5.0 AQUATIC AND MOSQUITO COURSE
EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
List the roles plants play in a healthy aquatic ecosystem - ANS producing oxygen, preventing
erosion, lessening excess nutrients, stabilizing the lake bottom, and providing habitat and food
List ways that excessive plant growth can adversely affect the ecology and uses of a water body
- ANS Harm the ecology of an aquatic ecosystem, prevent recreational uses, impart tastes or
odors to drinking water supplies, hamper water treatment, adversely affect aesthetics/
property value, and produce toxins
Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal, and potential problems caused by
emergent aquatic plants - ANS growth extending above the water line, spread by an
underground root system and by seed,. They can exclude recreational pursuits and choke out
water ways in high numbers
Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal, and potential problems caused by
submergent aquatic plants - ANS growth occurring below the water line, spread by
vegetative root system, seed and fracturing, Typically these plants do not cause problems,
besides invasive species
Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal, and potential problems caused by
free floating and rooted floating aquatic plants - ANS occur on the water surface. free
floating with short roots not attached to the bottom, or rooted plants with large floating leaves.
Free-floating plants are typically problematic along shorelines because they are windblown.
Very difficult to control in large bodies of water and b/c they reproduce quickly through cloning
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,Rooted plants reproduce by seed and through roots and rhizomes. These plants provide
valuable cover for fish and are only rarely a nuisance
Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal, and potential problems caused by
free floating, rooted, and filamentous algae - ANS without stems, leaves, or a water- and
food-conducting vascular system. found floating or attached to submerged surfaces. As the
summer progresses and the weather becomes warmer, these plants multiply rapidly. Free-
floating algae are responsible for many of the summer "algae blooms.
List the advantages of chemical control of aquatic plants and algae - ANS longer lasting
control than some mechanical methods., May involve less physical labor, Some herbicides or
algicides at specific rates may be selective, Can be effective tools in the tool box for the control
of invasive and nuisance plants and algae
List the disadvantages of chemical control of aquatic plants and algae - ANS Can lead to
restrictions on water use, Large treatments can lead to too much die-offs leading to oxygen
depletion and fish kills., Sudden release of nutrients into the water can lead to increases in
other problems, Inherent risk to people and nontarget organisms
Describe the beneficial roles of Wisconsin's fish populations - ANS help maintain balanced
communities by feeding on aquatic plants, insects, and other fish, and by providing a food
source for natural predators
List five types of situations in which fish control may be warranted - ANS Eliminating
undesirable or competing fish from fish rearing ponds, Removing exotic (nonnative) or other
undesirable species from a body of water, Thinning stunted fish, Eliminating fish from a
hatchery water supply to prevent a potential reservoir of disease-causing organisms, Treating
fish spawning sites to prevent overpopulation of an individual species
Explain why post-treatment management of fish can be important in the long-term success of a
pesticide treatment project - ANS removal or reduction of fish populations is the first step in
a total management program, Determine whether eliminating or reducing all or only a few
species would accomplish the long-range goal. objective will help determine which pesticide
you use, its concentration, and how and when you apply it..
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,what do you need to do before you can conduct any chemical treatment for fish control -
ANS get approval from the WDNR
List the two main reasons why mosquito control may be warranted - ANS nuisance control
and vector control
Describe the four stages of the mosquito life cycle, including the main structural features of
each - ANS 1. Egg- 1/25 inch long, light color. most hatch within 3 days
2. Larvae- 4 developmental stages, segmented, breathing hole
3. Pupae- transitional non feeding stage, lasts a few days, suspended at surface
4. Adults- females feed on blood, adults on nectar. males have bushier, longer antennae
List the types of information you need about a mosquito species before you can develop an
effective program to control it - ANS information on breeding sites, # of generation/ year,
host preference, seasonal population levels, flight range, resting areas, if they can transmit
pathogens, whether the mosquitos carry pathogens
Describe the habits and life history of Aedes vexans - ANS "inland floodwater mosquito,",
roadside puddles; woodland pools; shallow, open, temporary pools; and river bottoms. Adults
commonly migrate 15 to 20 miles or more from breeding sites and can live for 3 to 4 weeks.
Eggs can remain dormant for up to 5 years.
Describe the habits and life history of Culex Species - ANS breed in temporary or permanent
pools of water that are high in organic material, readily breeds in artificial containers (Figure 5)
and other structures commonly associated with humans, such as ditches and sewage lagoons.
transmits st. louis encephalitis and west nile virus
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, Describe the habits and life history of Aedes triseriatus - ANS "tree-hole mosquito" that
breeds in old tires, tin cans, barrels, and tree holes and stumps. main vector of La Crosse
encephalitis.
List the three main mosquito-transmitted diseases that occur in Wisconsin and know the
mosquito vector for each - ANS La Crosse Encephalitis - Aedes triseriatus
West Nile Virus - Culex pipiens
Dog Heartworm - Aedes vexans
Define the word pesticide - ANS any substance used to directly control pest populations or to
prevent or reduce pest damage
Selectivity of Pesticides - ANS refers to how broad, or narrow, a range of pests a particular
chemical will control
Systemic vs. Contact Pesticides - ANS Systemic pesticides are absorbed through leaves or
roots of treated plants and then translocated
contact pesticides are not absorbed by treated plants. These pesticides must directly touch the
pest
Persistence - ANS how long they remain active to control pests
Contrast the difference between organic, inorganic and microbial pesticides - ANS Organic
Pesticides- organic simply means the chemical compound contains the element carbon. They
are often extremely effective and some are quite specific in their activity.
