PA Pesticide Applicator Exam Lawn and
Turf 2026 Questions and Answers
What are some of the basic principles of Integrated pest management? - Correct
answer-1.) PREVENTION: Produce healthy plants that resist plants: (Selecting
healthy plants, using certified seed, providing good growing conditions, and
making a good match between the plant and the site)
2.) MONITOR AND IDENTIFY THE PEST: Identify the problem: (Finding out
whether the damage to a particular plant is caused by a pest or by an environmental
condition such as freezing or drought and always determine the exact pest that you
are dealing with)
3.) SET ACTION THRESHOLDS: Expect some pests and tolerate some damage:
(Deciding how many pests and how much damage to tolerate)
4.) CONTROL: Use pesticides as a last choice-Not a first choice
What should you do in an IPM program? - Correct answer-Produce healthy plants
that can resist pests
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,What is Phytotoxicity? - Correct answer-A toxic effect by a compound on plant
growth
Which method will NOT help monitor cutworms? - Correct answer-Pitfall traps
What is Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) ? - Correct answer-A common bacterium that
kills many types of caterpillars
When should you apply an insecticide? - Correct answer-When the insect is at its
most vulnerable stage
What is the Milky spore disease? - Correct answer-A bacterial disease that is
caused by the bacterium, Bacillus popilliae, and kills Japanese beetles
What do you do to control fire ants? - Correct answer-Use a combination of
broadcast bait and mound treatments
Sod webworms... - Correct answer-Spin silk webbing near the soil in turf
An insecticide applied to control white grubs... - Correct answer-Should be watered
in to reach the soil
Mole crickets... - Correct answer-Have only one generation per year
What are the 2 different kinds of metamorphosis that insect pests undergo? -
Correct answer-1.) Gradual metamorphosis: Nymphs (young stages) of insects that
undergo this look like small versions of the adult
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, 2.) Complete metamorphosis (most common type of development among turf grass
pests): The young stages of insects that undergo this look very different from the
adults before before they become pupae and change into adults
How do Chinch bugs damage turf? - Correct answer-They feed in clusters and
damage first appears as circular patches of yellowing turf that resemble drought
injury and large infestations of the southern chinch bug may completely kill St.
Augustine lawns.
What are 4 pests that might cause root damage to turf? - Correct answer-1.)
Japanese beetle
2.) Mole cricket
3.) Masked chafer
4.) Green june beetle
How does frequent mowing impact fire ants? - Correct answer-Frequent mowing is
a control method that golf course managers use to force red imported fire ant
colonies to less disturbed areas. The more times areas are mowed, the less time fire
ants have to establish colonies
What are 3 ways to find turf insects in the soil? - Correct answer-1.) Scouting
2.) Sampling
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
Turf 2026 Questions and Answers
What are some of the basic principles of Integrated pest management? - Correct
answer-1.) PREVENTION: Produce healthy plants that resist plants: (Selecting
healthy plants, using certified seed, providing good growing conditions, and
making a good match between the plant and the site)
2.) MONITOR AND IDENTIFY THE PEST: Identify the problem: (Finding out
whether the damage to a particular plant is caused by a pest or by an environmental
condition such as freezing or drought and always determine the exact pest that you
are dealing with)
3.) SET ACTION THRESHOLDS: Expect some pests and tolerate some damage:
(Deciding how many pests and how much damage to tolerate)
4.) CONTROL: Use pesticides as a last choice-Not a first choice
What should you do in an IPM program? - Correct answer-Produce healthy plants
that can resist pests
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,What is Phytotoxicity? - Correct answer-A toxic effect by a compound on plant
growth
Which method will NOT help monitor cutworms? - Correct answer-Pitfall traps
What is Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) ? - Correct answer-A common bacterium that
kills many types of caterpillars
When should you apply an insecticide? - Correct answer-When the insect is at its
most vulnerable stage
What is the Milky spore disease? - Correct answer-A bacterial disease that is
caused by the bacterium, Bacillus popilliae, and kills Japanese beetles
What do you do to control fire ants? - Correct answer-Use a combination of
broadcast bait and mound treatments
Sod webworms... - Correct answer-Spin silk webbing near the soil in turf
An insecticide applied to control white grubs... - Correct answer-Should be watered
in to reach the soil
Mole crickets... - Correct answer-Have only one generation per year
What are the 2 different kinds of metamorphosis that insect pests undergo? -
Correct answer-1.) Gradual metamorphosis: Nymphs (young stages) of insects that
undergo this look like small versions of the adult
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, 2.) Complete metamorphosis (most common type of development among turf grass
pests): The young stages of insects that undergo this look very different from the
adults before before they become pupae and change into adults
How do Chinch bugs damage turf? - Correct answer-They feed in clusters and
damage first appears as circular patches of yellowing turf that resemble drought
injury and large infestations of the southern chinch bug may completely kill St.
Augustine lawns.
What are 4 pests that might cause root damage to turf? - Correct answer-1.)
Japanese beetle
2.) Mole cricket
3.) Masked chafer
4.) Green june beetle
How does frequent mowing impact fire ants? - Correct answer-Frequent mowing is
a control method that golf course managers use to force red imported fire ant
colonies to less disturbed areas. The more times areas are mowed, the less time fire
ants have to establish colonies
What are 3 ways to find turf insects in the soil? - Correct answer-1.) Scouting
2.) Sampling
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
