PCA-A-INSECTS PART I TEST 2025-2026
GUIDE
1. Ecdysis Once the new cuticle is complete and digested material
is absorbed them the process of shedding the remain-
der of the old cuticle starts
2. Gradual/incomplete metamor- Egg Nymph Adult
phosis
3. Complete metamorphosis Undergo egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Larva will grow and
molt several times.
4. Nymph Resemble adults but lack fully formed wings and exter-
nal genitalia and goes through instars.
5. Larvae Dittrent forms than adults they lack compound eyes,
reduced antennae and lack external wings. They grow
by molting to the pupa stage.
6. Aestivation Period of summer dormancy. Thier development is
stopped reduced metabolism they are able to tolerate
high temperatures and increase their ability to maintain
water balance.
7. Allomones Produce chemicals that benefit the organism it gives of
defensive secretion irritating substance.
8. Degree Days Used to track insect development at ditterent tempera-
tures install phase between two periods of molting in
the development of an insect larva.
9. Semiochemicals Pheromone or other chemicals that convey a signal from
one organism to another so as to modify the behavior of
the recipient organism.
10. Polyphagous Insect
, PCA-A-INSECTS PART I TEST 2025-2026
GUIDE
Pest are the most destructive group of insects and pest
in Ag (army worm Cotton Bollworm)
11. Monophagous Restricts itself to a single host species Vadalia beetle
12. Perfectly density-dependent fac- Never fails to control the increase in the population
tors numbers
13. Imperfectly density dependent A parasitoid is ettective in limiting size of a insects pop-
factor ulation and the action of the parasite acts in a density
dependent manner.
14. Trophic Structure Feeding relationships between ditterent organisms
both producers and consumers within a set area and
time
15. Parasite Organisms that feed in or on large host organisms
16. Parasitoid arthropods that parasitize and kills an arthropod pest
17. Predator Free living organisms that feed on other animals their
prey devouring them completely
18. Chewing mouth parts damage on leaves or stems ragged with edges holes or
missing tissues
19. Piercing sucking mouth parts move laterally often causing yellowing or browning and
wilting
20. Direct injury losses occur when insects feed on potentially har-
vestable produce eliminating it or causes devaluation
21. Indirect injury insects feed on roots, stems, and leaves causing decline
in quality and quantity
, PCA-A-INSECTS PART I TEST 2025-2026
GUIDE
22. Honeydew damage Aphids mealybugs whitefly
23. Economic Injury Level Lowest number pests that will cause an amount of injury
equal to the cost of the applied control practices
24. Aesthetic injury level a commodity is considered the motivation rather than
the the economic value
25. Treatment Threshold Pathogens is increased because many fungicides only
prevent infection and do not eradicate infestation
26. Economic threshold Number of insects that should trigger management ac-
tion
27. Patterns of distribution common Uniform, random, clumped
to insect population
28. Sampling method from the in- Ability to move, its motility is a major factor in how to
sects distribution determine your sampling method.
29. Absolute sampling measure the total pest population in a given area
30. Relative sampling Reliable and consistent estimate of pest infestation in a
minimum amount of time.
31. Squential sampling increase sampling eflciency it requires fewer samples to
arrive at a decision
32. Invasive species Meditrian Fruit Fly Asian citrus psyllid, HLB disease, vine
mealy bug.
33. Phylloxera Alfalfa resistant to blue aphid
34. Bio Types Used for insect population that overcome plant resis-
tance
GUIDE
1. Ecdysis Once the new cuticle is complete and digested material
is absorbed them the process of shedding the remain-
der of the old cuticle starts
2. Gradual/incomplete metamor- Egg Nymph Adult
phosis
3. Complete metamorphosis Undergo egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Larva will grow and
molt several times.
4. Nymph Resemble adults but lack fully formed wings and exter-
nal genitalia and goes through instars.
5. Larvae Dittrent forms than adults they lack compound eyes,
reduced antennae and lack external wings. They grow
by molting to the pupa stage.
6. Aestivation Period of summer dormancy. Thier development is
stopped reduced metabolism they are able to tolerate
high temperatures and increase their ability to maintain
water balance.
7. Allomones Produce chemicals that benefit the organism it gives of
defensive secretion irritating substance.
8. Degree Days Used to track insect development at ditterent tempera-
tures install phase between two periods of molting in
the development of an insect larva.
9. Semiochemicals Pheromone or other chemicals that convey a signal from
one organism to another so as to modify the behavior of
the recipient organism.
10. Polyphagous Insect
, PCA-A-INSECTS PART I TEST 2025-2026
GUIDE
Pest are the most destructive group of insects and pest
in Ag (army worm Cotton Bollworm)
11. Monophagous Restricts itself to a single host species Vadalia beetle
12. Perfectly density-dependent fac- Never fails to control the increase in the population
tors numbers
13. Imperfectly density dependent A parasitoid is ettective in limiting size of a insects pop-
factor ulation and the action of the parasite acts in a density
dependent manner.
14. Trophic Structure Feeding relationships between ditterent organisms
both producers and consumers within a set area and
time
15. Parasite Organisms that feed in or on large host organisms
16. Parasitoid arthropods that parasitize and kills an arthropod pest
17. Predator Free living organisms that feed on other animals their
prey devouring them completely
18. Chewing mouth parts damage on leaves or stems ragged with edges holes or
missing tissues
19. Piercing sucking mouth parts move laterally often causing yellowing or browning and
wilting
20. Direct injury losses occur when insects feed on potentially har-
vestable produce eliminating it or causes devaluation
21. Indirect injury insects feed on roots, stems, and leaves causing decline
in quality and quantity
, PCA-A-INSECTS PART I TEST 2025-2026
GUIDE
22. Honeydew damage Aphids mealybugs whitefly
23. Economic Injury Level Lowest number pests that will cause an amount of injury
equal to the cost of the applied control practices
24. Aesthetic injury level a commodity is considered the motivation rather than
the the economic value
25. Treatment Threshold Pathogens is increased because many fungicides only
prevent infection and do not eradicate infestation
26. Economic threshold Number of insects that should trigger management ac-
tion
27. Patterns of distribution common Uniform, random, clumped
to insect population
28. Sampling method from the in- Ability to move, its motility is a major factor in how to
sects distribution determine your sampling method.
29. Absolute sampling measure the total pest population in a given area
30. Relative sampling Reliable and consistent estimate of pest infestation in a
minimum amount of time.
31. Squential sampling increase sampling eflciency it requires fewer samples to
arrive at a decision
32. Invasive species Meditrian Fruit Fly Asian citrus psyllid, HLB disease, vine
mealy bug.
33. Phylloxera Alfalfa resistant to blue aphid
34. Bio Types Used for insect population that overcome plant resis-
tance
