MDARD Michigan 3A Turfgrass Pest Management Study Guide
2026 Questions with 100% Correct Answers | Verified | Latest
Update 2026/2027
SECTION 1: INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)
PRINCIPLES (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
Grass varieties that contain endophyte fungi are an example of which type of pest
management strategy?
A. Chemical control
B. Mechanical control
C. Plant resistance
D. Biological control
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Endophyte fungi living within grass varieties provide natural pest resistance .
This is classified as plant resistance, a key IPM strategy that uses genetic or biological
characteristics to reduce pest pressure.
Question 2
Raking, thatch removal, and aeration are examples of:
A. Chemical controls
B. Cultural controls
,C. Mechanical and physical controls
D. Biological controls
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Raking, thatch removal, and aeration are cultural controls—practices that
modify the environment to make it less favorable for pests . These are among the most
common cultural control methods used in turf management.
Question 3
Hand removal, traps, barriers, and repellents are examples of:
A. Chemical controls
B. Cultural controls
C. Mechanical and physical controls
D. Biological controls
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: These tactics physically separate pests from the host plant . They are
classified as mechanical and physical controls, which are non-chemical methods that
directly remove or exclude pests.
Question 4
Which turfgrass disease can be managed with hand removal techniques?
,A. Dollar spot
B. Brown patch
C. Slime mold
D. Pythium blight
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Slime mold can be managed with hand removal techniques . This is one of
the few turf diseases where mechanical removal is an effective control strategy.
Question 5
A turf stand cannot at the same time benefit from biological control methods and be
completely pest-free because:
A. Biological controls are not effective
B. There must be a low level of pest or prey insects for the predators to feed on
C. Biological controls only work on weeds
D. Biological controls kill all insects
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For biological controls to be effective, a low level of pest or prey insects must
be present to sustain predator populations . Complete pest elimination would eliminate
the food source for beneficial organisms, undermining biological control.
Question 6
, What percentage of lawns develop insect infestations severe enough to require
insecticide application?
A. 5%
B. 10%
C. 25%
D. 50%
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Approximately 10% of lawns develop insect infestations severe enough to
warrant insecticide treatment . This statistic underscores the importance of monitoring
and using IPM principles before resorting to chemical controls.
Question 7
What is the economic injury level?
A. The pest density at which damage first appears
B. The density of pests at which damage to the turf will occur
C. The density of pests at which action must be taken
D. The density of pests at which the cost of control equals the losses caused
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Economic injury level is the pest density at which damage to the turf will
occur . This threshold helps determine when pest populations are high enough to cause
significant turf damage.
2026 Questions with 100% Correct Answers | Verified | Latest
Update 2026/2027
SECTION 1: INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)
PRINCIPLES (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
Grass varieties that contain endophyte fungi are an example of which type of pest
management strategy?
A. Chemical control
B. Mechanical control
C. Plant resistance
D. Biological control
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Endophyte fungi living within grass varieties provide natural pest resistance .
This is classified as plant resistance, a key IPM strategy that uses genetic or biological
characteristics to reduce pest pressure.
Question 2
Raking, thatch removal, and aeration are examples of:
A. Chemical controls
B. Cultural controls
,C. Mechanical and physical controls
D. Biological controls
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Raking, thatch removal, and aeration are cultural controls—practices that
modify the environment to make it less favorable for pests . These are among the most
common cultural control methods used in turf management.
Question 3
Hand removal, traps, barriers, and repellents are examples of:
A. Chemical controls
B. Cultural controls
C. Mechanical and physical controls
D. Biological controls
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: These tactics physically separate pests from the host plant . They are
classified as mechanical and physical controls, which are non-chemical methods that
directly remove or exclude pests.
Question 4
Which turfgrass disease can be managed with hand removal techniques?
,A. Dollar spot
B. Brown patch
C. Slime mold
D. Pythium blight
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Slime mold can be managed with hand removal techniques . This is one of
the few turf diseases where mechanical removal is an effective control strategy.
Question 5
A turf stand cannot at the same time benefit from biological control methods and be
completely pest-free because:
A. Biological controls are not effective
B. There must be a low level of pest or prey insects for the predators to feed on
C. Biological controls only work on weeds
D. Biological controls kill all insects
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For biological controls to be effective, a low level of pest or prey insects must
be present to sustain predator populations . Complete pest elimination would eliminate
the food source for beneficial organisms, undermining biological control.
Question 6
, What percentage of lawns develop insect infestations severe enough to require
insecticide application?
A. 5%
B. 10%
C. 25%
D. 50%
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Approximately 10% of lawns develop insect infestations severe enough to
warrant insecticide treatment . This statistic underscores the importance of monitoring
and using IPM principles before resorting to chemical controls.
Question 7
What is the economic injury level?
A. The pest density at which damage first appears
B. The density of pests at which damage to the turf will occur
C. The density of pests at which action must be taken
D. The density of pests at which the cost of control equals the losses caused
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Economic injury level is the pest density at which damage to the turf will
occur . This threshold helps determine when pest populations are high enough to cause
significant turf damage.
