QAC Category B Landscape Maintenance Exam Actual Exam 2026/2027 –
Comprehensive Practice Test with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
SECTION 1: Pest Identification & Biology (Q1–Q25)
Q1: A landscape technician observes small, soft-bodied insects clustered on the
undersides of rose leaves, sucking plant juices and producing honeydew. These insects
belong to which insect order?
A. Coleoptera
B. Lepidoptera
C. Homoptera [CORRECT]
D. Hymenoptera
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Aphids and whiteflies are members of the order Homoptera, characterized by
piercing-sucking mouthparts that extract juices from plant cells. Coleoptera (beetles)
have chewing mouthparts, Lepidoptera includes caterpillars with chewing mouthparts,
and Hymenoptera includes ants, bees, and wasps. [100% VERIFIED – California DPR
QAC Category B 2026]
Q2: During a routine inspection, a technician notices thrips feeding on landscape
ornamentals and suspects they may be transmitting a plant disease. Thrips belong to
which insect order?
A. Hymenoptera
B. Thysanoptera [CORRECT]
C. Diptera
D. Orthoptera
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Thrips belong to the order Thysanoptera, which is specifically known to
transmit some plant diseases. Hymenoptera includes ants and bees, Diptera includes
flies, and Orthoptera includes grasshoppers and crickets. [100% VERIFIED – California
DPR QAC Category B 2026]
Q3: A technician is asked to identify the immature stage between molts of a developing
insect. What is the correct term for this stage?
A. Pupa
B. Instar [CORRECT]
C. Nymph
D. Larva
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Immature stages of insects between molts are called instars. A pupa is the
non-feeding transformation stage in complete metamorphosis, a nymph is the
immature form in incomplete metamorphosis, and larva is the feeding immature stage
in complete metamorphosis. [100% VERIFIED – California DPR QAC Category B 2026]
Q4: While monitoring a landscape bed, a technician finds ants tending aphids on a
shrub. To which insect order do ants belong?
A. Isoptera
B. Coleoptera
C. Hymenoptera [CORRECT]
D. Hemiptera
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ants belong to the insect order Hymenoptera, which also includes bees and
wasps. Isoptera includes termites, Coleoptera includes beetles, and Hemiptera includes
true bugs. [100% VERIFIED – California DPR QAC Category B 2026]
,Q5: A landscape manager discovers true bugs feeding on the living tissues of
ornamental plants. These insects belong to which order?
A. Homoptera
B. Heteroptera [CORRECT]
C. Thysanoptera
D. Neuroptera
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: True bugs that are pests of living plants belong to the order Heteroptera.
Homoptera includes aphids and whiteflies, Thysanoptera includes thrips, and
Neuroptera includes lacewings (which are beneficial predators, not pests). [100%
VERIFIED – California DPR QAC Category B 2026]
Q6: A technician observes tiny arthropods causing leaf stippling on a landscape
planting. The leaves show a characteristic speckled, silvered appearance. These pests
are most likely:
A. Caterpillars
B. Beetles
C. Mites [CORRECT]
D. Aphids
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Mites are arthropods that cause leaf stippling—a characteristic speckled or
silvered damage pattern. Caterpillars and beetles have chewing mouthparts causing
holes or defoliation, while aphids cause curling, yellowing, and honeydew production
through piercing-sucking feeding. [100% VERIFIED – California DPR QAC Category B
2026]
Q7: A technician finds caterpillars and beetles feeding on landscape plants, creating
holes in leaves and stems. What type of mouthparts do these insects possess?
, A. Piercing-sucking
B. Sponging
C. Chewing [CORRECT]
D. Siphoning
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Caterpillars and beetles possess chewing mouthparts that physically remove
plant tissue. Piercing-sucking mouthparts are found in aphids and true bugs, sponging
mouthparts are characteristic of house flies, and siphoning mouthparts are found in
adult butterflies and moths. [100% VERIFIED – California DPR QAC Category B 2026]
Q8: A technician is studying the life cycle of a butterfly pest in the landscape. Which
sequence correctly represents complete metamorphosis?
A. Egg, nymph, adult
B. Egg, larva, pupa, adult [CORRECT]
C. Egg, pupa, larva, adult
D. Egg, instar, nymph, adult
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Complete metamorphosis consists of four distinct life stages: egg, larva,
pupa, and adult. Incomplete metamorphosis follows egg, nymph, adult. The sequence
must be in the correct developmental order for complete metamorphosis. [100%
VERIFIED – California DPR QAC Category B 2026]
Q9: A landscape professional is assessing plant damage and must determine whether
the problem is caused by a living organism or an environmental factor. Which term
describes plant disorders that cannot be transmitted between plants?
