PCA INSECTS EXAMINATION TEST PAPER
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ How do piercing sucking mouthparts differ from other types of
mouthparts? Answer: mandible and maxillae are modified into stylets
⩥ Which type of insect is most often killed when it feeds on plants
treated with pesticides? Answer: leafhoppers
⩥ White flies are one of the primary targets for which of these natural
enemies? Answer: Encarsia formosa
⩥ Hyposoter spp. are parasites of dozens of different types of? Answer:
caterpillars
⩥ Transgenic plants for control of arthropod pests have been developed?
Answer: Bacillus thuringiensis
⩥ As originally devised, the main objective of the sterile insect
technique is? Answer: eradication
,⩥ Which statement describes an invasive species? Answer: a non-native
species that is likely to cause harm
⩥ Which insect mortality factor is sometimes density-dependent?
Answer: action of natural enemies
⩥ Which of these insects is an example of a predator? Answer:
ichneumon wasp
⩥ Most adult slugs and snails feed on which of these? Answer: both
living and dead plant matter
⩥ Which of these outcomes can be reduced by harvesting alfalfa hay a
few days early? Answer: presence of virus vectoring aphids
⩥ Stippling is most common with insects that have? Answer: piercing
sucking mouthparts
⩥ An insects exoskeleton protects it against? Answer: desiccation
⩥ The body regions of a spider include the? Answer: abdomen and
cephalothorax
,⩥ Which statement best describes the difference between wing
development in nymphs and larvae? Answer: wings develop outside the
body of nymphs while inside the body of larvae
⩥ Which environment is most limiting when natural enemies are being
introduced? Answer: annual row crops
⩥ Larvae of which pest penetrate into apples and pears, tunneling to the
Core and leaving holes filled with reddish brown, crumbly frass?
Answer: codling moth
⩥ The feeding damage and webbing on these apricots was most likely
caused by? Answer: European earwig
⩥ Reproduction in the absence of male gamete is called? Answer:
parthenogenesis
⩥ In what way do parasitoids differ from predators? Answer: Parasitoids
live on or within their hosts while immature, and predators are always
free living
⩥ The control of Cottony cushion scale by the vedalia beetle is an
example of which type of control? Answer: Classical Biological Control
, ⩥ Which insect undergoes complete metamorphosis? Answer:
Butterflies, flies, beetles, bees, wasps, ants, and fleas
⩥ What insects can reproduce asexually? Answer: Stick insects
(Phasmatodea), Soybean aphids, water fleas (Daphnia sp.), and
nematodes
⩥ Which of these pests has gradual metamorphosis? Answer: termites
⩥ During which stage are plants least able to compensate for injury
caused by insect pests? Answer: when fruit is forming
⩥ What group of arthropods is often controlled with baits? Answer:
slugs
⩥ Why does the development rate of insects increase when the
temperature increases within their species-specific threshold? Answer:
chemical reaction occur more frequently and proceed more rapidly at
higher temperatures
⩥ Which of these techniques can be used to minimize secondary pest
outbreaks? Answer: applying a selective insecticide
⩥ Which application technique conserves natural enemies most
effectively? Answer: spot treatments
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ How do piercing sucking mouthparts differ from other types of
mouthparts? Answer: mandible and maxillae are modified into stylets
⩥ Which type of insect is most often killed when it feeds on plants
treated with pesticides? Answer: leafhoppers
⩥ White flies are one of the primary targets for which of these natural
enemies? Answer: Encarsia formosa
⩥ Hyposoter spp. are parasites of dozens of different types of? Answer:
caterpillars
⩥ Transgenic plants for control of arthropod pests have been developed?
Answer: Bacillus thuringiensis
⩥ As originally devised, the main objective of the sterile insect
technique is? Answer: eradication
,⩥ Which statement describes an invasive species? Answer: a non-native
species that is likely to cause harm
⩥ Which insect mortality factor is sometimes density-dependent?
Answer: action of natural enemies
⩥ Which of these insects is an example of a predator? Answer:
ichneumon wasp
⩥ Most adult slugs and snails feed on which of these? Answer: both
living and dead plant matter
⩥ Which of these outcomes can be reduced by harvesting alfalfa hay a
few days early? Answer: presence of virus vectoring aphids
⩥ Stippling is most common with insects that have? Answer: piercing
sucking mouthparts
⩥ An insects exoskeleton protects it against? Answer: desiccation
⩥ The body regions of a spider include the? Answer: abdomen and
cephalothorax
,⩥ Which statement best describes the difference between wing
development in nymphs and larvae? Answer: wings develop outside the
body of nymphs while inside the body of larvae
⩥ Which environment is most limiting when natural enemies are being
introduced? Answer: annual row crops
⩥ Larvae of which pest penetrate into apples and pears, tunneling to the
Core and leaving holes filled with reddish brown, crumbly frass?
Answer: codling moth
⩥ The feeding damage and webbing on these apricots was most likely
caused by? Answer: European earwig
⩥ Reproduction in the absence of male gamete is called? Answer:
parthenogenesis
⩥ In what way do parasitoids differ from predators? Answer: Parasitoids
live on or within their hosts while immature, and predators are always
free living
⩥ The control of Cottony cushion scale by the vedalia beetle is an
example of which type of control? Answer: Classical Biological Control
, ⩥ Which insect undergoes complete metamorphosis? Answer:
Butterflies, flies, beetles, bees, wasps, ants, and fleas
⩥ What insects can reproduce asexually? Answer: Stick insects
(Phasmatodea), Soybean aphids, water fleas (Daphnia sp.), and
nematodes
⩥ Which of these pests has gradual metamorphosis? Answer: termites
⩥ During which stage are plants least able to compensate for injury
caused by insect pests? Answer: when fruit is forming
⩥ What group of arthropods is often controlled with baits? Answer:
slugs
⩥ Why does the development rate of insects increase when the
temperature increases within their species-specific threshold? Answer:
chemical reaction occur more frequently and proceed more rapidly at
higher temperatures
⩥ Which of these techniques can be used to minimize secondary pest
outbreaks? Answer: applying a selective insecticide
⩥ Which application technique conserves natural enemies most
effectively? Answer: spot treatments