CPA - Certified Pesticide Applicator Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategies Questions and Answers Flashcards

Which of the following is a physical/mechanical control method used in IPM?

Answer: Installing insect-proof screens or row covers

Physical/mechanical controls like screens and row covers create barriers that exclude pests without the use of chemicals.

In an IPM program, scouting refers to:

Answer: Systematic field monitoring to detect and assess pest populations

Scouting involves regularly walking fields or sites to identify pests, estimate population levels, and determine if thresholds have been reached.

Pheromone traps are primarily used in IPM to:

Answer: Monitor pest population levels and time control measures appropriately

Pheromone traps attract insects with chemical sex or aggregation lures, allowing applicators to track population trends and optimize treatment timing.

Which pesticide use strategy is MOST consistent with IPM principles?

Answer: Using selective pesticides only when monitoring indicates thresholds have been exceeded

IPM favors targeted, threshold-based pesticide use with selective products to minimize non-target impacts and resistance development.

What does 'pest-free entry' or exclusion mean in the context of IPM for structural pests?

Answer: Sealing cracks, gaps, and entry points to prevent pests from entering a structure

Exclusion involves physically sealing openings in a structure to deny pests access, a fundamental IPM prevention strategy.

Which of the following best illustrates the IPM concept of 'least-risk pesticide selection'?

Answer: Choosing a targeted, low-toxicity pesticide that minimizes effects on beneficial organisms

Least-risk selection means choosing pesticides with lower toxicity and narrow target spectra to protect beneficial insects, wildlife, and human health.