Structural Pest Control Save Share
Board Exam Study Guide
kndsee
Created 5/22/25
Identifying Features of Common Pests
Black Widow Spider
• Female Black Widow: Glossy black with a globe-like abdomen and a distinctive
deep red hourglass marking on her underside.
• Male Black Widow: Brown in color, significantly smaller than the female.
Recluse Spider
• Desert Recluse: Found in the Southwest, characterized by a brown body with a
violin-shaped marking behind its head. Typically resides in dark areas like wood
piles and closets.
Tarantula
• Description: The largest native spider in the U.S., known for its big, hairy
appearance.
• Habitat: Lives in burrows or gaps under rocks, often utilizing abandoned rodent
holes lined with silk.
Argentine Ant
• Colony Features: Lives in shallow galleries in the ground, often with multiple
queens. They feed on aphid honeydew and defend aphids.
Imported Fire Ant and Black Fire Ant
• Habitat: Typically found in large mounds in open spaces.
• Diet: Omnivorous, consuming a wide range of organic materials. Try it out
• Behavior: Hostile towards other ants, equipped with a stinger and capable of
biting.
,Wolf Spider
• Identification: Large and hairy with three rows of eyes, unlike most spiders which
have two. They prey on other insects rather than weaving webs.
Orb Weaver Spider
• Web Characteristics: Known for their beautiful spoke-patterned webs, medium to
large-sized with a large abdomen and long legs.
Funnel Spider
• Web Structure: Builds funnel-shaped webs and hides at the back when disturbed.
They prey on black widow spiders and other insects.
Thief Ant
• Appearance: Tiny, pale brownish ants that raid other colonies for food. They can
host diseases and tapeworms.
Velvety Tree Ant
• Coloration: Red and black with a velvety abdomen. They live in trees and can
invade homes.
Odorous House Ant
• Identification: Very small, brown to black, with a distinctive rotten coconut smell
when crushed.
Southern Fire Ant
• Color: Yellow to red, known for painful stings and building mounds in various
environments.
Toxicity and Safety Measures
Toxicity Categories
• Category 1: Danger (Highly Toxic) - LD50 = 0-50 mg/kg.
• Category 2: Warning (Moderately Toxic) - LD50 = 50-500 mg/kg.
• Category 3: Caution (Slightly Toxic) - LD50 = 500-5000 mg/kg.
• Category 4: No signal word (Relatively Non-toxic).
Understanding LD50
, • Definition: Lethal dose (LD50) is the amount of a substance that kills 50% of a test
sample, expressed in mg/kg.
• Toxicity Comparison: Lower LD50 indicates higher toxicity. For example,
Botulinum has an LD50 of 0.000009 mg/kg, while Caffeine has an LD50 of 200
mg/kg.
Pesticide Handling and Application
Pesticide Label Components
1. Classification of pesticide use
2. Product name
3. Type of formulation
4. Ingredient statement
5. Net contents of container
6. Signal word
7. Name of manufacturing company
8. EPA registration and establishment numbers
9. Directions for use
10. Hazard Statement
11. Storage and disposal information.
Safety Protocols
• Always wash hands before eating, drinking, smoking, or using the restroom after
handling pesticides.
• Ensure that pesticides, containers, and equipment are properly stored after use.
Pesticide Formulations
• Bait Formulation: More practical for sensitive areas such as zoos or hospitals.
Routes of Entry for Pesticides
• The most common route of entry into the body for pesticides is dermal.
Protective Gear
• When mixing pesticides, rubber or neoprene gloves must be worn.
Bed Bugs and Their Identification
Bed Bug Characteristics
Board Exam Study Guide
kndsee
Created 5/22/25
Identifying Features of Common Pests
Black Widow Spider
• Female Black Widow: Glossy black with a globe-like abdomen and a distinctive
deep red hourglass marking on her underside.
• Male Black Widow: Brown in color, significantly smaller than the female.
Recluse Spider
• Desert Recluse: Found in the Southwest, characterized by a brown body with a
violin-shaped marking behind its head. Typically resides in dark areas like wood
piles and closets.
Tarantula
• Description: The largest native spider in the U.S., known for its big, hairy
appearance.
• Habitat: Lives in burrows or gaps under rocks, often utilizing abandoned rodent
holes lined with silk.
Argentine Ant
• Colony Features: Lives in shallow galleries in the ground, often with multiple
queens. They feed on aphid honeydew and defend aphids.
Imported Fire Ant and Black Fire Ant
• Habitat: Typically found in large mounds in open spaces.
• Diet: Omnivorous, consuming a wide range of organic materials. Try it out
• Behavior: Hostile towards other ants, equipped with a stinger and capable of
biting.
,Wolf Spider
• Identification: Large and hairy with three rows of eyes, unlike most spiders which
have two. They prey on other insects rather than weaving webs.
Orb Weaver Spider
• Web Characteristics: Known for their beautiful spoke-patterned webs, medium to
large-sized with a large abdomen and long legs.
Funnel Spider
• Web Structure: Builds funnel-shaped webs and hides at the back when disturbed.
They prey on black widow spiders and other insects.
Thief Ant
• Appearance: Tiny, pale brownish ants that raid other colonies for food. They can
host diseases and tapeworms.
Velvety Tree Ant
• Coloration: Red and black with a velvety abdomen. They live in trees and can
invade homes.
Odorous House Ant
• Identification: Very small, brown to black, with a distinctive rotten coconut smell
when crushed.
Southern Fire Ant
• Color: Yellow to red, known for painful stings and building mounds in various
environments.
Toxicity and Safety Measures
Toxicity Categories
• Category 1: Danger (Highly Toxic) - LD50 = 0-50 mg/kg.
• Category 2: Warning (Moderately Toxic) - LD50 = 50-500 mg/kg.
• Category 3: Caution (Slightly Toxic) - LD50 = 500-5000 mg/kg.
• Category 4: No signal word (Relatively Non-toxic).
Understanding LD50
, • Definition: Lethal dose (LD50) is the amount of a substance that kills 50% of a test
sample, expressed in mg/kg.
• Toxicity Comparison: Lower LD50 indicates higher toxicity. For example,
Botulinum has an LD50 of 0.000009 mg/kg, while Caffeine has an LD50 of 200
mg/kg.
Pesticide Handling and Application
Pesticide Label Components
1. Classification of pesticide use
2. Product name
3. Type of formulation
4. Ingredient statement
5. Net contents of container
6. Signal word
7. Name of manufacturing company
8. EPA registration and establishment numbers
9. Directions for use
10. Hazard Statement
11. Storage and disposal information.
Safety Protocols
• Always wash hands before eating, drinking, smoking, or using the restroom after
handling pesticides.
• Ensure that pesticides, containers, and equipment are properly stored after use.
Pesticide Formulations
• Bait Formulation: More practical for sensitive areas such as zoos or hospitals.
Routes of Entry for Pesticides
• The most common route of entry into the body for pesticides is dermal.
Protective Gear
• When mixing pesticides, rubber or neoprene gloves must be worn.
Bed Bugs and Their Identification
Bed Bug Characteristics
