUST RELEASED
Minnesota Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification Category J: Structural Pest Control
Exam (based on MDA Category J, which includes general structural pests, wood-destroying organisms,
and fumigation). This is followed by 250 randomized, scenario-based multiple-choice questions with
answers and rationales.
SUMMARIZED EXAM TOPICS COVERED (POINT FORM)
• Laws & Regulations: Minnesota Pesticide Control Law (Chapter 18B), Minnesota Rules (Part
1505, 1506, 1508, 1510), FIFRA (federal), Worker Protection Standard (WPS), pesticide use and
recordkeeping (2 years), notification requirements (residential, school, daycare), commercial
applicator licensing (certification categories, continuing education, renewal every 3 years),
business registration, liability insurance ($100,000 minimum).
• Label & Labeling Comprehension: Signal words (Danger, Warning, Caution), REI (restricted entry
interval), PHI (not applicable for structural), use directions, site restrictions, PPE requirements,
first aid, environmental hazards, storage and disposal.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Monitoring (traps, visual inspection), action thresholds,
pest identification (insects, rodents, birds), harborage reduction, exclusion (sealing cracks,
screens), sanitation, recordkeeping of pest activity.
• Wood-Destroying Organisms: Subterranean termites (Eastern subterranean termite
– Reticulitermes flavipes), swarming behavior, mud tubes, wood damage pattern, moisture
requirements. Carpenter ants (Camponotus spp.), satellite colonies, excavation of smooth
galleries. Powderpost beetles, old house borer. Wood infestation reports (WDIR).
• Termite Control: Soil pretreatment (termiticide application prior to slab), post-construction
treatment (trench and rod, sub-slab injection, perimeter treatment), termiticide active
ingredients (fipronil, imidacloprid, bifenthrin, chlorantraniliprole), bait systems (Sentricon,
Advance), monitoring stations, baiting versus liquid barriers.
• Ant & Cockroach Control: Ant baits, gel baits, perimeter treatments, insect growth regulators
(IGRs), cockroach baiting (gel, stations), crack and crevice treatments, sanitation, sticky traps for
monitoring.
• Rodent Control: Norway rat, roof rat, house mouse. Snap traps, glue boards, multiple-catch
traps, anticoagulant rodenticides (first-generation: warfarin, chlorophacinone;
second-generation: bromadiolone, difethialone, brodifacoum). Bait stations (tamper-resistant),
bait placement, non-target risks (secondary poisoning to pets/wildlife), resistance management.
• Fumigation: Structural fumigation (sulfuryl fluoride, methyl bromide – restricted use, phosphine
gases). Tarpaulins (tenting), aeration, monitoring with gas detection tubes, safety (evacuation,
guard for re-entry), fumigation management plan, re-entry certification.
• Other Structural Pests: Stored product pests (Indian meal moth, saw-toothed grain beetle),
silverfish, spiders (non-threatening, some venomous – brown recluse range does NOT include
MN, black widow rare), wasps, hornets, yellowjackets, nest destruction.
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• Application Equipment & Calibration: Compressed air sprayers (handheld, backpack), power
sprayers (low pressure 25-100 psi, high pressure 100-400 psi), nozzle selection (fan, cone, crack
& crevice), granule spreaders (hand-held, powered), calibration for liquid (output in gallons per
minute, area coverage), calculation of amount per 1,000 sq ft.
• Safety & PPE: Gloves (chemical-resistant), goggles/face shield, respirator (when label required,
fit testing for tight-fitting respirators), coveralls, ventilation, spill cleanup, heat stress, first aid,
pesticide poisoning recognition (organophosphate, carbamate, pyrethroid).
• Environmental Protection: Minimizing runoff, groundwater protection (termiticide application
near wells, setback distances), drift reduction, pollinator protection (not typically relevant for
structural except outdoor perimeter), endangered species, surface water buffers.
• Recordkeeping & Reporting: MDA Form (pesticide use report) or equivalent record: date,
product name, EPA registration number, amount used, target pest, site, application method,
weather conditions, certification number. Records kept for 2 years. Wood infestation reports
(WDIR) for real estate transactions.
QUESTIONS 1–250
1. The most common species of subterranean termite in Minnesota is:
A) Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus)
B) Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes)
C) Western subterranean termite (Reticulitermes hesperus)
D) Desert subterranean termite (Heterotermes aureus)
Answer: B
Rationale: Reticulitermes flavipes is the primary termite species in Minnesota; Formosan termites are
found in warmer southern states.
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2. A homeowner sees small, winged insects emerging from a window sill on a warm spring day. These
are likely:
A) Flying ants
B) Subterranean termite swarmers (alates)
C) Carpenter ant swarmers
D) Powderpost beetles
Answer: B
Rationale: Subterranean termites swarm in spring. The presence of wings of equal length (termites) vs.
unequal length (ants) helps differentiate.
3. Which of the following is a wood-destroying insect that excavates smooth galleries in wood with no
mud or soil present?
A) Subterranean termite
B) Carpenter ant
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C) Old house borer
D) Powderpost beetle
Answer: B
Rationale: Carpenter ants excavate smooth, clean galleries (like sandpapered) without mud; termite
galleries contain mud/soil.
4. Under Minnesota rules, pesticide application records for structural pest control must be kept for a
minimum of:
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: B
Rationale: Minnesota requires 2 years of pesticide use records for commercial applicators.
