Ornamental and Turfgrass Pest Control Category 3 Exam
1. What is the primary goal of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?
A. Eliminate all pests permanently
B. Apply pesticides on a calendar schedule
C. Manage pests at acceptable levels using multiple tactics
D. Use only biological controls
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: IPM combines cultural, biological, mechanical, and chemical methods to keep pest
populations below damaging levels while minimizing risks to people and the environment.
2. Which part of the pesticide label is considered legally enforceable?
A. Marketing claims
B. Entire label
C. Company logo
D. Product color
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The entire EPA-approved label contains legally binding instructions and restrictions that
applicators must follow.
3. Signal word "DANGER" indicates:
A. Lowest toxicity
B. Moderate toxicity
C. High acute toxicity
D. No toxicity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Products bearing "DANGER" present the greatest acute hazard among pesticide signal
words.
4. PPE stands for:
A. Pesticide Protection Equipment
B. Personal Protective Equipment
C. Personal Pesticide Evaluation
D. Pest Prevention Equipment
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: PPE includes gloves, respirators, eye protection, coveralls, and other equipment that
protects applicators from exposure.
5. Which route of exposure is most common for pesticide applicators?
A. Injection
B. Dermal absorption
C. Inhalation
D. Ingestion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The skin is the most frequent route of pesticide exposure during mixing, loading, and
application.
6. Turfgrass diseases are most commonly caused by:
A. Mammals
B. Fungi
C. Birds
D. Reptiles
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Many important turf diseases, including dollar spot and brown patch, are caused by
fungal pathogens.
7. Brown patch disease is favored by:
A. Cool, dry weather
B. Warm, humid conditions
C. Frozen soil
D. Drought only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Warm temperatures combined with high humidity promote brown patch development.
8. Which insect has chewing mouthparts?
A. Aphid
B. Whitefly
C. Chinch bug
D. Beetle
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Beetles remove plant tissue directly with chewing mouthparts, creating visible feeding
damage.
, 9. Aphids primarily damage plants by:
A. Boring into stems
B. Chewing roots
C. Sucking plant sap
D. Eating flowers
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Aphids are piercing-sucking insects that remove plant sap and may transmit plant
diseases.
10. Honeydew is produced by:
A. Grubs
B. Aphids
C. Cutworms
D. Mole crickets
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aphids excrete excess sugars as honeydew, which can support sooty mold growth.
11. What is pesticide drift?
A. Pesticide breakdown
B. Off-target movement of pesticide
C. Mixing pesticides
D. Leaching into groundwater only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Drift occurs when pesticide particles or vapors move away from the intended target area.
12. The best way to reduce spray drift is to:
A. Increase pressure greatly
B. Use smaller droplets
C. Apply during strong winds
D. Use larger droplets and lower pressure
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Larger droplets are less likely to move off target than fine droplets.
13. The LD50 measures:
1. What is the primary goal of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?
A. Eliminate all pests permanently
B. Apply pesticides on a calendar schedule
C. Manage pests at acceptable levels using multiple tactics
D. Use only biological controls
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: IPM combines cultural, biological, mechanical, and chemical methods to keep pest
populations below damaging levels while minimizing risks to people and the environment.
2. Which part of the pesticide label is considered legally enforceable?
A. Marketing claims
B. Entire label
C. Company logo
D. Product color
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The entire EPA-approved label contains legally binding instructions and restrictions that
applicators must follow.
3. Signal word "DANGER" indicates:
A. Lowest toxicity
B. Moderate toxicity
C. High acute toxicity
D. No toxicity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Products bearing "DANGER" present the greatest acute hazard among pesticide signal
words.
4. PPE stands for:
A. Pesticide Protection Equipment
B. Personal Protective Equipment
C. Personal Pesticide Evaluation
D. Pest Prevention Equipment
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: PPE includes gloves, respirators, eye protection, coveralls, and other equipment that
protects applicators from exposure.
5. Which route of exposure is most common for pesticide applicators?
A. Injection
B. Dermal absorption
C. Inhalation
D. Ingestion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The skin is the most frequent route of pesticide exposure during mixing, loading, and
application.
6. Turfgrass diseases are most commonly caused by:
A. Mammals
B. Fungi
C. Birds
D. Reptiles
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Many important turf diseases, including dollar spot and brown patch, are caused by
fungal pathogens.
7. Brown patch disease is favored by:
A. Cool, dry weather
B. Warm, humid conditions
C. Frozen soil
D. Drought only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Warm temperatures combined with high humidity promote brown patch development.
8. Which insect has chewing mouthparts?
A. Aphid
B. Whitefly
C. Chinch bug
D. Beetle
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Beetles remove plant tissue directly with chewing mouthparts, creating visible feeding
damage.
, 9. Aphids primarily damage plants by:
A. Boring into stems
B. Chewing roots
C. Sucking plant sap
D. Eating flowers
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Aphids are piercing-sucking insects that remove plant sap and may transmit plant
diseases.
10. Honeydew is produced by:
A. Grubs
B. Aphids
C. Cutworms
D. Mole crickets
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aphids excrete excess sugars as honeydew, which can support sooty mold growth.
11. What is pesticide drift?
A. Pesticide breakdown
B. Off-target movement of pesticide
C. Mixing pesticides
D. Leaching into groundwater only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Drift occurs when pesticide particles or vapors move away from the intended target area.
12. The best way to reduce spray drift is to:
A. Increase pressure greatly
B. Use smaller droplets
C. Apply during strong winds
D. Use larger droplets and lower pressure
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Larger droplets are less likely to move off target than fine droplets.
13. The LD50 measures:
