WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
EXAM REVIEW: TURF & LANDSCAPE
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS L LATEST
VERSION 2025/2026.
Ch.1 List the general kinds of damage insect pests can cause - ANS -Chew on seeds, roots,
leaves, stems, & fruits
-Tunnel in roots, stems, & leaves
-Suck plant juices
-Promote gall formation and other malformations
-Inject toxins into plants -Transmit diseases to plants
-Create a nuisance for people
Ch.1 Describe the structural features of insects - ANS Insects have: body form has 3 regions:
head, thorax, abdomen; 3 pairs of legs attached to thorax; 0, 1, or 2 pairs of wings attached to
thorax; 1 pair of antennae
Ch.1 Explain how to distinguish insects from other arthropods - ANS Arthropods have:
exoskeleton; body form has 2 regions: head & abdomen; usually 4 pairs of legs attached to
head; no wings; no antennae
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Ch.1 Contrast the difference between simple and complete metamorphosis - ANS -Simple:
"Incomplete Metamorphosis"; 3 stages: egg, nymph, & adult
-Complete: 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, & adult
Ch.1 Explain how temperature and humidity affect insect development - ANS *Temperature
& humidity preferences vary for each insect.
*Combined effect of both on reproduction & development is more dramatically different than
the effect of either alone.
-Temperature: development is faster with heat & slower with cold temps; insects die at the high
levels of developmental threshold temps and become inactive at low levels
-Humidity: effects insect diseases; effects moisture levels required for survival
Ch.1 List the advantages and disadvantages of using insecticides - ANS Advantages:
-Effective against economically damaging pests
-Can combine 1 or 2 insecticides to combat several pests
-They act quickly to control pests before reaching damaging levels
-For new pests, there are many compounds that have been proven effective
-Effective insecticides, suitable formulations, & application equipment are normally available
Disadvantages:
-Often eliminate beneficial insects, allowing target organisms to rebound quickly
-Repeated exposure can lead to resistance in a pest population
-Yearly dependence on applications is an added cost
-Always a potential for drift, residues, and damage
Ch.2 Explain what determines whether a given plant is a weed - ANS Weeds are unwanted
plants
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Ch.2 List the two main goals of weed management - ANS 1. Minimize weed competition
2. Limit the weed's reproduction so that you can still manage the weed population in future
years
Ch.2 Describe ways that weeds can pose problems in turf and landscapes (7) - ANS -Interfere
with management practices
-Produce chemical inhibitors that directly retard the growth of desirable plants (allelopathy)
-Create a poor impression on customers
-Interferes with pesticide applications
-Support insect pests and plant diseases or provide cover for rodents
-Are poisonous, allergenic, or irritating to people or pets
-Dry out or die and become fire hazards
Ch.2 Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and woody from herbaceous plants - ANS -
Grasses (Monocots): most common weeds; have a single seed leaf (cotyledon) when they
germinate; narrow leaves with parallel viens
-Broadleaves (Dicots): have 2 seed leaves when they germinate; veins form a net-like or
branching pattern; can be broken down into Woody and Herbaceous plants
--> Woody: have thickened outer layer on stems (bark)
--> Herbaceous: lacks bark
Ch. 2 Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and perennial plants -
ANS -Annuals: live less than 12 months; most seeds germinate the following year, some are
dormant taking several years; prolific seed producers.
--> Summer Annuals: germinate from seed in spring, flower/produce seeds in summer, die in
late summer/early fall.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, --> Winter Annuals: germinate from seed in fall, overwinter as low-growing plants,
flower/produce seeds in spring, then die.
-Biennials: live for 2 growing seasons; germinate from seeds in spring or summer and produce a
rosette of leaves, overwinter in rosette stage, flower the following year, produce seed, and die.
-Perennials: live for at least 2 years, sometimes longer; may reproduce by seed or spread
vegetatively (stolons, rhizomes, spreading roots, tubers, bulbs)
Ch.2 Outline what is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and when it is easiest
to do so - ANS -Annuals: kill the whole shoot by tillage or with herbicides during seeding
stage.
--> Summer Annuals: kill with tillage or herbicides during seeding stage.
--> Winter Annuals: kill with tillage or herbicides during seeding stage.
-Biennials: best controlled with herbicides during rosette stage.
Perennials: controlled by repeatedly tilling or with herbicides that translocates to all plant parts.
Ch.2 Distinguish the difference between preplant, preemergence, and postemergence herbicide
applications - ANS -Preplant: done before planting.
-Preemergence: usually (not always) done after planting but before plants/weeds emerge.
-Postemergence: done selectively after plants/weeds emerge; timing is important; if the
desirable plant is smaller or larger than the growth stage listed on the label, it may be damaged
by the herbicide.
Ch.2 Explain the effects of soil texture, organic matter, and pH and herbicide persistence on
herbicide activity - ANS -Fine textured soils or soils with high organic matter often require
higher herbicide rates than soils with coarser texture or low organic matter.
-Some herbicides prohibit product use on certain soils with a light texture, low organic matter,
or high pH to guard against excessive plant damage or herbicide persistence.
-Excessive leaching on sandy soils with shallow water tables may result in groundwater
contamination.
