NYS PCO Professional Level Exam Flashcards

In an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, what should generally be the FIRST step when a customer reports a pest problem?

Answer: Inspect, monitor, and correctly identify the pest

IPM begins with inspection and accurate pest identification so control measures target the actual problem.

A treatment threshold in IPM is best defined as what?

Answer: The pest population level at which control action should be taken

Thresholds define when pest numbers or damage justify intervention rather than continued monitoring.

German cockroach infestations persist in a restaurant despite repeated baiting. Which non-chemical measure would most improve control?

Answer: Improving sanitation and eliminating food, water, and harborage

Sanitation removes competing food sources and harborage, which is essential for bait acceptance and long-term control.

Which finding during an inspection is the strongest evidence of an active subterranean termite infestation?

Answer: Fresh mud shelter tubes containing live workers

Live workers in intact mud tubes confirm current subterranean termite activity rather than a past infestation.

When placing rodenticide bait outdoors for Norway rats, the label typically requires bait to be placed in what manner?

Answer: Inside tamper-resistant bait stations secured against access by children, pets, and non-target wildlife

Tamper-resistant stations protect non-targets and are required by most rodenticide labels for outdoor placements.

A pesticide that controls pests only when they eat treated material is classified as which type?

Answer: Stomach poison

Stomach poisons must be ingested by the pest to be effective, as with many baits.

Repeated use of the same insecticide class against a pest population is most likely to cause which problem?

Answer: Development of insecticide resistance

Continuous selection pressure from one mode of action allows resistant individuals to survive and dominate the population.