COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATOR ROW
PEST CONTROL EXAM DETAILED WITH
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS NEW
NEW
What *determines *whether *a *given *plant *is *a *weed? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *A *weed *is
*any *unwanted *plant
What *are *the *two *main *goals *of *weed *management? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *The *primary
*goal *is *to *minimize *weed *competition *and *the *other *main *goal *is *to *limit *the *weed's
*reproduction *in *order *to *manage *the *weed *population *in *years *to *come.
Distinguish *grasses *from *broadleaf *plants *and *herbaceous *from *woody *plants *- *CORRECT
*ANSWER *- *Grasses *are *considered *monocots, *meaning *they *have *a *single *seed *leaf, *they
*also *have *narrow *leaves *with *parallel *veins *and *a *fibrous *root *system. *Broadleaf *plants
*have *two *seed *leaves *and *are *therefore *called *dicots, *they *have *broad *leaves *with
*veins *that *form *a *net *patterns. *Broadleaf *plants *can *be *further *classified *into
*herbaceous *and *woody, *where *the *woody *plants *have *a *thick *layer *of *dense *tissue
*called *bark, *which *herbaceous *plants *lack.
Describe *the *life *cycles *and *propagation *of *annual, *biennial, *and *perennial *plants *-
*CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Annual *plants *live *for *less *than *a *year, *they *produce *many *seeds
*in *one *growing *season, *and *then *die. *Summer *annuals *winter *as *seeds, *and *winter
*annuals *winter *as *a *low-growing *plant, *both *summer *and *winter *annuals *are *easiest *to
*control *when *they *are *small. *Biennial *plants *live *for *two *growing *seasons, *they
*germinate *from *seed *in *the *spring *or *summer *and *winter *as *a *rosette *of *leaves. *They
*flower *in *their *second *year, *produce *seeds *and *then *die. *Both *annuals *and *biennials
*reproduce *only *by *seed. *Perennial *plants *live *for *at *least *2 *years *and *sometimes
*longer, *they *may *reproduce *by *seed *or *vegetatively *through *several *different *mechanisms.
What *is *needed *to *kill *annual, *biennial, *and *perennial *weeds *and *when *is *it *easiest *to
*do *so? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *To *kill *annuals *or *biennials, *you *must *kill *the *whole
*shoot. *Controlling *these *weeds *with *tillage *or *herbicides *will *kill *them *plus *stop *seed
*production, *which *will *reduce *future *weed *problems. *The *most *effective *way *to *kill
,*perennials *is *to *destroy *the *underground *vegetative *structures *by *either *repeatedly *tilling
*the *soil *or *by *using *a *herbicide *that *translocates *to *destroy *all *of *the *plant *parts.
How *should *you *time *herbicide *application *with *respect *to *a *plant's *life *cycle *and *which
*timing *is *most *effective? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *All *weeds *may *start *as *seedlings *and *it
*is *most *effective *to *treat *the *plants *at *this *stage *because *less *energy *is *required *to
*kill *the *plants *at *this *stage *than *at *any *other. *Biennials *and *Annuals *are *controlled *by
*a *fall *or *early *spring *treatment, *and *perennials *are *controlled *best *with *a *fall
*treatment *as *well.
What *are *the *effects *of *soil *texture *and *organic *matter *content *on *application *of *soil
*herbicides? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Soil *organic *matter *and *clay *particles *can *adsorb *soil-
applied *herbicides, *meaning *more *herbicide *will *be *required *in *these *types *of *soils
*because *the *herbicide *will *be *bound *to *the *soil *particles *and *will *not *be *available *to
*be *absorbed *by *the *weeds.
How *do *you *keep *soil *herbicides *from *moving *off *target? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Do *not
*apply *herbicides *to *areas *where *they *may *leach *into *groundwater, *or *run *off *into
*water *sources *or *cropping *areas. *Also *avoid *applying *herbicides *to *areas *where *desired
*tree *and *shrub *roots *may *extend *and *DO *NOT *apply *herbicides *to *frozen *soils.
How *and *when *should *you *apply *soil *herbicides? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Soil *treatments
*are *commonly *used *when *a *site *requires *residual *non-selective *control, *such *as *electric
*transformer *stations, *rail *ballasts *and *signpost *bases. *They *can *be *applied *any *time *that
*the *soil *is *not *frozen, *and *some *soil *applied *herbicides *need *to *be *transported *by *rain
*to *be *absorbed *by *the *plant.
When *are *foliar *sprays *appropriate *and *not *appropriate? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Foliar
*sprays *are *not *recommended *for *large *brush *because *of *the *potential *for *drift. *Foliar
*sprays *should *be *operated *from *the *ground *close *to *the *plant *and *can *either *be
*applied *through *broadcast *or *spot *application.
What *are *the *factors *in *timing *a *foliar *spray? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Foliar *treatments
*can *be *made *from *the *time *the *leaves *are *fully *expanded *until *they *begin *to *turn
*color *in *the *fall, *but *are *most *effective *when *applied *to *fully *developed *foliage *of *an
*actively *growing *plant. *They *should *be *applied *at *a *temperature *between *60 *and *80
*degrees *F, *and *should *have *adequate *time *to *soak *into *to *plant, *thus *applying *right
*before *it *rains *is *ineffective.