Minnesota Commercial Pesticide Applicator
Certification Category J: Structural Pest Control
Exam QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES JUST RELEASED
Minnesota Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification Category J: Structural Pest Control
Exam (based on MDA Category J, which includes general structural pests, wood-destroying organisms,
and fumigation). This is followed by 250 randomized, scenario-based multiple-choice questions with
answers and rationales.
SUMMARIZED EXAM TOPICS COVERED (POINT FORM)
• Laws & Regulations: Minnesota Pesticide Control Law (Chapter 18B), Minnesota Rules (Part
1505, 1506, 1508, 1510), FIFRA (federal), Worker Protection Standard (WPS), pesticide use and
recordkeeping (2 years), notification requirements (residential, school, daycare), commercial
applicator licensing (certification categories, continuing education, renewal every 3 years),
business registration, liability insurance ($100,000 minimum).
• Label & Labeling Comprehension: Signal words (Danger, Warning, Caution), REI (restricted entry
interval), PHI (not applicable for structural), use directions, site restrictions, PPE requirements,
first aid, environmental hazards, storage and disposal.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Monitoring (traps, visual inspection), action thresholds,
pest identification (insects, rodents, birds), harborage reduction, exclusion (sealing cracks,
screens), sanitation, recordkeeping of pest activity.
• Wood-Destroying Organisms: Subterranean termites (Eastern subterranean termite
– Reticulitermes flavipes), swarming behavior, mud tubes, wood damage pattern, moisture
requirements. Carpenter ants (Camponotus spp.), satellite colonies, excavation of smooth
galleries. Powderpost beetles, old house borer. Wood infestation reports (WDIR).
• Termite Control: Soil pretreatment (termiticide application prior to slab), post-construction
treatment (trench and rod, sub-slab injection, perimeter treatment), termiticide active
ingredients (fipronil, imidacloprid, bifenthrin, chlorantraniliprole), bait systems (Sentricon,
Advance), monitoring stations, baiting versus liquid barriers.
• Ant & Cockroach Control: Ant baits, gel baits, perimeter treatments, insect growth regulators
(IGRs), cockroach baiting (gel, stations), crack and crevice treatments, sanitation, sticky traps for
monitoring.
• Rodent Control: Norway rat, roof rat, house mouse. Snap traps, glue boards, multiple-catch
traps, anticoagulant rodenticides (first-generation: warfarin, chlorophacinone;
second-generation: bromadiolone, difethialone, brodifacoum). Bait stations (tamper-resistant),
bait placement, non-target risks (secondary poisoning to pets/wildlife), resistance management.
• Fumigation: Structural fumigation (sulfuryl fluoride, methyl bromide – restricted use, phosphine
gases). Tarpaulins (tenting), aeration, monitoring with gas detection tubes, safety (evacuation,
guard for re-entry), fumigation management plan, re-entry certification.
• Other Structural Pests: Stored product pests (Indian meal moth, saw-toothed grain beetle),
silverfish, spiders (non-threatening, some venomous – brown recluse range does NOT include
MN, black widow rare), wasps, hornets, yellowjackets, nest destruction.
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• Application Equipment & Calibration: Compressed air sprayers (handheld, backpack), power
sprayers (low pressure 25-100 psi, high pressure 100-400 psi), nozzle selection (fan, cone, crack
& crevice), granule spreaders (hand-held, powered), calibration for liquid (output in gallons per
minute, area coverage), calculation of amount per 1,000 sq ft.
• Safety & PPE: Gloves (chemical-resistant), goggles/face shield, respirator (when label required,
fit testing for tight-fitting respirators), coveralls, ventilation, spill cleanup, heat stress, first aid,
pesticide poisoning recognition (organophosphate, carbamate, pyrethroid).
• Environmental Protection: Minimizing runoff, groundwater protection (termiticide application
near wells, setback distances), drift reduction, pollinator protection (not typically relevant for
structural except outdoor perimeter), endangered species, surface water buffers.
• Recordkeeping & Reporting: MDA Form (pesticide use report) or equivalent record: date,
product name, EPA registration number, amount used, target pest, site, application method,
weather conditions, certification number. Records kept for 2 years. Wood infestation reports
(WDIR) for real estate transactions.
QUESTIONS 1–250
1. The most common species of subterranean termite in Minnesota is:
A) Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus)
B) Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes)
C) Western subterranean termite (Reticulitermes hesperus)
D) Desert subterranean termite (Heterotermes aureus)
Answer: B
Rationale: Reticulitermes flavipes is the primary termite species in Minnesota; Formosan termites are
found in warmer southern states.
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2. A homeowner sees small, winged insects emerging from a window sill on a warm spring day. These
are likely:
A) Flying ants
B) Subterranean termite swarmers (alates)
C) Carpenter ant swarmers
D) Powderpost beetles
Answer: B
Rationale: Subterranean termites swarm in spring. The presence of wings of equal length (termites) vs.
unequal length (ants) helps differentiate.
3. Which of the following is a wood-destroying insect that excavates smooth galleries in wood with no
mud or soil present?
A) Subterranean termite
B) Carpenter ant
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C) Old house borer
D) Powderpost beetle
Answer: B
Rationale: Carpenter ants excavate smooth, clean galleries (like sandpapered) without mud; termite
galleries contain mud/soil.
4. Under Minnesota rules, pesticide application records for structural pest control must be kept for a
minimum of:
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: B
Rationale: Minnesota requires 2 years of pesticide use records for commercial applicators.
