Washington Pesticide Laws and Safety Exam
Questions and Answers with Verified
Solutions | Latest Updated 2026
What is a severe pest? A pest present in populations that are
always above the economic injury level in
the absence of control.
What is an occasional or A pest that can cause damage above
secondary pest? economic injury levels only at certain
times.
What is a potential pest? A pest that typically causes no apparent
economic damage under normal
circumstances.
What is a migratory pest? A pest that may cause serious economic
damage on a periodic basis.
What are the five steps of 1. Identify the pest to be managed.
developing an IPM program? 2. Define the management system.
3. Develop the pest management
strategy.
4. Develop reliable monitoring
techniques.
5. Use economic thresholds.
,What is an economic The level or density of a pest population
threshold? where control measures need to be
applied to prevent the pest from
reaching the economic injury level.
What is an economic injury The pest population density that causes
level? losses equal to the cost of the control
measures.
What are mechanical control Devices that prevent the spread or
methods? reduce the infestation of pests, primarily
insects and vertebrate animals.
Mechanical controls include hand
destruction, traps, and mechanical
exclusions such as screens, nets, and
fences.
What are physical control The manipulation of water, humidity,
methods? temperature, electric shock, or other
radiant energy to kill, alter the pests life
cycle, or create an unfavorable
environment for the pest to live in.
What are cultural control The manipulation of the environment to
methods? avert serious pest damage. Cultural
control methods require knowledge of
the plants needs and potential problems.
Ex: irrigation management, rotating
crops, pruning, cover crops, etc.
, What are generic control The use of plants and animals that are
methods? resistant to attack by pests. Ex: Traditional
breeding techniques combined with
genetic manipulation of plants to
promote host plant resistance to pests
and disease.
What are biological control Involve the introduction, encouragement,
methods? and/or artificial increase of plants and
insects/animals that are parasites or
predators of a pest species.
What are chemical control Involve the use of naturally or
methods? synthetically derived chemicals that, kill,
attract, repel, or otherwise manage the
growth of a pest.
Avicides Management of birds.
Bactericides Management of bacteria.
Fungicides Management of fungi.
Herbicides Management of plants.
Insecticides Management of insects and insect
relatives.
Miticides Management of mites.
Questions and Answers with Verified
Solutions | Latest Updated 2026
What is a severe pest? A pest present in populations that are
always above the economic injury level in
the absence of control.
What is an occasional or A pest that can cause damage above
secondary pest? economic injury levels only at certain
times.
What is a potential pest? A pest that typically causes no apparent
economic damage under normal
circumstances.
What is a migratory pest? A pest that may cause serious economic
damage on a periodic basis.
What are the five steps of 1. Identify the pest to be managed.
developing an IPM program? 2. Define the management system.
3. Develop the pest management
strategy.
4. Develop reliable monitoring
techniques.
5. Use economic thresholds.
,What is an economic The level or density of a pest population
threshold? where control measures need to be
applied to prevent the pest from
reaching the economic injury level.
What is an economic injury The pest population density that causes
level? losses equal to the cost of the control
measures.
What are mechanical control Devices that prevent the spread or
methods? reduce the infestation of pests, primarily
insects and vertebrate animals.
Mechanical controls include hand
destruction, traps, and mechanical
exclusions such as screens, nets, and
fences.
What are physical control The manipulation of water, humidity,
methods? temperature, electric shock, or other
radiant energy to kill, alter the pests life
cycle, or create an unfavorable
environment for the pest to live in.
What are cultural control The manipulation of the environment to
methods? avert serious pest damage. Cultural
control methods require knowledge of
the plants needs and potential problems.
Ex: irrigation management, rotating
crops, pruning, cover crops, etc.
, What are generic control The use of plants and animals that are
methods? resistant to attack by pests. Ex: Traditional
breeding techniques combined with
genetic manipulation of plants to
promote host plant resistance to pests
and disease.
What are biological control Involve the introduction, encouragement,
methods? and/or artificial increase of plants and
insects/animals that are parasites or
predators of a pest species.
What are chemical control Involve the use of naturally or
methods? synthetically derived chemicals that, kill,
attract, repel, or otherwise manage the
growth of a pest.
Avicides Management of birds.
Bactericides Management of bacteria.
Fungicides Management of fungi.
Herbicides Management of plants.
Insecticides Management of insects and insect
relatives.
Miticides Management of mites.
