South Carolina Core Pest Control Exam
What is the first thing you should do when you detect the Identify the pest to be sure you know exactly what the problem is
presence if a pest that you think you may need to control?
How can pest identification help you develop a good pest allows you to determine basic info about it, including life cycle and time that it is
control strategy? most susceptible to being controlled
Explain the differences between continuous pests, Continuous Pests are always present, sporadic pests are
sporadic pests, and potential pests migratory/cyclical/occasional, potential are organisms that are not pests under
normal conditions
Explain what is meant by prevention, suppression, and Prevention: keeping a pest from becoming a problem, Suppression: is reducing the
eradication of pests. pest # or damage to acceptable level, Eradication: destroying an entire population
What is threshold? the level of pest populations at which you must take pest control action to prevent
unacceptable damage or injury
Why should you consider thresholds when you develop a Can improve your pest control strategy by helping you make a decision about when
pest control strategy? to begin control tactics
Describe pest monitoring and explain how it can be Monitoring is checking or scouting for pests in an area to determine what pests are
important to pest control strategy. present, how many of each kind are in the area, and how much damage they are
causing. It is important because it helps determine if the threshold has been
reached and whether control measures are effective.
Define Integrated Pest Management (IPM) the combining of appropriate pest control tactics into a single plan to reduce pests
and their damage to an acceptable level.
List several possible control tactics that may be used in an host resistance, biological control, cultural control mechanical control, sanitation and
IPM strategy chemical control
You applied a pesticide, but it did not control the pest. pest resistance, choosing the wrong pesticide, misidentifying the pest, applying the
Name three reasons why your control effort might have wrong amount, or applying it incorrectly.
failed.
What can you do to keep the pests you are trying to control using integrated pest management and rotating the types of pesticides used.
from becoming resistant to the pesticides you use?
Explain the difference between the terms "label" and Label: information printed on or attached to the pesticide container. Labeling:
"labeling" includes the label itself, plus all other information you receive from the manufacturer
about the product when you buy it
What do the words "Restricted Use Pesticide" tell you means that the product has been shown to be liely to harm people or environment if
about the pesticide product? not used correctly, can only be purchased and used by certified applicators
Where would you look to find out whether a pesticide is "Restricted Use Pesticide" will appear in a box on the front panel of the label
classified as Restricted Use?
Explain the difference between chemical name, common Chemical: complex name that identified the chemical components and structure.
name, and brand name. Common: shorter name that they EPA recognizes as a substitute. Brand name: a
trademark used by chemical company to identify a product.
, South Carolina Core Pest Control Exam
Which term should you use to most accurately identify a Common name
pesticide product?
Name and explain the meaning of the signal words and Caution: slightly toxic. Warning: moderately toxic. Danger: highly toxic. Poison:
symbols you may see on a pesticide product. skull/crossbones, highly toxic as a poison.
Can you use the signal word on a pesticide label to judge they describe likelihood of ACUTE side effects, not delayed effects or allergic
the likelihood of suffering acute, delayed or allergic effects effects.
if you are overexposed to the product? Explain.
What types of hazard statements should you look for in the precautions about hazards to humans, environmentm, and physical/chemical
pesticide labeling? hazards
What types of precautionary statements may be included Acute effects precautions, delayed effects, allergic effects, personal protective
in the labeling section titled "Hazards to Humans"? equipment requirements
What is the meaning of the statement: "It is a violation of it is illegal to use a pesticide in any way not permitted by the labeling
Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent
with its labeling"?
Does the pesticide label contain all the instructions and Some have all necessary instructions, others may have more instructions and
directions for use that you need to use the product safely directions in other labeling that accompanies the product
and legally?
What is a pesticide formulation? mixture of active ingredient and inert ingredients that forms an end-use pesticide
product. a formulated pesticide will contain both an active ingredient to control the
target pest and a carrier or diluent. many also contain adjuvants and other
ingredients such as stabilizers or dyes.
What is the difference between active ingredients and inert Active: the chemicals that control pests. Inert: are the chemicals that are added to
ingredients? make the product safer, more effective, easier to measure, mix and apply
What types of factors should you consider when you have do you have the right application equipment, can you apply it safely, will it reach the
a choice of formulations for a pest control task? target and stay in place, will it harm the target site
If you had a choice of either a wettable powder formulation 1) granular, lower drift hazard
or a granular formulation for a particular pest control task, 2) Wettable, granular do not stick to non level surfaces
which would be best if drift were a major concern? Which
would be best if you need the pesticide to stay on a
surface that is not level, such as foliage?
If you had a choice of either a wettable powder or an 1) wettable powder, as EC can be corrosive
emulsifiable concentrate for a particular pest management 2) EC, wettable powder does not mix well in hard or alkaline water
task, which would be better if you were concerned about
harming the treated surface?
Which would be better if you were diluting with very hard or
alkaline water?
Why are adjuvants sometimes added to pesticide to increase its effectiveness or safety
formulations?
What type(s) of adjuvants should you consider for reducing 1) foaming agents and thickeners help to reduce drit
drift? for coating a surface evenly? when you wish to 2) spreaders help to coat the treated surface with even layer
combine two or more pesticides for one application? 3) compatibility agents to combine
What is the first thing you should do when you detect the Identify the pest to be sure you know exactly what the problem is
presence if a pest that you think you may need to control?
