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Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Exam 2025/
Summer-Fall Turf & Landscape Questions And
Answers Graded A+
Ch.1 Explain how to distinguish insects from other arthropods
Arthropods have: exoskeleton; body form has 2 regions: head & abdomen; usually 4 pairs of legs attached to head; no wings; no antennae
Ch.1 Contrast the difference between simple and complete metamorphosis
-Simple: "Incomplete Metamorphosis"; 3 stages: egg, nymph, & adult
-Complete: 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, & adult
Ch.1 Explain how temperature and humidity affect insect development
*Temperature & humidity preferences vary for each insect.
*Combined effect of both on reproduction & development is more dramatically different than the effect of either alone.
-Temperature: development is faster with heat & slower with cold temps; insects die at the high levels of developmental threshold temps and become inactive at low levels
-Humidity: effects insect diseases; effects moisture levels required for survival
Ch.1 List the advantages and disadvantages of using insecticides
Advantages:
-Effective against economically damaging pests
-Can combine 1 or 2 insecticides to combat several pests
-They act quickly to control pests before reaching damaging levels
-For new pests, there are many compounds that have been proven effective
-Effective insecticides, suitable formulations, & application equipment are normally available
Disadvantages:
-Often eliminate beneficial insects, allowing target organisms to rebound quickly
-Repeated exposure can lead to resistance in a pest population
-Yearly dependence on applications is an added cost
-Always a potential for drift, residues, and damage
Ch.1 List the general kinds of damage insect pests can cause
-Chew on seeds, roots, leaves, stems, & fruits
-Tunnel in roots, stems, & leaves
-Suck plant juices
-Promote gall formation and other malformations
-Inject toxins into plants -Transmit diseases to plants
-Support insect pests and plant diseases or provide cover for rodents
-Are poisonous, allergenic, or irritating to people or pets
-Dry out or die and become fire hazards
Ch.2 Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and woody from herbaceous plants
-Grasses (Monocots): most common weeds; have a single seed leaf (cotyledon) when they germinate; narrow leaves with parallel viens
-Broadleaves (Dicots): have 2 seed leaves when they germinate; veins form a net- like or branching pattern; can be broken down into Woody and Herbaceous plants
--> Woody: have thickened outer layer on stems (bark)
--> Herbaceous: lacks bark
Ch. 2 Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and perennial plants
-Annuals: live less than 12 months; most seeds germinate the following year, some are dormant taking several years; prolific seed producers.
--> Summer Annuals: germinate from seed in spring, flower/produce seeds in summer, die in late summer/early fall.
--> Winter Annuals: germinate from seed in fall, overwinter as low-growing plants, flower/produce seeds in spring, then die.
-Biennials: live for 2 growing seasons; germinate from seeds in spring or summer and produce a rosette of leaves, overwinter in rosette stage, flower the following year, produce seed, and die.
-Perennials: live for at least 2 years, sometimes longer; may reproduce by seed or spread vegetatively (stolons, rhizomes, spreading roots, tubers, bulbs)
Ch.2 Outline what is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and when it is easiest to do so
-Annuals: kill the whole shoot by tillage or with herbicides during seeding stage.
--> Summer Annuals: kill with tillage or herbicides during seeding stage.
--> Winter Annuals: kill with tillage or herbicides during seeding stage.
-Biennials: best controlled with herbicides during rosette stage.
Perennials: controlled by repeatedly tilling or with herbicides that translocates to all plant parts.
Ch.2 Distinguish the difference between preplant, preemergence, and postemergence herbicide applications
-Preplant: done before planting.
-Preemergence: usually (not always) done after planting but before plants/weeds emerge.
-Postemergence: done selectively after plants/weeds emerge; timing is important; if the desirable plant is smaller or larger than the growth stage listed on the label, it may be damaged by the herbicide.
Ch.2 List steps to take when applying herbicides to minimize adverse effects in urban areas
-Prevent spray drift, drift of volatile products, runoff.
-Spray when weeds are most susceptible so the minimum amount of herbicide results in maximum weed control.
-Use less volatile formations
-Apply on days when temps are less than 80 degrees F
-Avoid spraying during midsummer; garden plants and vegetables are more susceptible.
