Texas Pest Control Category Exam
NEWEST 2026 UPDATE — ACTUAL
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS |
ALREADY GRADED A+
Question 1
What is the primary scope of the Texas Structural Pest Control Pest Control
category?
A. Control of weeds in agricultural fields
B. Control of termites by structural fumigation only
C. Inspection and control of pests in and around structures
D. Preservation of utility poles with wood preservatives
Correct Answer: C. Inspection and control of pests in and around structures
Rationale: The Texas Department of Agriculture defines the Pest Control category
as inspection and/or control of pests in and around homes, businesses, and
industries. It includes common structural insect and vertebrate pests that
generally do not attack the structure itself.
Question 2
Which group contains pests specifically identified by TDA as examples within the
Pest Control category?
A. Cockroaches, ants, flies, rats, and mice
B. Termites, carpenter ants, and powderpost beetles only
C. Turfgrass diseases and weeds
D. Structural fumigants and stored grains
Correct Answer: A. Cockroaches, ants, flies, rats, and mice
,Rationale: TDA specifically identifies cockroaches, silverfish, ants, flies,
mosquitoes, rats, mice, and similar pests as examples covered by the Pest Control
category.
Question 3
What is the first step in an effective pest management program?
A. Apply a pesticide immediately
B. Identify the pest and determine the nature of the problem
C. Increase the pesticide concentration
D. Treat every room in the structure
Correct Answer: B. Identify the pest and determine the nature of the problem
Rationale: Correct identification is fundamental to pest management because the
biology, behavior, habitat, and appropriate control methods vary among pest
species.
Question 4
What is the main purpose of an inspection before treatment?
A. To determine where and why pest activity is occurring
B. To determine which pesticide has the strongest odor
C. To guarantee that every pest will be eliminated immediately
D. To eliminate the need for monitoring
Correct Answer: A. To determine where and why pest activity is occurring
Rationale: Inspection helps locate pests, evidence of activity, food and water
sources, harborage areas, and conditions contributing to the infestation. This
information guides appropriate control measures.
Question 5
Which practice is an example of exclusion?
,A. Applying an insecticide to a baseboard
B. Placing bait inside a trap
C. Sealing an opening through which pests can enter
D. Increasing the amount of food available to pests
Correct Answer: C. Sealing an opening through which pests can enter
Rationale: Exclusion prevents pests from entering or re-entering a structure by
closing access points such as cracks, gaps, and openings.
Question 6
Why is sanitation important in structural pest management?
A. It can reduce food and water sources that support pest populations
B. It makes pesticides unnecessary in every situation
C. It increases pest reproduction
D. It guarantees that pests cannot enter a building
Correct Answer: A. It can reduce food and water sources that support pest
populations
Rationale: Good sanitation removes or reduces resources that pests need for
survival. This can make an area less favorable to pests and improve the
effectiveness of other control measures.
Question 7
Which approach best represents integrated pest management (IPM)?
A. Using pesticides for every pest sighting
B. Combining monitoring, prevention, nonchemical methods, and appropriate
pesticide use
C. Treating an entire property on a fixed schedule regardless of pest activity
D. Eliminating inspections once a pesticide is selected
Correct Answer: B. Combining monitoring, prevention, nonchemical methods,
and appropriate pesticide use
, Rationale: IPM uses information about the pest and its environment to select
effective control measures, including preventive, physical, cultural, biological, and
chemical approaches when appropriate.
Question 8
A technician finds cockroaches around a leaking pipe under a sink. Which
corrective action addresses a contributing environmental condition?
A. Repairing the leak
B. Increasing room humidity
C. Leaving food debris in the area
D. Removing all monitoring records
Correct Answer: A. Repairing the leak
Rationale: Moisture can support cockroach activity. Correcting the plumbing leak
reduces an important resource and is an example of environmental modification
as part of IPM.
Question 9
Which characteristic is typical of insects?
A. Three pairs of legs in the adult stage
B. Four pairs of legs
C. Eight pairs of legs
D. No body segmentation
Correct Answer: A. Three pairs of legs in the adult stage
Rationale: Adult insects have three pairs of legs and three primary body regions:
head, thorax, and abdomen.
Question 10
Which characteristic distinguishes spiders from insects?