A. Biotic diseases
B. Abiotic problems [CORRECT]
C. Viral infections
D. Bacterial wilts
Comprehensive Practice Test with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
SECTION 1: Pest Identification & Biology (Q1–Q25)
Q1: A landscape technician observes small, soft-bodied insects clustered on the
undersides of rose leaves, sucking plant juices and producing honeydew. These insects
belong to which insect order?
A. Coleoptera
B. Lepidoptera
C. Homoptera [CORRECT]
D. Hymenoptera
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Aphids and whiteflies are members of the order Homoptera, characterized by
piercing-sucking mouthparts that extract juices from plant cells. Coleoptera (beetles)
have chewing mouthparts, Lepidoptera includes caterpillars with chewing mouthparts,
and Hymenoptera includes ants, bees, and wasps. [100% VERIFIED – California DPR
QAC Category B 2026]
Q2: During a routine inspection, a technician notices thrips feeding on landscape
ornamentals and suspects they may be transmitting a plant disease. Thrips belong to
which insect order?
A. Hymenoptera
B. Thysanoptera [CORRECT]
C. Diptera
D. Orthoptera
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Thrips belong to the order Thysanoptera, which is specifically known to
transmit some plant diseases. Hymenoptera includes ants and bees, Diptera includes
flies, and Orthoptera includes grasshoppers and crickets. [100% VERIFIED – California
DPR QAC Category B 2026]
Q3: A technician is asked to identify the immature stage between molts of a developing
insect. What is the correct term for this stage?
A. Pupa
B. Instar [CORRECT]
C. Nymph
D. Larva
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Immature stages of insects between molts are called instars. A pupa is the
non-feeding transformation stage in complete metamorphosis, a nymph is the
immature form in incomplete metamorphosis, and larva is the feeding immature stage
in complete metamorphosis. [100% VERIFIED – California DPR QAC Category B 2026]
Q4: While monitoring a landscape bed, a technician finds ants tending aphids on a
shrub. To which insect order do ants belong?
A. Isoptera
B. Coleoptera
C. Hymenoptera [CORRECT]
D. Hemiptera
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ants belong to the insect order Hymenoptera, which also includes bees and
wasps. Isoptera includes termites, Coleoptera includes beetles, and Hemiptera includes
true bugs. [100% VERIFIED – California DPR QAC Category B 2026]
,Q5: A landscape manager discovers true bugs feeding on the living tissues of
ornamental plants. These insects belong to which order?
A. Homoptera
B. Heteroptera [CORRECT]
C. Thysanoptera
D. Neuroptera
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: True bugs that are pests of living plants belong to the order Heteroptera.
Homoptera includes aphids and whiteflies, Thysanoptera includes thrips, and
Neuroptera includes lacewings (which are beneficial predators, not pests). [100%
VERIFIED – California DPR QAC Category B 2026]
Q6: A technician observes tiny arthropods causing leaf stippling on a landscape
planting. The leaves show a characteristic speckled, silvered appearance. These pests
are most likely:
A. Caterpillars
B. Beetles
C. Mites [CORRECT]
D. Aphids
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Mites are arthropods that cause leaf stippling—a characteristic speckled or
silvered damage pattern. Caterpillars and beetles have chewing mouthparts causing
holes or defoliation, while aphids cause curling, yellowing, and honeydew production
through piercing-sucking feeding. [100% VERIFIED – California DPR QAC Category B
2026]
Q7: A technician finds caterpillars and beetles feeding on landscape plants, creating
holes in leaves and stems. What type of mouthparts do these insects possess?
, A. Piercing-sucking
B. Sponging
C. Chewing [CORRECT]
D. Siphoning
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Caterpillars and beetles possess chewing mouthparts that physically remove
plant tissue. Piercing-sucking mouthparts are found in aphids and true bugs, sponging
mouthparts are characteristic of house flies, and siphoning mouthparts are found in
adult butterflies and moths. [100% VERIFIED – California DPR QAC Category B 2026]
Q8: A technician is studying the life cycle of a butterfly pest in the landscape. Which
sequence correctly represents complete metamorphosis?
A. Egg, nymph, adult
B. Egg, larva, pupa, adult [CORRECT]
C. Egg, pupa, larva, adult
D. Egg, instar, nymph, adult
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Complete metamorphosis consists of four distinct life stages: egg, larva,
pupa, and adult. Incomplete metamorphosis follows egg, nymph, adult. The sequence
must be in the correct developmental order for complete metamorphosis. [100%
VERIFIED – California DPR QAC Category B 2026]
Q9: A landscape professional is assessing plant damage and must determine whether
the problem is caused by a living organism or an environmental factor. Which term
describes plant disorders that cannot be transmitted between plants?
A. Biotic diseases
B. Abiotic problems [CORRECT]
C. Viral infections
D. Bacterial wilts