How can pest identification help you develop a good pest allows you to determine basic info about it, including life cycle and time that it is
control strategy? most susceptible to being controlled
Explain the differences between continuous pests, Continuous Pests are always present, sporadic pests are
sporadic pests, and potential pests migratory/cyclical/occasional, potential are organisms that are not pests under
normal conditions
Explain what is meant by prevention, suppression, and Prevention: keeping a pest from becoming a problem, Suppression: is reducing the
eradication of pests. pest # or damage to acceptable level, Eradication: destroying an entire population
What is threshold? the level of pest populations at which you must take pest control action to prevent
unacceptable damage or injury
Why should you consider thresholds when you develop a Can improve your pest control strategy by helping you make a decision about when
pest control strategy? to begin control tactics
Describe pest monitoring and explain how it can be Monitoring is checking or scouting for pests in an area to determine what pests are
important to pest control strategy. present, how many of each kind are in the area, and how much damage they are
causing. It is important because it helps determine if the threshold has been
reached and whether control measures are effective.
Define Integrated Pest Management (IPM) the combining of appropriate pest control tactics into a single plan to reduce pests
and their damage to an acceptable level.
List several possible control tactics that may be used in an host resistance, biological control, cultural control mechanical control, sanitation and
IPM strategy chemical control
You applied a pesticide, but it did not control the pest. pest resistance, choosing the wrong pesticide, misidentifying the pest, applying the
Name three reasons why your control effort might have wrong amount, or applying it incorrectly.
failed.
What can you do to keep the pests you are trying to control using integrated pest management and rotating the types of pesticides used.
from becoming resistant to the pesticides you use?
Explain the difference between the terms "label" and Label: information printed on or attached to the pesticide container. Labeling:
"labeling" includes the label itself, plus all other information you receive from the manufacturer
about the product when you buy it
What do the words "Restricted Use Pesticide" tell you means that the product has been shown to be liely to harm people or environment if
about the pesticide product? not used correctly, can only be purchased and used by certified applicators
Where would you look to find out whether a pesticide is "Restricted Use Pesticide" will appear in a box on the front panel of the label
classified as Restricted Use?
Explain the difference between chemical name, common Chemical: complex name that identified the chemical components and structure.
name, and brand name. Common: shorter name that they EPA recognizes as a substitute. Brand name: a
trademark used by chemical company to identify a product.
, South Carolina Core Pest Control Exam
Which term should you use to most accurately identify a Common name
pesticide product?
Name and explain the meaning of the signal words and Caution: slightly toxic. Warning: moderately toxic. Danger: highly toxic. Poison:
symbols you may see on a pesticide product. skull/crossbones, highly toxic as a poison.
Can you use the signal word on a pesticide label to judge they describe likelihood of ACUTE side effects, not delayed effects or allergic
the likelihood of suffering acute, delayed or allergic effects effects.
if you are overexposed to the product? Explain.
What types of hazard statements should you look for in the precautions about hazards to humans, environmentm, and physical/chemical
pesticide labeling? hazards
What types of precautionary statements may be included Acute effects precautions, delayed effects, allergic effects, personal protective
in the labeling section titled "Hazards to Humans"? equipment requirements
What is the meaning of the statement: "It is a violation of it is illegal to use a pesticide in any way not permitted by the labeling
Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent
with its labeling"?
Does the pesticide label contain all the instructions and Some have all necessary instructions, others may have more instructions and
directions for use that you need to use the product safely directions in other labeling that accompanies the product
and legally?
What is a pesticide formulation? mixture of active ingredient and inert ingredients that forms an end-use pesticide
product. a formulated pesticide will contain both an active ingredient to control the
target pest and a carrier or diluent. many also contain adjuvants and other
ingredients such as stabilizers or dyes.
What is the difference between active ingredients and inert Active: the chemicals that control pests. Inert: are the chemicals that are added to
ingredients? make the product safer, more effective, easier to measure, mix and apply
What types of factors should you consider when you have do you have the right application equipment, can you apply it safely, will it reach the
a choice of formulations for a pest control task? target and stay in place, will it harm the target site
If you had a choice of either a wettable powder formulation 1) granular, lower drift hazard
or a granular formulation for a particular pest control task, 2) Wettable, granular do not stick to non level surfaces
which would be best if drift were a major concern? Which
would be best if you need the pesticide to stay on a
surface that is not level, such as foliage?
If you had a choice of either a wettable powder or an 1) wettable powder, as EC can be corrosive
emulsifiable concentrate for a particular pest management 2) EC, wettable powder does not mix well in hard or alkaline water
task, which would be better if you were concerned about
harming the treated surface?
Which would be better if you were diluting with very hard or
alkaline water?
Why are adjuvants sometimes added to pesticide to increase its effectiveness or safety
formulations?
What type(s) of adjuvants should you consider for reducing 1) foaming agents and thickeners help to reduce drit
drift? for coating a surface evenly? when you wish to 2) spreaders help to coat the treated surface with even layer
combine two or more pesticides for one application? 3) compatibility agents to combine
