OTPS/OTPC Exam Questions & Answers
100% Correct!!
ground pearls - ANSWER observed in the cyst stage or when pink females are mobile
white grubs - ANSWER c-shaped root-feeding immature stages of scarab beetles. distinct head and 3
pairs of legs
billbug adults - ANSWER snouted beetles that feed on grass as adults (before laying eggs)
immature billbug - ANSWER differ from white grubs bc they are legless and feed from inside the
plant as younger larvae
honeydew - ANSWER sugary liquid excrement of mealy bugs, aphids, white flies and most soft scales
(not armored). makes leaves look shiny. wasps ants and bees will feed off of it.
sooty mold - ANSWER a black to brown mold that grows on honey dew on the leaf surface that lasts
from year to year
treehoppers - ANSWER suck plant sap. have a unique form that can act as camouflage
caterpillars - ANSWER chew leaves and may defoliate the trees. they start as eggs on or near plant
and feeding is unnoticeable until they are larger
tent caterpillars and fall webworms - ANSWER live inside nests of trees made of silk. webworms
nests are at the end of tree branches in late spring to early summer
bagworms - ANSWER caterpillars that live and grow in individual bags made of silk and decorated
with plant parts for camouflage
Green June Beetle larvae - ANSWER larger than white grubs and crawl on their backs if found alive
, tawny and southern mole cricketes - ANSWER cause the most problems in turfgrass
thrips - ANSWER small and typically found in flowers on underside of leaves. the adults (fringed
wings) and immature stages SUCK plant SAP.
sharpshooters, plant hoppers, leaf hoppers - ANSWER suck plant sap. glassy winged sharpshooter is
common in summer on sunflowers and crapemyrtle.
cicada killer wasps - ANSWER among the largest wasps in Alabama. Females grab cicadas from the
trees and take them into burrows they make in sand or bare soil. Males hover around the burrows
waiting for females.
mole cricket hunter (wasp) - ANSWER (Larra bicolor) introduced to florida for biological control of
mole crickets. now found in parts of alabama as far north as auburn. As the mole cricket lies inert on
the ground, the wasp lays a single egg on its underside. Once egg has been laid, the wasp leaves the
mole cricket. mole cricket recovers from its temporary paralysis and burrows back into the ground.
paper wasps - ANSWER sting when disturbed. eat caterpillars such as armyworms and webworms
that attack turfgrass.
fall armyworm egg masses - ANSWER on flags or fence posts are a noticeable sign that populations
are very high. eggs hatch in just a few days and larvae begin feeding.
fall armyworm larvae - ANSWER larger, striped larvae with four distinct dots on the rear end and a
white wishbone suture on the head
tropical sod webworm larvae - ANSWER lack stripes but often have blotches or spots on segments.
these spots that do not cross body segments, are common on webworms.
predators, ants, beetles, spiders - ANSWER eat eggs and immature stages of many pests reducing
the need for insecticides in most turf stands
bermudagrass or zoysiagrass mites - ANSWER damage causes bunching of growth or a straplike
distortion to the tip of the grass blades
100% Correct!!
ground pearls - ANSWER observed in the cyst stage or when pink females are mobile
white grubs - ANSWER c-shaped root-feeding immature stages of scarab beetles. distinct head and 3
pairs of legs
billbug adults - ANSWER snouted beetles that feed on grass as adults (before laying eggs)
immature billbug - ANSWER differ from white grubs bc they are legless and feed from inside the
plant as younger larvae
honeydew - ANSWER sugary liquid excrement of mealy bugs, aphids, white flies and most soft scales
(not armored). makes leaves look shiny. wasps ants and bees will feed off of it.
sooty mold - ANSWER a black to brown mold that grows on honey dew on the leaf surface that lasts
from year to year
treehoppers - ANSWER suck plant sap. have a unique form that can act as camouflage
caterpillars - ANSWER chew leaves and may defoliate the trees. they start as eggs on or near plant
and feeding is unnoticeable until they are larger
tent caterpillars and fall webworms - ANSWER live inside nests of trees made of silk. webworms
nests are at the end of tree branches in late spring to early summer
bagworms - ANSWER caterpillars that live and grow in individual bags made of silk and decorated
with plant parts for camouflage
Green June Beetle larvae - ANSWER larger than white grubs and crawl on their backs if found alive
, tawny and southern mole cricketes - ANSWER cause the most problems in turfgrass
thrips - ANSWER small and typically found in flowers on underside of leaves. the adults (fringed
wings) and immature stages SUCK plant SAP.
sharpshooters, plant hoppers, leaf hoppers - ANSWER suck plant sap. glassy winged sharpshooter is
common in summer on sunflowers and crapemyrtle.
cicada killer wasps - ANSWER among the largest wasps in Alabama. Females grab cicadas from the
trees and take them into burrows they make in sand or bare soil. Males hover around the burrows
waiting for females.
mole cricket hunter (wasp) - ANSWER (Larra bicolor) introduced to florida for biological control of
mole crickets. now found in parts of alabama as far north as auburn. As the mole cricket lies inert on
the ground, the wasp lays a single egg on its underside. Once egg has been laid, the wasp leaves the
mole cricket. mole cricket recovers from its temporary paralysis and burrows back into the ground.
paper wasps - ANSWER sting when disturbed. eat caterpillars such as armyworms and webworms
that attack turfgrass.
fall armyworm egg masses - ANSWER on flags or fence posts are a noticeable sign that populations
are very high. eggs hatch in just a few days and larvae begin feeding.
fall armyworm larvae - ANSWER larger, striped larvae with four distinct dots on the rear end and a
white wishbone suture on the head
tropical sod webworm larvae - ANSWER lack stripes but often have blotches or spots on segments.
these spots that do not cross body segments, are common on webworms.
predators, ants, beetles, spiders - ANSWER eat eggs and immature stages of many pests reducing
the need for insecticides in most turf stands
bermudagrass or zoysiagrass mites - ANSWER damage causes bunching of growth or a straplike
distortion to the tip of the grass blades
