CALIFORNIA QAL B LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE & PEST
MANAGEMENT PRACTICE EXAM 2026 – 150 COMPLETE ACCURATE
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS (100%
CORRECT ANSWERS) / ALREADY GRADED A+
1. Which pest commonly infests ornamental shrubs and produces scale
coverings?
☑ A. Scale insects
☐ B. Aphids
☐ C. Caterpillars
☐ D. Thrips
Rationale: Scale insects attach to stems and leaves and are protected by waxy coverings, making
them difficult to control.
2. What is the most vulnerable stage to control scale insects?
☑ A. Crawler stage
☐ B. Adult stage
☐ C. Dormant stage only
☐ D. Egg stage only
Rationale: Crawlers are mobile and not yet protected by wax, so pesticides are most effective at
this stage.
3. Which insect pest causes leaves to roll or fold for protection while feeding?
☑ A. Leaf rollers
☐ B. Beetles
☐ C. Mites
☐ D. Slugs
Rationale: Leaf rollers fold leaves to create shelter and feed safely inside.
4. Which cultural practice helps prevent root disease in landscape plants?
,☑ A. Avoid overwatering
☐ B. Increase fertilizer
☐ C. Compact soil
☐ D. Reduce drainage
Rationale: Excess moisture encourages root pathogens; proper irrigation prevents disease.
5. Which pest thrives in hot, dry weather conditions?
☑ A. Spider mites
☐ B. Slugs
☐ C. Snails
☐ D. Fungi
Rationale: Spider mites reproduce rapidly under dry, warm conditions, causing leaf damage.
6. Which pathogen causes crown gall in woody plants?
☑ A. Bacteria
☐ B. Fungus
☐ C. Virus
☐ D. Nematode
Rationale: Agrobacterium tumefaciens induces tumor-like galls at crown and stem tissue.
7. Which pest tunnels into woody stems and can weaken trees?
☑ A. Borers
☐ B. Aphids
☐ C. Thrips
☐ D. Whiteflies
Rationale: Borers feed inside stems, disrupting vascular tissue and weakening plants
structurally.
,8. What does "mode of action" refer to in pest management?
☑ A. How a pesticide affects the pest
☐ B. Application timing
☐ C. Spray equipment used
☐ D. Personal protective equipment required
Rationale: Mode of action explains how the pesticide works to control the pest.
9. Which practice reduces herbicide injury to turf?
☑ A. Apply at labeled rates
☐ B. Increase concentration
☐ C. Apply during drought
☐ D. Mix products
Rationale: Following label instructions prevents damage to desirable plants.
10. Which pest causes silvery streaks or discoloration on leaves?
☑ A. Thrips
☐ B. Beetles
☐ C. Aphids
☐ D. Slugs
Rationale: Thrips feed on plant cells, causing a silvering or stippling effect on leaves.
11. Which weed spreads primarily by seed?
☑ A. Crabgrass
☐ B. Bermudagrass
☐ C. Nutsedge
☐ D. Bindweed
Rationale: Crabgrass is an annual that reproduces by seed, allowing it to spread quickly.
, 12. Which practice prevents pesticide contamination of water?
☑ A. Backflow prevention
☐ B. Mixing near drains
☐ C. Overfilling tanks
☐ D. Ignoring labels
Rationale: Backflow devices stop chemicals from entering water supplies.
13. Which pest skeletonizes leaves, leaving veins intact?
☑ A. Japanese beetle
☐ B. Aphid
☐ C. Mite
☐ D. Whitefly
Rationale: Japanese beetles feed on leaf tissue between veins.
14. Which factor most influences pest population growth?
☑ A. Temperature
☐ B. Leaf color
☐ C. Soil texture only
☐ D. Plant height
Rationale: Temperature affects reproduction and development of most pests.
15. Which disease produces dark, circular lesions on leaves?
☑ A. Leaf spot
☐ B. Powdery mildew
☐ C. Rust
☐ D. Mosaic virus
Rationale: Leaf spot pathogens form dark lesions as part of their infection process.
