Alabama OTPC Pests & Weeds Exam
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Piercing-sucking insects - CORRECT ANSWER Scales, mealybugs, aphids, whiteflies &
lacebugs; Leave Sooty Mold or Honeydew
Scales - CORRECT ANSWER Most damaging pests of ornamental plants; feed on underside
of leaves, appear as bumps, prune out infested parts, use less susceptible plants when possible
Mealybugs - CORRECT ANSWER Scale insects, Covered with white, waxy material, usually
a houseplant problem; replace badly infested plants
Aphids - CORRECT ANSWER winged or wingless; tail pipes or bumps on rearend, reproduce
rapidly; wash off with water or soaps/oils
Lace bugs - CORRECT ANSWER azalaes and other shrubs; feed on underside of leaves; look
for black grainy speck of excrement
Thrips - CORRECT ANSWER Feed on blossoms causing petals to become blotched, most
abundant pest of ornamental plants
Whiteflies - CORRECT ANSWER Close relative of scales, feed under leaf surfaces
Chewing insects - CORRECT ANSWER Bagworms, cutworms, grasshoppers & beetles
Leafminers - CORRECT ANSWER Larvae of several kinds of insects; feed inside the leaves
creating tunnels causing discoloration
Borers - CORRECT ANSWER Cause injury by burrowing into ornamentals and trees. Stressed
plants more susceptible
, Brown Patch - CORRECT ANSWER Most damaging disease of St. Augustinegrass in AL.
Spring Dead Spot - CORRECT ANSWER Disease of Bermuda and intensively managed
Zoysia and St. Augustine
Dollar Spot - CORRECT ANSWER Caused by fungus; most common disease of AL
turfgrasses in summer and early fall
Leaf Scorch - CORRECT ANSWER marginal scalding or scorching of leaves
Fungi - CORRECT ANSWER Cause 80% of plant disease
Gall - CORRECT ANSWER disease that attacks azaleas
Anthracnose - CORRECT ANSWER disease that attacks dogwoods and maples
Leaf Spot - CORRECT ANSWER disease that attacks holly and other shrubs
Phomopsis - CORRECT ANSWER disease that attacks juniper
Fireblight - CORRECT ANSWER disease that attacks pear trees and photinia
Ground Pearls - CORRECT ANSWER scale insects that live in the soil and feed on grass roots;
problem in lawns and turn; leave small, irregular area of dying or dead grass. No effective insecticide
Billbugs - CORRECT ANSWER grubs live in the soil and feed on grass roots; grass turns
yellow then brown. Adult is the snout beetle.
White grubs - CORRECT ANSWER immature (larva) stage of beetles; feed on grass roots; do
mechanical damage when they move out of the soil
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Piercing-sucking insects - CORRECT ANSWER Scales, mealybugs, aphids, whiteflies &
lacebugs; Leave Sooty Mold or Honeydew
Scales - CORRECT ANSWER Most damaging pests of ornamental plants; feed on underside
of leaves, appear as bumps, prune out infested parts, use less susceptible plants when possible
Mealybugs - CORRECT ANSWER Scale insects, Covered with white, waxy material, usually
a houseplant problem; replace badly infested plants
Aphids - CORRECT ANSWER winged or wingless; tail pipes or bumps on rearend, reproduce
rapidly; wash off with water or soaps/oils
Lace bugs - CORRECT ANSWER azalaes and other shrubs; feed on underside of leaves; look
for black grainy speck of excrement
Thrips - CORRECT ANSWER Feed on blossoms causing petals to become blotched, most
abundant pest of ornamental plants
Whiteflies - CORRECT ANSWER Close relative of scales, feed under leaf surfaces
Chewing insects - CORRECT ANSWER Bagworms, cutworms, grasshoppers & beetles
Leafminers - CORRECT ANSWER Larvae of several kinds of insects; feed inside the leaves
creating tunnels causing discoloration
Borers - CORRECT ANSWER Cause injury by burrowing into ornamentals and trees. Stressed
plants more susceptible
, Brown Patch - CORRECT ANSWER Most damaging disease of St. Augustinegrass in AL.
Spring Dead Spot - CORRECT ANSWER Disease of Bermuda and intensively managed
Zoysia and St. Augustine
Dollar Spot - CORRECT ANSWER Caused by fungus; most common disease of AL
turfgrasses in summer and early fall
Leaf Scorch - CORRECT ANSWER marginal scalding or scorching of leaves
Fungi - CORRECT ANSWER Cause 80% of plant disease
Gall - CORRECT ANSWER disease that attacks azaleas
Anthracnose - CORRECT ANSWER disease that attacks dogwoods and maples
Leaf Spot - CORRECT ANSWER disease that attacks holly and other shrubs
Phomopsis - CORRECT ANSWER disease that attacks juniper
Fireblight - CORRECT ANSWER disease that attacks pear trees and photinia
Ground Pearls - CORRECT ANSWER scale insects that live in the soil and feed on grass roots;
problem in lawns and turn; leave small, irregular area of dying or dead grass. No effective insecticide
Billbugs - CORRECT ANSWER grubs live in the soil and feed on grass roots; grass turns
yellow then brown. Adult is the snout beetle.
White grubs - CORRECT ANSWER immature (larva) stage of beetles; feed on grass roots; do
mechanical damage when they move out of the soil