-Avoid applying herbicides on dry, compacted soils
-Keep pesticides off impermeable surfaces
Chapter 2 Know the Law
State and local laws require landowners to control certain weeds to prevent their spread and distribution
Ch.3 Define plant disease and what causes it
Any harmful change in the physiology and/or structure of a plant caused by some outside agent.
Ch.3 List examples of the major groups of plant pathogens (7)
-Fungi (blights)
-Oomycetes (downy mildews) -Nematodes (root rot)
-Bacteria (fire blight
-Phytoplasmas (corn stunts)
-Viruses (soybean mosaic)-Viroids (potato spindle tuber)
Ch.3 Describe how the major groups of plant pathogens are spread from plant to plant
-Fungi: wind, rain splash, insect vectors
-Oomycetes: wind, rain splash, transfer of infested soil
-Nematodes: transfer of infested soil, infested planting stock
-Bacteria: rain splash, insect vectors, tools
-Phytoplasmas: only by insect vectors
-Viruses: insect vectors, mechanical transmission, rubbing of infected leaf to another, seed borne, vegetative propagation
-Viroids: mechanical transmission, vegetative propagation
Ch.3 List the four prerequisites for plant disease to occur
- A pathogen population capable of causing disease
- A host that is susceptible to infection by that pathogen population
Reduced rate/lower spray volumes may not be effective. Requires saturation with multiple applications to get full coverage.
Ch.3 List examples of abiotic agents that induce plant injury
Temperature extremes; Soil moisture extremes; Reduced oxygen levels; Unfavorable light conditions; Naturally occurring toxic chemicals; Salt; Soil compaction; Deficiency, excess, or imbalance of soil nutrients; Pollutants
Ch.4 Describe factors that complicate management of pest mammals (5)
Mobility, Unpredictability, Public Perception, Legal Status, Management Techniques
Ch.4 Explain the regulations regarding the use of pesticides to control mammals
Using pesticides to control mammals and birds is strictly regulated and often involves obtaining special permits from the WI Dept of Ag, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and/or the WI DNR
Ch.4 Describe the damage that pests discussed in this chapter can cause to turf and landscapes
-Meadow Mice: girdle roots, kill/injure trees and shrubs.
-Rabbits: browse on bark and branches of trees and shrubs.
-Moles: tunnels interfere with mowing, expose roots to air killing grass/other plants.
-Ground Squirrels: problem in gardens and lawns.
-Skunks: mostly beneficial, disliked because of stink
-Deer: damage woody plants by feeding on buds and young branches, rubbing, trampling.
Ch.4 Outline your management options for controlling the pests discussed in this chapter
-Meadow Mice: rodenticide baits
-Rabbits: no lethal pesticides; virtually impossible to eliminate.
-Moles: poison baits with food.
-Ground Squirrels: toxic bait or rodenticides for large areas.
-Skunks: no lethal pesticides; trapping or habitat destruction.
-Deer: repellents, scare devices, fencing
Chapter 4 Know the Law
You need a use permit to use any pesticide for the control of mammals (other than rats and mice) or to use strychnine or 1080
-Contact: not absorbed by treated plants; pesticides must directly touch the pest or pest site to be effective.
-Systemic: absorbed through leaves or roots of treated plants; translocated within plant
Ch.5 Outline the characteristics of the insecticide groups discussed in this chapter (5)
- Synthetic Organic Insecticides: most widely used group; manufactured.
- Botanicals: plant-derived; nonpersistent; can be very toxic to humans.
- Oils: derived from crude petroleum oil; suffocates pests; requires thorough coverage.
- Insecticidal Soaps: fats; disrupt the respiratory system and cell membranes; coverage is critical.
- Microbial Insecticides:
--> Bt: naturally occurring bacteria; targets caterpillar pests.
--> Milky Spore Powders: bacterium; causes milky spore disease in Japanese Beetles
Ch.5 Compare selective and nonselective herbicides
-Selective: control certain weeds without damaging desirable plants.
-Nonselective: toxic to most or all plants.
Ch.5 Outline the uses and characteristics of contact and systemic herbicides
-Contact: kill the parts of the plant they actually touch.
-Systemic: absorbed through leaves/roots and translocated within the plant.
Ch5. Contrast protectant and post-infection fungicides and explain how each are used
-Protectant: applied before disease develops to protect plant; apply repeatedly during growing season.