MANAGEMENT PRACTICE EXAM 2026 – 150 COMPLETE ACCURATE
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS (100%
CORRECT ANSWERS) / ALREADY GRADED A+
1. Which pest commonly infests ornamental shrubs and produces scale
coverings?
☑ A. Scale insects
☐ B. Aphids
☐ C. Caterpillars
☐ D. Thrips
Rationale: Scale insects attach to stems and leaves and are protected by waxy coverings, making
them difficult to control.
2. What is the most vulnerable stage to control scale insects?
☑ A. Crawler stage
☐ B. Adult stage
☐ C. Dormant stage only
☐ D. Egg stage only
Rationale: Crawlers are mobile and not yet protected by wax, so pesticides are most effective at
this stage.
3. Which insect pest causes leaves to roll or fold for protection while feeding?
☑ A. Leaf rollers
☐ B. Beetles
☐ C. Mites
☐ D. Slugs
Rationale: Leaf rollers fold leaves to create shelter and feed safely inside.
4. Which cultural practice helps prevent root disease in landscape plants?
,☑ A. Avoid overwatering
☐ B. Increase fertilizer
☐ C. Compact soil
☐ D. Reduce drainage
Rationale: Excess moisture encourages root pathogens; proper irrigation prevents disease.
5. Which pest thrives in hot, dry weather conditions?
☑ A. Spider mites
☐ B. Slugs
☐ C. Snails
☐ D. Fungi
Rationale: Spider mites reproduce rapidly under dry, warm conditions, causing leaf damage.
6. Which pathogen causes crown gall in woody plants?
☑ A. Bacteria
☐ B. Fungus
☐ C. Virus
☐ D. Nematode
Rationale: Agrobacterium tumefaciens induces tumor-like galls at crown and stem tissue.
7. Which pest tunnels into woody stems and can weaken trees?
☑ A. Borers
☐ B. Aphids
☐ C. Thrips
☐ D. Whiteflies
Rationale: Borers feed inside stems, disrupting vascular tissue and weakening plants
structurally.
,8. What does "mode of action" refer to in pest management?
☑ A. How a pesticide affects the pest
☐ B. Application timing
☐ C. Spray equipment used
☐ D. Personal protective equipment required
Rationale: Mode of action explains how the pesticide works to control the pest.
9. Which practice reduces herbicide injury to turf?
☑ A. Apply at labeled rates
☐ B. Increase concentration
☐ C. Apply during drought
☐ D. Mix products
Rationale: Following label instructions prevents damage to desirable plants.
10. Which pest causes silvery streaks or discoloration on leaves?
☑ A. Thrips
☐ B. Beetles
☐ C. Aphids
☐ D. Slugs
Rationale: Thrips feed on plant cells, causing a silvering or stippling effect on leaves.
11. Which weed spreads primarily by seed?
☑ A. Crabgrass
☐ B. Bermudagrass
☐ C. Nutsedge
☐ D. Bindweed
Rationale: Crabgrass is an annual that reproduces by seed, allowing it to spread quickly.
, 12. Which practice prevents pesticide contamination of water?
☑ A. Backflow prevention
☐ B. Mixing near drains
☐ C. Overfilling tanks
☐ D. Ignoring labels
Rationale: Backflow devices stop chemicals from entering water supplies.
13. Which pest skeletonizes leaves, leaving veins intact?
☑ A. Japanese beetle
☐ B. Aphid
☐ C. Mite
☐ D. Whitefly
Rationale: Japanese beetles feed on leaf tissue between veins.
14. Which factor most influences pest population growth?
☑ A. Temperature
☐ B. Leaf color
☐ C. Soil texture only
☐ D. Plant height
Rationale: Temperature affects reproduction and development of most pests.
15. Which disease produces dark, circular lesions on leaves?
☑ A. Leaf spot
☐ B. Powdery mildew
☐ C. Rust
☐ D. Mosaic virus
Rationale: Leaf spot pathogens form dark lesions as part of their infection process.