NEWEST 2026 UPDATE — ACTUAL
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS |
ALREADY GRADED A+
Question 1
What is the primary scope of the Texas Structural Pest Control Pest Control
category?
A. Control of weeds in agricultural fields
B. Control of termites by structural fumigation only
C. Inspection and control of pests in and around structures
D. Preservation of utility poles with wood preservatives
Correct Answer: C. Inspection and control of pests in and around structures
Rationale: The Texas Department of Agriculture defines the Pest Control category
as inspection and/or control of pests in and around homes, businesses, and
industries. It includes common structural insect and vertebrate pests that
generally do not attack the structure itself.
Question 2
Which group contains pests specifically identified by TDA as examples within the
Pest Control category?
A. Cockroaches, ants, flies, rats, and mice
B. Termites, carpenter ants, and powderpost beetles only
C. Turfgrass diseases and weeds
D. Structural fumigants and stored grains
Correct Answer: A. Cockroaches, ants, flies, rats, and mice
,Rationale: TDA specifically identifies cockroaches, silverfish, ants, flies,
mosquitoes, rats, mice, and similar pests as examples covered by the Pest Control
category.
Question 3
What is the first step in an effective pest management program?
A. Apply a pesticide immediately
B. Identify the pest and determine the nature of the problem
C. Increase the pesticide concentration
D. Treat every room in the structure
Correct Answer: B. Identify the pest and determine the nature of the problem
Rationale: Correct identification is fundamental to pest management because the
biology, behavior, habitat, and appropriate control methods vary among pest
species.
Question 4
What is the main purpose of an inspection before treatment?
A. To determine where and why pest activity is occurring
B. To determine which pesticide has the strongest odor
C. To guarantee that every pest will be eliminated immediately
D. To eliminate the need for monitoring
Correct Answer: A. To determine where and why pest activity is occurring
Rationale: Inspection helps locate pests, evidence of activity, food and water
sources, harborage areas, and conditions contributing to the infestation. This
information guides appropriate control measures.
Question 5
Which practice is an example of exclusion?
,A. Applying an insecticide to a baseboard
B. Placing bait inside a trap
C. Sealing an opening through which pests can enter
D. Increasing the amount of food available to pests
Correct Answer: C. Sealing an opening through which pests can enter
Rationale: Exclusion prevents pests from entering or re-entering a structure by
closing access points such as cracks, gaps, and openings.
Question 6
Why is sanitation important in structural pest management?
A. It can reduce food and water sources that support pest populations
B. It makes pesticides unnecessary in every situation
C. It increases pest reproduction
D. It guarantees that pests cannot enter a building
Correct Answer: A. It can reduce food and water sources that support pest
populations
Rationale: Good sanitation removes or reduces resources that pests need for
survival. This can make an area less favorable to pests and improve the
effectiveness of other control measures.
Question 7
Which approach best represents integrated pest management (IPM)?
A. Using pesticides for every pest sighting
B. Combining monitoring, prevention, nonchemical methods, and appropriate
pesticide use
C. Treating an entire property on a fixed schedule regardless of pest activity
D. Eliminating inspections once a pesticide is selected
Correct Answer: B. Combining monitoring, prevention, nonchemical methods,
and appropriate pesticide use
, Rationale: IPM uses information about the pest and its environment to select
effective control measures, including preventive, physical, cultural, biological, and
chemical approaches when appropriate.
Question 8
A technician finds cockroaches around a leaking pipe under a sink. Which
corrective action addresses a contributing environmental condition?
A. Repairing the leak
B. Increasing room humidity
C. Leaving food debris in the area
D. Removing all monitoring records
Correct Answer: A. Repairing the leak
Rationale: Moisture can support cockroach activity. Correcting the plumbing leak
reduces an important resource and is an example of environmental modification
as part of IPM.
Question 9
Which characteristic is typical of insects?
A. Three pairs of legs in the adult stage
B. Four pairs of legs
C. Eight pairs of legs
D. No body segmentation
Correct Answer: A. Three pairs of legs in the adult stage
Rationale: Adult insects have three pairs of legs and three primary body regions:
head, thorax, and abdomen.
Question 10
Which characteristic distinguishes spiders from insects?