-Post-Infection: kill/inhibit growth/development of fungus after it has been established; mostly effective in first 48 hours.
Ch.5 Describe the type of rodenticides used to control rats and mice
Anticoagulants or Acute Compounds: after being ingested, damages capillaries and reduces the ability of the blood to clot, dies from internal bleeding
Ch.6 Describe the function of inert ingredients
-Do not posses pesticidal activity
-Added to improve application effectiveness, safety, handling, storage, other characteristics of the final product
-Emulsifiable Concentrates (E or EC): suspension, requires minimal agitation to be uniformly mixed, readily absorbed by skin.
-Water-Soluble Concentrates (WS): solution, doesn't require agitation, not abrasive, used with any type of sprayer.
-Wettable Powders (W or WP): suspension, constant agitation to keep suspension, used with most sprayers, abrasive, equipment may wear quickly.
-Flowables (F or L) or Suspension Concentrates (SC): suspension, moderate agitation & shaken before measuring, seldom clogs sprayers but requires larger nozzles/sprayer.
-Ultra Low Volume (ULV): neither solution or suspension, requires little agitation, not abrasive but can cause equipment to deteriorate.
-Oil Solutions: solution, can cause significant equipment deterioration.
Ch.6 Identify the health concerns associate with different fomulations
-Liquids: absorbed more easily through the skin; can leach into groundwater.
-Solids: can be washed away in runoff; nontarget pests, pets, or children can ingest; stickers increase persistence.
Ch.6 Identify the advantages of using poisonous baits and how to prevent nontarget animals from being exposed to them
-Advantage: introduce little pesticide into the environment.
-Prevention: place bait where pest is likely to encounter it or use tamper-resistant bait or physical barriers.
Ch.6 Describe the function of, and precautions regarding, the use of adjuvants
-Function: chemical added to a pesticide or spray tank to modify the product's physical properties and/or enhance pesticide performance.
-Precautions: misuse may lead to injury of desirable plants, compatibility problems, or reduced pest control.
-Use: used for foliar applications.
Ch.7 Identify the most prominent federal pesticide law and which agency oversees it
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) overseen by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Ch.7 Describe what is involved in pesticide registration and reregistration and the practical importance of each
-Registration: pesticides must be registered by the EPA before being legally sold/used. To show the product will not create unreasonable risks.
-Reregistration: for older pesticides to ensure their use would not pose unreasonable risks.
Ch.7 Explain why products are classified restricted-use and who may purchase and apply such products
- Application of pesticides by trainee must be under direct, on-site supervision by commercial applicator who is certified/licensed in the appropriate category.
- Trainee must have a copy of registration on hand when using pesticides.
Ch.7 List the certification and licensing requirements for commercial applicators
-Applicator For Hire: Certification--Yes; License--Yes
-Applicator Not for Hire (RUPs):
Certification--Yes; License--Yes
-Applicator Not for Hire (Only non-RUP in/on public school grounds): Certification--Yes; License: No
-Applicator Not for Hire (Only non-RUP): Certification--No; License--No
-Registered Temporary Trainee (Only allowed non-RUP use & must be under supervision): Certification--No; License--No
Ch.7 List the kinds of applications for which you must keep records, and know how long you must keep such records
You must keep a record of any application for which both certification and licensing are required.
*It's good business to keep records for at least 2 years whether legally required or not.
Ch.7 Describe what is meant by prohibited pesticide, limited-use pesticide, pesticide governed by a special rule
-Prohibited: contains active ingredients & use has been prohibited due to hazardous nature/persistence.
-Limited-Use: in WI the purchase, sale, or use of some are limited to specifically defined uses.
-Special Rule: potentially adverse effect on the environment or human health, regulated through special rules.
Ch.7 Explain when you may need to get special permits and/or obtain another certification category to perform certain pesticide applications
For some situations there are regulations that go beyond the need to be certified and you must also obtain a special permit before buying/using pesticides for these cases.
Ch.8 Describe the difference between the terms "labels" and "labeling"
-Labels: info printed/attached to the pesticide container or wrapper.
-Labeling: both the actual label and to all addition product info.
Ch.8 List the 5 times when you should read the relevant parts of a label
- Before you buy the product, to make sure it's the best choice for the pest you wish to control and that the product is labeled for the site where you need to use it.
