Alberta Livestock Biting Fly Management
(2026 Edition)Comprehensive Alberta
Livestock Pest Management Certification
Practice ExamLatest Livestock Biting Fly
Control Principles | High-Difficulty Multiple-
Choice Questions | Verified Answers |
Detailed Rationales in Italics | Cattle, Horses,
Sheep & Integrated Pest Management
Question 1
Which biting fly causes the greatest economic losses to
Alberta's grazing cattle because it feeds multiple times each
day?
A. Stable fly
B. Deer fly
C. Horn fly
D. Horse fly
,Answer: C. Horn fly
Rationale: Horn flies remain on cattle almost continuously and
take numerous blood meals daily, reducing weight gain and
milk production while increasing animal stress.
Question 2
Stable flies most commonly feed on which area of cattle?
A. Neck
B. Face
C. Back
D. Lower legs
Answer: D. Lower legs
Rationale: Stable flies characteristically feed on the legs and
lower abdomen, causing cattle to bunch together and stamp
their feet.
Question 3
An integrated pest management (IPM) program emphasizes:
A. Weekly insecticide spraying only
B. Eliminating all insects
C. Combining monitoring, sanitation, biological control, and
,selective pesticide use
D. Using the strongest available insecticide every season
Answer: C. Combining monitoring, sanitation, biological
control, and selective pesticide use
Rationale: IPM reduces economic damage while minimizing
pesticide resistance and environmental impacts.
Question 4
Horn fly populations generally increase when:
A. Snow covers pastures
B. Fresh cattle manure is abundant
C. Pastures are flooded
D. Hay is stored indoors
Answer: B. Fresh cattle manure is abundant
Rationale: Horn fly larvae develop exclusively in fresh cattle
manure deposited in pastures.
Question 5
Which fly develops primarily in decaying organic matter mixed
with manure rather than fresh manure alone?
, A. Horn fly
B. Black fly
C. Stable fly
D. Mosquito
Answer: C. Stable fly
Rationale: Stable flies breed in decomposing vegetation mixed
with manure, such as old hay and bedding.
Question 6
Economic thresholds are used to determine:
A. The legal pesticide limit
B. The number of cattle to sell
C. When fly populations justify treatment
D. The age of replacement heifers
Answer: C. When fly populations justify treatment
Rationale: Treatments are recommended only when pest
populations exceed levels likely to cause economic losses.
Question 7
Which management practice helps reduce stable fly breeding
around feedlots?
(2026 Edition)Comprehensive Alberta
Livestock Pest Management Certification
Practice ExamLatest Livestock Biting Fly
Control Principles | High-Difficulty Multiple-
Choice Questions | Verified Answers |
Detailed Rationales in Italics | Cattle, Horses,
Sheep & Integrated Pest Management
Question 1
Which biting fly causes the greatest economic losses to
Alberta's grazing cattle because it feeds multiple times each
day?
A. Stable fly
B. Deer fly
C. Horn fly
D. Horse fly
,Answer: C. Horn fly
Rationale: Horn flies remain on cattle almost continuously and
take numerous blood meals daily, reducing weight gain and
milk production while increasing animal stress.
Question 2
Stable flies most commonly feed on which area of cattle?
A. Neck
B. Face
C. Back
D. Lower legs
Answer: D. Lower legs
Rationale: Stable flies characteristically feed on the legs and
lower abdomen, causing cattle to bunch together and stamp
their feet.
Question 3
An integrated pest management (IPM) program emphasizes:
A. Weekly insecticide spraying only
B. Eliminating all insects
C. Combining monitoring, sanitation, biological control, and
,selective pesticide use
D. Using the strongest available insecticide every season
Answer: C. Combining monitoring, sanitation, biological
control, and selective pesticide use
Rationale: IPM reduces economic damage while minimizing
pesticide resistance and environmental impacts.
Question 4
Horn fly populations generally increase when:
A. Snow covers pastures
B. Fresh cattle manure is abundant
C. Pastures are flooded
D. Hay is stored indoors
Answer: B. Fresh cattle manure is abundant
Rationale: Horn fly larvae develop exclusively in fresh cattle
manure deposited in pastures.
Question 5
Which fly develops primarily in decaying organic matter mixed
with manure rather than fresh manure alone?
, A. Horn fly
B. Black fly
C. Stable fly
D. Mosquito
Answer: C. Stable fly
Rationale: Stable flies breed in decomposing vegetation mixed
with manure, such as old hay and bedding.
Question 6
Economic thresholds are used to determine:
A. The legal pesticide limit
B. The number of cattle to sell
C. When fly populations justify treatment
D. The age of replacement heifers
Answer: C. When fly populations justify treatment
Rationale: Treatments are recommended only when pest
populations exceed levels likely to cause economic losses.
Question 7
Which management practice helps reduce stable fly breeding
around feedlots?
