WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR EXAM
2026-2027 TURF & LANDSCAPE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
Ch.1 Explain how temperature and humidity affect insect development
*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
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.1 List the general kinds of damage insect pests can cause
-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
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
Arthropods have: exoskeleton; body form has 2 regions: head & abdomen; usually
4 pairs of legs attached to head; no wings; no antennae
Ch.1 Contrast the difference between simple and complete metamorphosis
-Simple: "Incomplete Metamorphosis"; 3 stages: egg, nymph, & adult
-Complete: 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, & adult
,Ch.2 Explain what determines whether a given plant is a weed
Weeds are unwanted plants
Ch.2 List the two main goals of weed management
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)
-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
-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
-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.
--> 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
-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.
2026-2027 TURF & LANDSCAPE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
Ch.1 Explain how temperature and humidity affect insect development
*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
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.1 List the general kinds of damage insect pests can cause
-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
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
Arthropods have: exoskeleton; body form has 2 regions: head & abdomen; usually
4 pairs of legs attached to head; no wings; no antennae
Ch.1 Contrast the difference between simple and complete metamorphosis
-Simple: "Incomplete Metamorphosis"; 3 stages: egg, nymph, & adult
-Complete: 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, & adult
,Ch.2 Explain what determines whether a given plant is a weed
Weeds are unwanted plants
Ch.2 List the two main goals of weed management
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)
-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
-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
-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.
--> 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
-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.
