VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE
APPLICATORS CORE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS L LATEST VERSION 2025/2026.
Explain the difference between key pests, occasional pests and secondary pests - ANS Key
pests are nearly always present and require regular control. occasional pests are migratory or
cyclical and require intermittent control. secondary pests require control only under certain
conditions, such as the elimination of a key pest or the absence of a natural host.
what should you do first if you see damage to a plant, animal, or valuable product/ -
ANS identify the cause
what should you do first if you discover a pest that may need to be controlled? - ANS make
sure the pest is actually responsible for the damage. then accurately identify the pest
how can pest identification help you develop a good pest control strategy? - ANS it allows
you to determine basic information about the pest, including its life-cycle and when it is most
susceptible to control measures.
name the 5 basic pest groups - ANS weeds, parasites and diseases, mollusks, arthropods, and
vertebrates.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, why do weeds present such a challenge to pest managers? - ANS weeds are often hardy,
aggressive, and tolerant of harsh conditions. many produce large numbers of seeds which can
spread over a wide area and remain dormant for a long time.
how can you tell a monocot from a dicot? - ANS monocots (sedges and grasses) have one
cotyledon, parallel leaf veins, flower parts in multiples of 3 and fibrous roots. Dicots have 2
cotyledons, broad leaves with netted veination, and flower parts in multiples of 4 and 5 and
usually have taproots.
name the pathogens that cause most plant and animal diseases - ANS fungi, bacteria,
mycoplasma, and viruses
what are the symptoms of viral plant diseases - ANS stunting, yellow rings on leaves, wilting,
and mosaic patterns
how do plant parasitic nematodes harm plants? - ANS by attacking the roots, stems and
leaves. nematode root feeding interferes with a plants ability to take up water and nutrients.
infected plants wilt and seem to be suffering from a lack of water or nutrients.
how do mollusks harm plants? - ANS by feeding on foliage and fruit. mollusks reduce the
value of commercial produce if they feed on harvested plants and fruit.
what are arthropods? how do they differ from vertebrates? - ANS arthropods are animals
with segmented bodies and jointed appendages. Arthropods have an external skeleton and may
have specialized appendages such as sucking tubes, chewing mouth parts, antennae, and
pincers. they have no backbones like vertebrates
what is the difference between gradual and complete metamorphosis? why is it important to
know the life cycle stage of an insect? - ANS gradual metamorphosis includes 3 stages: egg,
nymph and adult. there is no pupa stage. complete metamorphosis includes 4 stages: egg, larva,
pupa, and adult. insects that develop via complete metamorphosis change body form. larvae
may not look at all like adults within the same species.it is very important to recognize the
damaging stage for best treatment results. many insect are pests in one stage but not another.
especially larval form.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
APPLICATORS CORE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS L LATEST VERSION 2025/2026.
Explain the difference between key pests, occasional pests and secondary pests - ANS Key
pests are nearly always present and require regular control. occasional pests are migratory or
cyclical and require intermittent control. secondary pests require control only under certain
conditions, such as the elimination of a key pest or the absence of a natural host.
what should you do first if you see damage to a plant, animal, or valuable product/ -
ANS identify the cause
what should you do first if you discover a pest that may need to be controlled? - ANS make
sure the pest is actually responsible for the damage. then accurately identify the pest
how can pest identification help you develop a good pest control strategy? - ANS it allows
you to determine basic information about the pest, including its life-cycle and when it is most
susceptible to control measures.
name the 5 basic pest groups - ANS weeds, parasites and diseases, mollusks, arthropods, and
vertebrates.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, why do weeds present such a challenge to pest managers? - ANS weeds are often hardy,
aggressive, and tolerant of harsh conditions. many produce large numbers of seeds which can
spread over a wide area and remain dormant for a long time.
how can you tell a monocot from a dicot? - ANS monocots (sedges and grasses) have one
cotyledon, parallel leaf veins, flower parts in multiples of 3 and fibrous roots. Dicots have 2
cotyledons, broad leaves with netted veination, and flower parts in multiples of 4 and 5 and
usually have taproots.
name the pathogens that cause most plant and animal diseases - ANS fungi, bacteria,
mycoplasma, and viruses
what are the symptoms of viral plant diseases - ANS stunting, yellow rings on leaves, wilting,
and mosaic patterns
how do plant parasitic nematodes harm plants? - ANS by attacking the roots, stems and
leaves. nematode root feeding interferes with a plants ability to take up water and nutrients.
infected plants wilt and seem to be suffering from a lack of water or nutrients.
how do mollusks harm plants? - ANS by feeding on foliage and fruit. mollusks reduce the
value of commercial produce if they feed on harvested plants and fruit.
what are arthropods? how do they differ from vertebrates? - ANS arthropods are animals
with segmented bodies and jointed appendages. Arthropods have an external skeleton and may
have specialized appendages such as sucking tubes, chewing mouth parts, antennae, and
pincers. they have no backbones like vertebrates
what is the difference between gradual and complete metamorphosis? why is it important to
know the life cycle stage of an insect? - ANS gradual metamorphosis includes 3 stages: egg,
nymph and adult. there is no pupa stage. complete metamorphosis includes 4 stages: egg, larva,
pupa, and adult. insects that develop via complete metamorphosis change body form. larvae
may not look at all like adults within the same species.it is very important to recognize the
damaging stage for best treatment results. many insect are pests in one stage but not another.
especially larval form.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