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EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
List the roles plants play in a healthy aquatic ecosystem - ANS producing oxygen, preventing
erosion, lessening excess nutrients, stabilizing the lake bottom, and providing habitat and food
List ways that excessive plant growth can adversely affect the ecology and uses of a water body
- ANS Harm the ecology of an aquatic ecosystem, prevent recreational uses, impart tastes or
odors to drinking water supplies, hamper water treatment, adversely affect aesthetics/
property value, and produce toxins
Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal, and potential problems caused by
emergent aquatic plants - ANS growth extending above the water line, spread by an
underground root system and by seed,. They can exclude recreational pursuits and choke out
water ways in high numbers
Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal, and potential problems caused by
submergent aquatic plants - ANS growth occurring below the water line, spread by
vegetative root system, seed and fracturing, Typically these plants do not cause problems,
besides invasive species
Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal, and potential problems caused by
free floating and rooted floating aquatic plants - ANS occur on the water surface. free
floating with short roots not attached to the bottom, or rooted plants with large floating leaves.
Free-floating plants are typically problematic along shorelines because they are windblown.
Very difficult to control in large bodies of water and b/c they reproduce quickly through cloning
1 Copyright ©2025 THESTAR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
,Rooted plants reproduce by seed and through roots and rhizomes. These plants provide
valuable cover for fish and are only rarely a nuisance
Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal, and potential problems caused by
free floating, rooted, and filamentous algae - ANS without stems, leaves, or a water- and
food-conducting vascular system. found floating or attached to submerged surfaces. As the
summer progresses and the weather becomes warmer, these plants multiply rapidly. Free-
floating algae are responsible for many of the summer "algae blooms.
List the advantages of chemical control of aquatic plants and algae - ANS longer lasting
control than some mechanical methods., May involve less physical labor, Some herbicides or
algicides at specific rates may be selective, Can be effective tools in the tool box for the control
of invasive and nuisance plants and algae
List the disadvantages of chemical control of aquatic plants and algae - ANS Can lead to
restrictions on water use, Large treatments can lead to too much die-offs leading to oxygen
depletion and fish kills., Sudden release of nutrients into the water can lead to increases in
other problems, Inherent risk to people and nontarget organisms
Describe the beneficial roles of Wisconsin's fish populations - ANS help maintain balanced
communities by feeding on aquatic plants, insects, and other fish, and by providing a food
source for natural predators
List five types of situations in which fish control may be warranted - ANS Eliminating
undesirable or competing fish from fish rearing ponds, Removing exotic (nonnative) or other
undesirable species from a body of water, Thinning stunted fish, Eliminating fish from a
hatchery water supply to prevent a potential reservoir of disease-causing organisms, Treating
fish spawning sites to prevent overpopulation of an individual species
Explain why post-treatment management of fish can be important in the long-term success of a
pesticide treatment project - ANS removal or reduction of fish populations is the first step in
a total management program, Determine whether eliminating or reducing all or only a few
species would accomplish the long-range goal. objective will help determine which pesticide
you use, its concentration, and how and when you apply it..
2 Copyright ©2025 THESTAR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
,what do you need to do before you can conduct any chemical treatment for fish control -
ANS get approval from the WDNR
List the two main reasons why mosquito control may be warranted - ANS nuisance control
and vector control
Describe the four stages of the mosquito life cycle, including the main structural features of
each - ANS 1. Egg- 1/25 inch long, light color. most hatch within 3 days
2. Larvae- 4 developmental stages, segmented, breathing hole
3. Pupae- transitional non feeding stage, lasts a few days, suspended at surface
4. Adults- females feed on blood, adults on nectar. males have bushier, longer antennae
List the types of information you need about a mosquito species before you can develop an
effective program to control it - ANS information on breeding sites, # of generation/ year,
host preference, seasonal population levels, flight range, resting areas, if they can transmit
pathogens, whether the mosquitos carry pathogens
Describe the habits and life history of Aedes vexans - ANS "inland floodwater mosquito,",
roadside puddles; woodland pools; shallow, open, temporary pools; and river bottoms. Adults
commonly migrate 15 to 20 miles or more from breeding sites and can live for 3 to 4 weeks.
Eggs can remain dormant for up to 5 years.
Describe the habits and life history of Culex Species - ANS breed in temporary or permanent
pools of water that are high in organic material, readily breeds in artificial containers (Figure 5)
and other structures commonly associated with humans, such as ditches and sewage lagoons.
transmits st. louis encephalitis and west nile virus
3 Copyright ©2025 THESTAR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, Describe the habits and life history of Aedes triseriatus - ANS "tree-hole mosquito" that
breeds in old tires, tin cans, barrels, and tree holes and stumps. main vector of La Crosse
encephalitis.
List the three main mosquito-transmitted diseases that occur in Wisconsin and know the
mosquito vector for each - ANS La Crosse Encephalitis - Aedes triseriatus
West Nile Virus - Culex pipiens
Dog Heartworm - Aedes vexans
Define the word pesticide - ANS any substance used to directly control pest populations or to
prevent or reduce pest damage
Selectivity of Pesticides - ANS refers to how broad, or narrow, a range of pests a particular
chemical will control
Systemic vs. Contact Pesticides - ANS Systemic pesticides are absorbed through leaves or
roots of treated plants and then translocated
contact pesticides are not absorbed by treated plants. These pesticides must directly touch the
pest
Persistence - ANS how long they remain active to control pests
Contrast the difference between organic, inorganic and microbial pesticides - ANS Organic
Pesticides- organic simply means the chemical compound contains the element carbon. They
are often extremely effective and some are quite specific in their activity.
4 Copyright ©2025 THESTAR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