, How *are *adjuvants *used *most *effectively? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Adjuvants *may *be
*necessary *to *use *for *better *absorption *by *foliage *that *is *extremely *waxy *or *hairy.
What *are *the *similarities *and *differences *between *foliar, *cut-surface, *and *basal *bark
*applications? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Foliar *applications *are *put *directly *onto *the *foliage
*of *a *growing *plant. *Basal *bark *applications *are *used *to *control *shrubs, *canes *and
*thickets *or *trees *up *to *5 *inches *in *diameter *and *are *applied *to *the *lower *18 *inches
*of *the *stems. *Cut-surface *treatments *are *used *to *control *plants *with *thick *bark *or
*when *they *have *trunks *larger *than *5 *inches *in *diameter *at *the *base.
Define *and *explain *"pesticide". *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *A *pesticide *is *any *substance *used
*to *directly *control *pest *populations *or *to *prevent *or *reduce *pest *damage. *Pesticides *can
*range *from *anything *such *as *an *insecticide *to *a *herbicide *to *a *fungicide.
What *is *the *difference *between *organic *and *inorganic? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Organic
*means *the *compound *contains *the *element *carbon, *it *does *not *mean *it *is *natural.
*Inorganic *means *that *the *it *is *derived *from *minerals *that *occur *in *nature.
What *is *the *difference *between *the *different *types *of *pesticide *names? *- *CORRECT
*ANSWER *- *Chemical *name: *complies *with *accepted *guidelines *established *by *chemists. *
Common *name: *normally *appear *on *the *label *before *or *above *the *chemical *name *and
*refers *to *an *active *ingredient.
Trade *name: *the *name *given *by *the *manufacturer, *appears *in *large *letters *at *the *top *of
*the *label
Compare *selective *and *non-selective *herbicides: *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Selective *herbicides
*only *harm *certain *plants *and *leave *others *unharmed. *Non-selective *herbicides *are *toxic
*to *most *or *all *plants.
What *are *the *uses *and *characteristics *of *contact *and *systemic *herbicides? *- *CORRECT
*ANSWER *- *Contact *herbicides *do *not *move *within *the *plant, *they *are *sprayed *on *and
*only *kill *the *parts *of *the *plant *they *actually *touch. *Systemic *herbicides *are *absorbed
*through *leaves *or *roots *and *then *mover *or *translocate *within *the *treated *plant.
PEST CONTROL EXAM DETAILED WITH
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS NEW
NEW
What *determines *whether *a *given *plant *is *a *weed? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *A *weed *is
*any *unwanted *plant
What *are *the *two *main *goals *of *weed *management? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *The *primary
*goal *is *to *minimize *weed *competition *and *the *other *main *goal *is *to *limit *the *weed's
*reproduction *in *order *to *manage *the *weed *population *in *years *to *come.
Distinguish *grasses *from *broadleaf *plants *and *herbaceous *from *woody *plants *- *CORRECT
*ANSWER *- *Grasses *are *considered *monocots, *meaning *they *have *a *single *seed *leaf, *they
*also *have *narrow *leaves *with *parallel *veins *and *a *fibrous *root *system. *Broadleaf *plants
*have *two *seed *leaves *and *are *therefore *called *dicots, *they *have *broad *leaves *with
*veins *that *form *a *net *patterns. *Broadleaf *plants *can *be *further *classified *into
*herbaceous *and *woody, *where *the *woody *plants *have *a *thick *layer *of *dense *tissue
*called *bark, *which *herbaceous *plants *lack.
Describe *the *life *cycles *and *propagation *of *annual, *biennial, *and *perennial *plants *-
*CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Annual *plants *live *for *less *than *a *year, *they *produce *many *seeds
*in *one *growing *season, *and *then *die. *Summer *annuals *winter *as *seeds, *and *winter
*annuals *winter *as *a *low-growing *plant, *both *summer *and *winter *annuals *are *easiest *to
*control *when *they *are *small. *Biennial *plants *live *for *two *growing *seasons, *they
*germinate *from *seed *in *the *spring *or *summer *and *winter *as *a *rosette *of *leaves. *They
*flower *in *their *second *year, *produce *seeds *and *then *die. *Both *annuals *and *biennials
*reproduce *only *by *seed. *Perennial *plants *live *for *at *least *2 *years *and *sometimes
*longer, *they *may *reproduce *by *seed *or *vegetatively *through *several *different *mechanisms.
What *is *needed *to *kill *annual, *biennial, *and *perennial *weeds *and *when *is *it *easiest *to
*do *so? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *To *kill *annuals *or *biennials, *you *must *kill *the *whole
*shoot. *Controlling *these *weeds *with *tillage *or *herbicides *will *kill *them *plus *stop *seed
*production, *which *will *reduce *future *weed *problems. *The *most *effective *way *to *kill
,*perennials *is *to *destroy *the *underground *vegetative *structures *by *either *repeatedly *tilling
*the *soil *or *by *using *a *herbicide *that *translocates *to *destroy *all *of *the *plant *parts.
