Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Exam
2026 Questions and Answers
Ch.1 List the general kinds of damage insect pests can cause - Correct answer--
Chew on seeds, roots, leaves, stems, & fruits
-Tunnel in roots, stems, & leaves
-Suck plant juices
-Promote gall formation and other malformations
-Inject toxins into plants -Transmit diseases to plants
-Create a nuisance for people
Ch.1 Describe the structural features of insects - Correct answer-Insects have: body
form has 3 regions: head, thorax, abdomen; 3 pairs of legs attached to thorax; 0, 1,
or 2 pairs of wings attached to thorax; 1 pair of antennae
Ch.1 Explain how to distinguish insects from other arthropods - Correct answer-
Arthropods have: exoskeleton; body form has 2 regions: head & abdomen; usually
4 pairs of legs attached to head; no wings; no antennae
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,Ch.1 Contrast the difference between simple and complete metamorphosis -
Correct answer--Simple: "Incomplete Metamorphosis"; 3 stages: egg, nymph, &
adult
-Complete: 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, & adult
Ch.1 Explain how temperature and humidity affect insect development - Correct
answer-*Temperature & humidity preferences vary for each insect.
*Combined effect of both on reproduction & development is more dramatically
different than the effect of either alone.
-Temperature: development is faster with heat & slower with cold temps; insects
die at the high levels of developmental threshold temps and become inactive at low
levels
-Humidity: effects insect diseases; effects moisture levels required for survival
Ch.1 List the advantages and disadvantages of using insecticides - Correct answer-
Advantages:
-Effective against economically damaging pests
-Can combine 1 or 2 insecticides to combat several pests
-They act quickly to control pests before reaching damaging levels
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,-For new pests, there are many compounds that have been proven effective
-Effective insecticides, suitable formulations, & application equipment are
normally available
Disadvantages:
-Often eliminate beneficial insects, allowing target organisms to rebound quickly
-Repeated exposure can lead to resistance in a pest population
-Yearly dependence on applications is an added cost
-Always a potential for drift, residues, and damage
Ch.2 Explain what determines whether a given plant is a weed - Correct answer-
Weeds are unwanted plants
Ch.2 List the two main goals of weed management - Correct answer-1. Minimize
weed competition
2. Limit the weed's reproduction so that you can still manage the weed population
in future years
Ch.2 Describe ways that weeds can pose problems in turf and landscapes (7) -
Correct answer--Interfere with management practices
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, -Produce chemical inhibitors that directly retard the growth of desirable plants
(allelopathy)
-Create a poor impression on customers
-Interferes with pesticide applications
-Support insect pests and plant diseases or provide cover for rodents
-Are poisonous, allergenic, or irritating to people or pets
-Dry out or die and become fire hazards
Ch.2 Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and woody from herbaceous plants
- Correct answer--Grasses (Monocots): most common weeds; have a single seed
leaf (cotyledon) when they germinate; narrow leaves with parallel viens
-Broadleaves (Dicots): have 2 seed leaves when they germinate; veins form a net-
like or branching pattern; can be broken down into Woody and Herbaceous plants
--> Woody: have thickened outer layer on stems (bark)
--> Herbaceous: lacks bark
Ch. 2 Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and perennial
plants - Correct answer--Annuals: live less than 12 months; most seeds germinate
the following year, some are dormant taking several years; prolific seed producers.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
2026 Questions and Answers
Ch.1 List the general kinds of damage insect pests can cause - Correct answer--
Chew on seeds, roots, leaves, stems, & fruits
-Tunnel in roots, stems, & leaves
-Suck plant juices
-Promote gall formation and other malformations
-Inject toxins into plants -Transmit diseases to plants
-Create a nuisance for people
Ch.1 Describe the structural features of insects - Correct answer-Insects have: body
form has 3 regions: head, thorax, abdomen; 3 pairs of legs attached to thorax; 0, 1,
or 2 pairs of wings attached to thorax; 1 pair of antennae
Ch.1 Explain how to distinguish insects from other arthropods - Correct answer-
Arthropods have: exoskeleton; body form has 2 regions: head & abdomen; usually
4 pairs of legs attached to head; no wings; no antennae
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Ch.1 Contrast the difference between simple and complete metamorphosis -
Correct answer--Simple: "Incomplete Metamorphosis"; 3 stages: egg, nymph, &
adult
-Complete: 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, & adult
Ch.1 Explain how temperature and humidity affect insect development - Correct
answer-*Temperature & humidity preferences vary for each insect.
*Combined effect of both on reproduction & development is more dramatically
different than the effect of either alone.
-Temperature: development is faster with heat & slower with cold temps; insects
die at the high levels of developmental threshold temps and become inactive at low
levels
-Humidity: effects insect diseases; effects moisture levels required for survival
Ch.1 List the advantages and disadvantages of using insecticides - Correct answer-
Advantages:
-Effective against economically damaging pests
-Can combine 1 or 2 insecticides to combat several pests
-They act quickly to control pests before reaching damaging levels
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,-For new pests, there are many compounds that have been proven effective
-Effective insecticides, suitable formulations, & application equipment are
normally available
Disadvantages:
-Often eliminate beneficial insects, allowing target organisms to rebound quickly
-Repeated exposure can lead to resistance in a pest population
-Yearly dependence on applications is an added cost
-Always a potential for drift, residues, and damage
Ch.2 Explain what determines whether a given plant is a weed - Correct answer-
Weeds are unwanted plants
Ch.2 List the two main goals of weed management - Correct answer-1. Minimize
weed competition
2. Limit the weed's reproduction so that you can still manage the weed population
in future years
Ch.2 Describe ways that weeds can pose problems in turf and landscapes (7) -
Correct answer--Interfere with management practices
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, -Produce chemical inhibitors that directly retard the growth of desirable plants
(allelopathy)
-Create a poor impression on customers
-Interferes with pesticide applications
-Support insect pests and plant diseases or provide cover for rodents
-Are poisonous, allergenic, or irritating to people or pets
-Dry out or die and become fire hazards
Ch.2 Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and woody from herbaceous plants
- Correct answer--Grasses (Monocots): most common weeds; have a single seed
leaf (cotyledon) when they germinate; narrow leaves with parallel viens
-Broadleaves (Dicots): have 2 seed leaves when they germinate; veins form a net-
like or branching pattern; can be broken down into Woody and Herbaceous plants
--> Woody: have thickened outer layer on stems (bark)
--> Herbaceous: lacks bark
Ch. 2 Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and perennial
plants - Correct answer--Annuals: live less than 12 months; most seeds germinate
the following year, some are dormant taking several years; prolific seed producers.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
