VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE
APPLICATORS CORE EXAM STUDY GUIDE
LATEST 2025-2026 EXAM UPDATE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
what is the difference between prevention, suppression and eradication
of a pest? - Answer-prevention means reducing the chances that a pest
will become a problem. suppression means reducing pest numbers or
damage to an acceptable level. Eradication means destroying an entire
pest population.
how could you prevent a pest infestation? - Answer-plant weed- and
disease- free seed, choose plants resistant to diseases and insects, and
practice good sanitation. other preventative techniques include excluding
pests from the target area and using pre-emergent herbicides to kill weed
seeds.
briefly define IPM - Answer-Integrated Pest Management is an
ecological approach to pest control. it is based on the habitat and life-
cycle of the pest. IPM combines chemical and nonchemical methods into
a single plan or strategy. the goal of an IPM program is to reduce pest
populations to an acceptable level in a way that is practical, cost-
effective, and safe for the environment as well as human health.
Give several reasons to use IPM rather than using only a pesticide. -
Answer-IPM programs:
,1. often ensure better success at the treatment site
2. promote a more balanced ecosystem and are more environmentally
friendly
3. are less likely to lead to pesticide resistance and secondary pest
outbreaks
4. may reduce pesticide use and can help protect beneficial insects
5. are often more acceptable to the public.
name at least 5 basic steps in an effective IPM program - Answer-1.
idnetify pest
2. monitor the pest
3. decide whether control is justified
4. determine a pest control goal
5. know what control tactics are available
6. evaluate the benefits and risks of each tactic
7. choose the most effective strategies that will cause the least harm to
people and environment
8. use each tactic correctly
9. observe all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
10. record and evaluate results
name 5 IPM elements - Answer-host resistance
biological control
cultural control
, mechanical and physical control
and chemical control
what is host resistance? - Answer-the ability of a plant to withstand
pests
what is biological control? - Answer-the use of living organisms to
control pests. these may be natural enemies or biologically altering the
pest (releasing sterile males into pest population)
what is cultural control? - Answer-changing the habitat where the pest
flourishes. ex. cultural practices and sanitation
name at least 6 cultural practices used to manage pests - Answer-
pruning, thinning and fertilization
rotating crops
tillage
mulching
varying time of planting or harvest
trap crops
adjusting row width
what is sanitation? - Answer-use of hygiene practices to manage pests.
APPLICATORS CORE EXAM STUDY GUIDE
LATEST 2025-2026 EXAM UPDATE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
what is the difference between prevention, suppression and eradication
of a pest? - Answer-prevention means reducing the chances that a pest
will become a problem. suppression means reducing pest numbers or
damage to an acceptable level. Eradication means destroying an entire
pest population.
how could you prevent a pest infestation? - Answer-plant weed- and
disease- free seed, choose plants resistant to diseases and insects, and
practice good sanitation. other preventative techniques include excluding
pests from the target area and using pre-emergent herbicides to kill weed
seeds.
briefly define IPM - Answer-Integrated Pest Management is an
ecological approach to pest control. it is based on the habitat and life-
cycle of the pest. IPM combines chemical and nonchemical methods into
a single plan or strategy. the goal of an IPM program is to reduce pest
populations to an acceptable level in a way that is practical, cost-
effective, and safe for the environment as well as human health.
Give several reasons to use IPM rather than using only a pesticide. -
Answer-IPM programs:
,1. often ensure better success at the treatment site
2. promote a more balanced ecosystem and are more environmentally
friendly
3. are less likely to lead to pesticide resistance and secondary pest
outbreaks
4. may reduce pesticide use and can help protect beneficial insects
5. are often more acceptable to the public.
name at least 5 basic steps in an effective IPM program - Answer-1.
idnetify pest
2. monitor the pest
3. decide whether control is justified
4. determine a pest control goal
5. know what control tactics are available
6. evaluate the benefits and risks of each tactic
7. choose the most effective strategies that will cause the least harm to
people and environment
8. use each tactic correctly
9. observe all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
10. record and evaluate results
name 5 IPM elements - Answer-host resistance
biological control
cultural control
, mechanical and physical control
and chemical control
what is host resistance? - Answer-the ability of a plant to withstand
pests
what is biological control? - Answer-the use of living organisms to
control pests. these may be natural enemies or biologically altering the
pest (releasing sterile males into pest population)
what is cultural control? - Answer-changing the habitat where the pest
flourishes. ex. cultural practices and sanitation
name at least 6 cultural practices used to manage pests - Answer-
pruning, thinning and fertilization
rotating crops
tillage
mulching
varying time of planting or harvest
trap crops
adjusting row width
what is sanitation? - Answer-use of hygiene practices to manage pests.
