Maine Pesticide Exam Prep – Core – Questions and Answers
Earliest recorded use of chemical pest control - -sulfur burned to control mites in 2500 b.c.
-Hellabore - -plant derived insecticide used by Romans to control lice
-Nicotine - -used to control aphids
-Pyrethrum - -derived from chrysanthemum flowers in 18th century to control fleas
-Lime & Copper Sulfate - -used in 19th century to deter picking of grape vines
-DDT - -developed during WWII to combat typhus outbreaks and other insect transmitted
disease
-Organophosphates - -inhibits cholinesterase; increased use after DDT ban;
do not persist in the environment
-Natural Controls - --climate
-topography
-pathogens
-predators
-parasites
-Applied Controls - -Pest control measures used by humans. These include biological,
cultural, mechanical, and chemical control.
-Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - -An agricultural practice that uses a variety of
techniques designed to minimize pesticide inputs
-Steps of Integrated Pest Management - -1. Identify the pest
2. Define the management system
3. Develop the management strategy
4. Develop reliable monitoring techniques
5. Use thresholds
-Threshold - -level or density of pest population where control measures are needed
-Injury Level - -level of population density that causes loss equal to that of the cost of the
control level
-3 body regions of insects - -head, thorax, abdomen
-4 types of insect mouthparts - --chewing
-sponging
, -siphoning
-piercing/sucking
-No metamorphosis - -egg, young, adult
ex: springtails, silverfish
-gradual metamorphosis - -egg, nymph, adult
ex: termites, bedbugs, cockroaches
-complete metamorphosis - -egg, larva, pupa, adult
ex: beetles, ants, wasps, bees, moths, butterflies
-arachnids - -A member of a major arthropod group that includes spiders, scorpions, ticks,
and mites.
All members have eight pairs of walking legs.
2 body segments: cephalothorax and abdomen
-Crustaceans - -head, thorax, and abdomen
mandibles, 2 pairs of antennae, 5+ leg pairs
-Triazines - -wide-spread weed resistance to this pesticide ingredient because of years of
repeated use
-Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) - -A pesticide formulation produced by mixing an active
ingredient and an emulsifying agent in a suitable petroleum solvent.
-Advantages of Emulsifiable Concentrate - -1. Easy to handle, transport, and store.
2. Easy to pour and measure.
3. Little agitation required.
4. Not abrasive.
5. Won't plug screens or nozzles.
6. Little residue on treated surfaces.
-Disadvantages of Emulsifiable Concentrates - -high AI concentration (greater than 80%)
means low margin for error
easily absorbed through skin
typically high phytotoxicity
-Solutions - -AI dissolved in one or more liquid solvent
-Fumigants - -pesticides active as gases
*most hazardous formulation*
-Advantage of Fumigants - -toxic to wide range of pests - complete penetration
-Disadvantage of Fumigants - -high hazards - a lot of precaution
Earliest recorded use of chemical pest control - -sulfur burned to control mites in 2500 b.c.
-Hellabore - -plant derived insecticide used by Romans to control lice
-Nicotine - -used to control aphids
-Pyrethrum - -derived from chrysanthemum flowers in 18th century to control fleas
-Lime & Copper Sulfate - -used in 19th century to deter picking of grape vines
-DDT - -developed during WWII to combat typhus outbreaks and other insect transmitted
disease
-Organophosphates - -inhibits cholinesterase; increased use after DDT ban;
do not persist in the environment
-Natural Controls - --climate
-topography
-pathogens
-predators
-parasites
-Applied Controls - -Pest control measures used by humans. These include biological,
cultural, mechanical, and chemical control.
-Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - -An agricultural practice that uses a variety of
techniques designed to minimize pesticide inputs
-Steps of Integrated Pest Management - -1. Identify the pest
2. Define the management system
3. Develop the management strategy
4. Develop reliable monitoring techniques
5. Use thresholds
-Threshold - -level or density of pest population where control measures are needed
-Injury Level - -level of population density that causes loss equal to that of the cost of the
control level
-3 body regions of insects - -head, thorax, abdomen
-4 types of insect mouthparts - --chewing
-sponging
, -siphoning
-piercing/sucking
-No metamorphosis - -egg, young, adult
ex: springtails, silverfish
-gradual metamorphosis - -egg, nymph, adult
ex: termites, bedbugs, cockroaches
-complete metamorphosis - -egg, larva, pupa, adult
ex: beetles, ants, wasps, bees, moths, butterflies
-arachnids - -A member of a major arthropod group that includes spiders, scorpions, ticks,
and mites.
All members have eight pairs of walking legs.
2 body segments: cephalothorax and abdomen
-Crustaceans - -head, thorax, and abdomen
mandibles, 2 pairs of antennae, 5+ leg pairs
-Triazines - -wide-spread weed resistance to this pesticide ingredient because of years of
repeated use
-Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) - -A pesticide formulation produced by mixing an active
ingredient and an emulsifying agent in a suitable petroleum solvent.
-Advantages of Emulsifiable Concentrate - -1. Easy to handle, transport, and store.
2. Easy to pour and measure.
3. Little agitation required.
4. Not abrasive.
5. Won't plug screens or nozzles.
6. Little residue on treated surfaces.
-Disadvantages of Emulsifiable Concentrates - -high AI concentration (greater than 80%)
means low margin for error
easily absorbed through skin
typically high phytotoxicity
-Solutions - -AI dissolved in one or more liquid solvent
-Fumigants - -pesticides active as gases
*most hazardous formulation*
-Advantage of Fumigants - -toxic to wide range of pests - complete penetration
-Disadvantage of Fumigants - -high hazards - a lot of precaution