How *should *you *time *herbicide *application *with *respect *to *a *plant's *life *cycle *and *which
*timing *is *most *effective? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *All *weeds *may *start *as *seedlings *and *it
*is *most *effective *to *treat *the *plants *at *this *stage *because *less *energy *is *required *to
*kill *the *plants *at *this *stage *than *at *any *other. *Biennials *and *Annuals *are *controlled *by
*a *fall *or *early *spring *treatment, *and *perennials *are *controlled *best *with *a *fall
*treatment *as *well.
What *are *the *effects *of *soil *texture *and *organic *matter *content *on *application *of *soil
*herbicides? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Soil *organic *matter *and *clay *particles *can *adsorb *soil-
applied *herbicides, *meaning *more *herbicide *will *be *required *in *these *types *of *soils
*because *the *herbicide *will *be *bound *to *the *soil *particles *and *will *not *be *available *to
*be *absorbed *by *the *weeds.
How *do *you *keep *soil *herbicides *from *moving *off *target? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Do *not
*apply *herbicides *to *areas *where *they *may *leach *into *groundwater, *or *run *off *into
*water *sources *or *cropping *areas. *Also *avoid *applying *herbicides *to *areas *where *desired
*tree *and *shrub *roots *may *extend *and *DO *NOT *apply *herbicides *to *frozen *soils.
How *and *when *should *you *apply *soil *herbicides? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Soil *treatments
*are *commonly *used *when *a *site *requires *residual *non-selective *control, *such *as *electric
*transformer *stations, *rail *ballasts *and *signpost *bases. *They *can *be *applied *any *time *that
*the *soil *is *not *frozen, *and *some *soil *applied *herbicides *need *to *be *transported *by *rain
*to *be *absorbed *by *the *plant.
When *are *foliar *sprays *appropriate *and *not *appropriate? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Foliar
*sprays *are *not *recommended *for *large *brush *because *of *the *potential *for *drift. *Foliar
*sprays *should *be *operated *from *the *ground *close *to *the *plant *and *can *either *be
*applied *through *broadcast *or *spot *application.
What *are *the *factors *in *timing *a *foliar *spray? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Foliar *treatments
*can *be *made *from *the *time *the *leaves *are *fully *expanded *until *they *begin *to *turn
*color *in *the *fall, *but *are *most *effective *when *applied *to *fully *developed *foliage *of *an
*actively *growing *plant. *They *should *be *applied *at *a *temperature *between *60 *and *80
*degrees *F, *and *should *have *adequate *time *to *soak *into *to *plant, *thus *applying *right
*before *it *rains *is *ineffective.
, How *are *adjuvants *used *most *effectively? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Adjuvants *may *be
*necessary *to *use *for *better *absorption *by *foliage *that *is *extremely *waxy *or *hairy.
What *are *the *similarities *and *differences *between *foliar, *cut-surface, *and *basal *bark
*applications? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Foliar *applications *are *put *directly *onto *the *foliage
*of *a *growing *plant. *Basal *bark *applications *are *used *to *control *shrubs, *canes *and
*thickets *or *trees *up *to *5 *inches *in *diameter *and *are *applied *to *the *lower *18 *inches
*of *the *stems. *Cut-surface *treatments *are *used *to *control *plants *with *thick *bark *or
*when *they *have *trunks *larger *than *5 *inches *in *diameter *at *the *base.
Define *and *explain *"pesticide". *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *A *pesticide *is *any *substance *used
*to *directly *control *pest *populations *or *to *prevent *or *reduce *pest *damage. *Pesticides *can
*range *from *anything *such *as *an *insecticide *to *a *herbicide *to *a *fungicide.
What *is *the *difference *between *organic *and *inorganic? *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Organic
*means *the *compound *contains *the *element *carbon, *it *does *not *mean *it *is *natural.
*Inorganic *means *that *the *it *is *derived *from *minerals *that *occur *in *nature.
What *is *the *difference *between *the *different *types *of *pesticide *names? *- *CORRECT
*ANSWER *- *Chemical *name: *complies *with *accepted *guidelines *established *by *chemists. *
Common *name: *normally *appear *on *the *label *before *or *above *the *chemical *name *and
*refers *to *an *active *ingredient.
Trade *name: *the *name *given *by *the *manufacturer, *appears *in *large *letters *at *the *top *of
*the *label
Compare *selective *and *non-selective *herbicides: *- *CORRECT *ANSWER *- *Selective *herbicides
*only *harm *certain *plants *and *leave *others *unharmed. *Non-selective *herbicides *are *toxic
*to *most *or *all *plants.
What *are *the *uses *and *characteristics *of *contact *and *systemic *herbicides? *- *CORRECT
*ANSWER *- *Contact *herbicides *do *not *move *within *the *plant, *they *are *sprayed *on *and
*only *kill *the *parts *of *the *plant *they *actually *touch. *Systemic *herbicides *are *absorbed
*through *leaves *or *roots *and *then *mover *or *translocate *within *the *treated *plant.