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
EXAM REVIEW: TURF & LANDSCAPE
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS L LATEST
VERSION 2025/2026.
Ch.1 List the general kinds of damage insect pests can cause - ANS -Chew on seeds, roots,
leaves, stems, & fruits
-Tunnel in roots, stems, & leaves
-Suck plant juices
-Promote gall formation and other malformations
-Inject toxins into plants -Transmit diseases to plants
-Create a nuisance for people
Ch.1 Describe the structural features of insects - ANS Insects have: body form has 3 regions:
head, thorax, abdomen; 3 pairs of legs attached to thorax; 0, 1, or 2 pairs of wings attached to
thorax; 1 pair of antennae
Ch.1 Explain how to distinguish insects from other arthropods - ANS Arthropods have:
exoskeleton; body form has 2 regions: head & abdomen; usually 4 pairs of legs attached to
head; no wings; no antennae
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Ch.1 Contrast the difference between simple and complete metamorphosis - ANS -Simple:
"Incomplete Metamorphosis"; 3 stages: egg, nymph, & adult
-Complete: 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, & adult
Ch.1 Explain how temperature and humidity affect insect development - ANS *Temperature
& humidity preferences vary for each insect.
*Combined effect of both on reproduction & development is more dramatically different than
the effect of either alone.
-Temperature: development is faster with heat & slower with cold temps; insects die at the high
levels of developmental threshold temps and become inactive at low levels
-Humidity: effects insect diseases; effects moisture levels required for survival
Ch.1 List the advantages and disadvantages of using insecticides - ANS Advantages:
-Effective against economically damaging pests
-Can combine 1 or 2 insecticides to combat several pests
-They act quickly to control pests before reaching damaging levels
-For new pests, there are many compounds that have been proven effective
-Effective insecticides, suitable formulations, & application equipment are normally available
Disadvantages:
-Often eliminate beneficial insects, allowing target organisms to rebound quickly
-Repeated exposure can lead to resistance in a pest population
-Yearly dependence on applications is an added cost
-Always a potential for drift, residues, and damage
Ch.2 Explain what determines whether a given plant is a weed - ANS Weeds are unwanted
plants
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Ch.2 List the two main goals of weed management - ANS 1. Minimize weed competition
2. Limit the weed's reproduction so that you can still manage the weed population in future
years
Ch.2 Describe ways that weeds can pose problems in turf and landscapes (7) - ANS -Interfere
with management practices
-Produce chemical inhibitors that directly retard the growth of desirable plants (allelopathy)
-Create a poor impression on customers
-Interferes with pesticide applications
-Support insect pests and plant diseases or provide cover for rodents
-Are poisonous, allergenic, or irritating to people or pets
-Dry out or die and become fire hazards
Ch.2 Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and woody from herbaceous plants - ANS -
Grasses (Monocots): most common weeds; have a single seed leaf (cotyledon) when they
germinate; narrow leaves with parallel viens
-Broadleaves (Dicots): have 2 seed leaves when they germinate; veins form a net-like or
branching pattern; can be broken down into Woody and Herbaceous plants
--> Woody: have thickened outer layer on stems (bark)
--> Herbaceous: lacks bark
Ch. 2 Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and perennial plants -
ANS -Annuals: live less than 12 months; most seeds germinate the following year, some are
dormant taking several years; prolific seed producers.
--> Summer Annuals: germinate from seed in spring, flower/produce seeds in summer, die in
late summer/early fall.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, --> Winter Annuals: germinate from seed in fall, overwinter as low-growing plants,
flower/produce seeds in spring, then die.
-Biennials: live for 2 growing seasons; germinate from seeds in spring or summer and produce a
rosette of leaves, overwinter in rosette stage, flower the following year, produce seed, and die.
-Perennials: live for at least 2 years, sometimes longer; may reproduce by seed or spread
vegetatively (stolons, rhizomes, spreading roots, tubers, bulbs)
Ch.2 Outline what is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and when it is easiest
to do so - ANS -Annuals: kill the whole shoot by tillage or with herbicides during seeding
stage.
--> Summer Annuals: kill with tillage or herbicides during seeding stage.
--> Winter Annuals: kill with tillage or herbicides during seeding stage.
-Biennials: best controlled with herbicides during rosette stage.
Perennials: controlled by repeatedly tilling or with herbicides that translocates to all plant parts.
Ch.2 Distinguish the difference between preplant, preemergence, and postemergence herbicide
applications - ANS -Preplant: done before planting.
-Preemergence: usually (not always) done after planting but before plants/weeds emerge.
-Postemergence: done selectively after plants/weeds emerge; timing is important; if the
desirable plant is smaller or larger than the growth stage listed on the label, it may be damaged
by the herbicide.
Ch.2 Explain the effects of soil texture, organic matter, and pH and herbicide persistence on
herbicide activity - ANS -Fine textured soils or soils with high organic matter often require
higher herbicide rates than soils with coarser texture or low organic matter.
-Some herbicides prohibit product use on certain soils with a light texture, low organic matter,
or high pH to guard against excessive plant damage or herbicide persistence.
-Excessive leaching on sandy soils with shallow water tables may result in groundwater
contamination.
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
