ALABAMA HOUSEHOLD PEST CONTROL EXAM (CATEGORY 7D/8 – HOUSEHOLD & STRUCTURAL PESTS) EXAM QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT ANSWERS 2026/2027

ALABAMA HOUSEHOLD PEST CONTROL EXAM (CATEGORY 7D/8 – HOUSEHOLD & STRUCTURAL PESTS) EXAM QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT ANSWERS 1. What is the most important step for preventing a recurring German cockroach infestation? A) Using pyrethroid-only sprays weekly B) Sealing cracks and crevices near food and water sources C) Fogging the entire house every month D) Applying diatomaceous earth only to baseboards Correct Answer: B Rationale: German cockroaches need food, water, and harborage. Sealing cracks removes harborage and prevents entry/recolonization. Chemicals alone won’t stop reinfestation without exclusion and sanitation. ________________________________________ 2. Which insect is most likely to be found tunneling into seasoned structural wood inside a home in Alabama? A) Eastern subterranean termite B) Old house borer C) Carpenter ant D) Powderpost beetle (Lyctidae) Correct Answer: D Rationale: Powderpost beetles (Lyctus spp.) infest seasoned hardwoods (e.g., flooring, furniture), leaving fine, flour-like frass. Subterranean termites need moisture; old house borers prefer softwoods; carpenter ants don’t eat wood—they nest in damp wood. ________________________________________ 3. A homeowner finds small, black, shiny insects with pincer-like cerci on the bathroom floor at night. What is the most likely pest? A) Oriental cockroach B) Earwig C) Ground beetle D) Spider beetle Correct Answer: B Rationale: Earwigs have characteristic pincer-like cerci, are nocturnal, and are attracted to damp areas. Oriental cockroaches are dark but lack pincers. Ground beetles have hardened wing covers without cerci. ________________________________________ 4. The active ingredient fipronil works primarily by: A) Disrupting the insect’s nervous system via GABA-gated chloride channels B) Inhibiting acetylcholinesterase C) Desiccating the exoskeleton D) Blocking sodium channels Correct Answer: A Rationale: Fipronil is a phenylpyrazole that blocks GABA-gated chloride channels, causing hyperexcitation. B describes organophosphates/carbamates; D describes pyrethroids. Desiccant action is from silica gel or diatomaceous earth. ________________________________________ 5. What is the correct mixing order for a typical pesticide tank (using a compatibility agent)? A) Surfactant → pesticide → water B) Water → pesticide → surfactant C) Pesticide → water → surfactant D) Water → surfactant → pesticide Correct Answer: D Rationale: Standard order: water first, then compatibility agent/surfactant (if any), then pesticide, then any remaining adjuvants. This prevents clumping and ensures even mixing. ________________________________________ 6. Which of the following is a label “restricted use” pesticide in Alabama? A) Boric acid dust B) Deltamethrin suspension concentrate C) Phosphine fumigant tablets D) Piperonyl butoxide synergist Correct Answer: C Rationale: Phosphine (e.g., aluminum phosphide) is restricted due to high acute toxicity and fumigation hazards. Boric acid and most pyrethroids (deltamethrin) are general use. PBO is an adjuvant, not a restricted product. ________________________________________ 7. A brown recluse spider bite typically causes: A) Immediate sharp pain and systemic shock B) Necrotic skin lesion developing hours to days later C) Cardiotoxicity within 30 minutes D) No reaction in most cases Correct Answer: B Rationale: Brown recluse venom (sphingomyelinase D) causes delayed tissue necrosis, often 12–24 hours post-bite. Pain is mild initially. Systemic reactions are rare; not cardiotoxic. ________________________________________ 8. What is the primary reason for using a bait gel inside kitchen cabinets for ants? A) To provide a long-lasting surface residue B) To kill ants immediately upon contact C) To allow workers to carry the toxicant back to the colony D) To repel ants from entering the home Correct Answer: C Rationale: Bait gels are slow-acting toxicants mixed with attractants. Foragers take gel back, feed larvae and queen, killing the colony. Immediate kill or repellency fails colony elimination. ________________________________________ 9. Which rodent is most likely to nest in attics and gnaw on electrical wires in Alabama homes? A) Norway rat B) House mouse C) Roof rat D) Eastern chipmunk Correct Answer: C Rationale: Roof rats (Rattus rattus) are excellent climbers, nest in upper parts of structures, and gnaw wires. Norway rats prefer ground/burrows. House mice can nest in attics but less wire gnawing than roof rats. ________________________________________ 10. How often must a certified applicator renew their Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) pest control license? A) Every 1 year B) Every 2 years C) Every 3 years D) Every 5 years Correct Answer: B Rationale: Alabama requires biennial renewal (every 2 years) with continuing education units (CEUs). Check current rules, but historically 2 years for commercial applicators.