WASHINGTON PESTICIDE LAWS AND
SAFETY EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What is a severe pest? - ANS A pest present in populations that are always above the
economic injury level in the absence of control.
What is an occasional or secondary pest? - ANS A pest that can cause damage above
economic injury levels only at certain times.
What is a potential pest? - ANS A pest that typically causes no apparent economic damage
under normal circumstances.
What is a migratory pest? - ANS A pest that may cause serious economic damage on a
periodic basis.
What are the five steps of developing an IPM program? - ANS 1. Identify the pest to be
managed.
2. Define the management system.
3. Develop the pest management strategy.
4. Develop reliable monitoring techniques.
1
5. Use economic thresholds.
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, What is an economic threshold? - ANS The level or density of a pest population where
control measures need to be applied to prevent the pest from reaching the economic injury
level.
What is an economic injury level? - ANS The pest population density that causes losses equal
to the cost of the control measures.
What are mechanical control methods? - ANS Devices that prevent the spread or reduce the
infestation of pests, primarily insects and vertebrate animals. Mechanical controls include hand
destruction, traps, and mechanical exclusions such as screens, nets, and fences.
What are physical control methods? - ANS The manipulation of water, humidity,
temperature, electric shock, or other radiant energy to kill, alter the pests life cycle, or create
an unfavorable environment for the pest to live in.
What are cultural control methods? - ANS The manipulation of the environment to avert
serious pest damage. Cultural control methods require knowledge of the plants needs and
potential problems. Ex: irrigation management, rotating crops, pruning, cover crops, etc.
What are generic control methods? - ANS The use of plants and animals that are resistant to
attack by pests. Ex: Traditional breeding techniques combined with genetic manipulation of
plants to promote host plant resistance to pests and disease.
What are biological control methods? - ANS Involve the introduction, encouragement,
and/or artificial increase of plants and insects/animals that are parasites or predators of a pest
species.
What are chemical control methods? - ANS Involve the use of naturally or synthetically
derived chemicals that, kill, attract, repel, or otherwise manage the growth of a pest.
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, Avicides - ANS Management of birds.
Bactericides - ANS Management of bacteria.
Fungicides - ANS Management of fungi.
Herbicides - ANS Management of plants.
Insecticides - ANS Management of insects and insect relatives.
Miticides - ANS Management of mites.
Molluscicides - ANS Management of snails and slugs.
Nematicides - ANS Management of nematodes.
Piscicides - ANS Management of pest fish.
Rodenticides - ANS Management of rodent populations.
Although not considered pesticides by definition, what three classes of chemicals are also
regulated and classified as such? - ANS 1. Defoliants: Chemicals that cause leaves or foliage
to drop from a plant.
2. Dessicants: Chemicals that promote drying or loss of moisture in plant tissues.
3: Growth Regulators: Substances (other than fertilizers or food) that alter the growth or
development of a plant or animal.
3
Page
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
SAFETY EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What is a severe pest? - ANS A pest present in populations that are always above the
economic injury level in the absence of control.
What is an occasional or secondary pest? - ANS A pest that can cause damage above
economic injury levels only at certain times.
What is a potential pest? - ANS A pest that typically causes no apparent economic damage
under normal circumstances.
What is a migratory pest? - ANS A pest that may cause serious economic damage on a
periodic basis.
What are the five steps of developing an IPM program? - ANS 1. Identify the pest to be
managed.
2. Define the management system.
3. Develop the pest management strategy.
4. Develop reliable monitoring techniques.
1
5. Use economic thresholds.
Page
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
, What is an economic threshold? - ANS The level or density of a pest population where
control measures need to be applied to prevent the pest from reaching the economic injury
level.
What is an economic injury level? - ANS The pest population density that causes losses equal
to the cost of the control measures.
What are mechanical control methods? - ANS Devices that prevent the spread or reduce the
infestation of pests, primarily insects and vertebrate animals. Mechanical controls include hand
destruction, traps, and mechanical exclusions such as screens, nets, and fences.
What are physical control methods? - ANS The manipulation of water, humidity,
temperature, electric shock, or other radiant energy to kill, alter the pests life cycle, or create
an unfavorable environment for the pest to live in.
What are cultural control methods? - ANS The manipulation of the environment to avert
serious pest damage. Cultural control methods require knowledge of the plants needs and
potential problems. Ex: irrigation management, rotating crops, pruning, cover crops, etc.
What are generic control methods? - ANS The use of plants and animals that are resistant to
attack by pests. Ex: Traditional breeding techniques combined with genetic manipulation of
plants to promote host plant resistance to pests and disease.
What are biological control methods? - ANS Involve the introduction, encouragement,
and/or artificial increase of plants and insects/animals that are parasites or predators of a pest
species.
What are chemical control methods? - ANS Involve the use of naturally or synthetically
derived chemicals that, kill, attract, repel, or otherwise manage the growth of a pest.
2
Page
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
, Avicides - ANS Management of birds.
Bactericides - ANS Management of bacteria.
Fungicides - ANS Management of fungi.
Herbicides - ANS Management of plants.
Insecticides - ANS Management of insects and insect relatives.
Miticides - ANS Management of mites.
Molluscicides - ANS Management of snails and slugs.
Nematicides - ANS Management of nematodes.
Piscicides - ANS Management of pest fish.
Rodenticides - ANS Management of rodent populations.
Although not considered pesticides by definition, what three classes of chemicals are also
regulated and classified as such? - ANS 1. Defoliants: Chemicals that cause leaves or foliage
to drop from a plant.
2. Dessicants: Chemicals that promote drying or loss of moisture in plant tissues.
3: Growth Regulators: Substances (other than fertilizers or food) that alter the growth or
development of a plant or animal.
3
Page
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
