Public Health Pest Control Flashcards
What information can you find on
the pesticide label?
The label tells you how and where to use
a pesticide. It lists the pests the product
controls. The label gives you detailed
application instructions, including the
type of equipment you should use and the
correct rate of application. By reading
the label, you will discover how to store
the chemical properly. The label also
describes specific safety precautions.
Why are schools considered sensitive
areas in relation to pesticide
application?
Because of the large number of young
children who attend them. Pesticide
applications on school grounds or inside
school buildings may leave residues.
Because of their behavior at play,
children are more likely to contact these
residues. And, because of their small
body size, children are more susceptible
to the effects of pesticides.
What is the purpose of the Virginia
School IPM Program? How does it
accomplish this purpose?
This program encourages the responsible
use of pesticides in schools. It seeks
to reduce pesticide residues in the
environment and eliminate the chance
that children will contact pesticide
residues. It accomplishes this by educating school
administrators on how to implement
an IPM program at their facilities.
Schools then work with pest control
specialists to apply the concepts of
IPM when they treat schools. School
IM emphasizes prevention through
sanitation, building maintenance, and
other nonchemical means. If you work
with a School IPM program, you can
still use chemical control methods, but
only on an “as needed” basis. When you
apply pesticides in or around schools,
School IPM dictates that you use only
the least toxic, most effective products.
It also requires that you apply them
using “precision targeting.’
This means
that you place them only where they are
accessible to pests but not to students,
faculty, and staff.
What is a beneficial insect?
An insect that is helpful to people, as in
the management of harmful plants or
animals.
How can you protect honey bees
during a public health pesticide
application?
One way is to spray after dark. This
works because honey bees do not usually
forage in darkness (but they may forage
on bright moonlit nights). You can also
notify beekeepers of pending applications
so that they can cover or close their
hives. However, keep in mind that
colonies may be in remote locations, and
beekeepers may be reluctant to notify
authorities of their specific locations.
Thus, you may not be aware of the
presence of hives.
When controlling adult mosquitoes
and flies, why is it important to
apply small droplets of pesticide vs.
large droplets?
Because of where the target pests occur,
For most other applications, the pest
- plant or insect - is on the ground or
on a plant on the ground. Thus, to treat
these pests, the pesticide must fall to
the ground or cover the foliage. Adult
mosquitoes and flies, on the other hand
spend much of their time in the air. For
this reason, you need your pesticide to
remain airborne for some time in order
to contact the insects. Small droplets are
able to stay suspended in the air longer
than larger droplets. In this way, they
extend the period that the target flying
insects are exposed to the insecticide.
At what size can spray droplets
remain airborne for some time?
When their diameters are 150 um or less.
What is the mass median diameter
(mmd) of a spray?
The droplet diameter at which half of
the volume of a spray contains larger
droplets and the other half consists of
smaller droplets.
To control adult mosquitoes and
flies, which type of spray should you
use: a coarse spray, fine spray, mist,
or aerosol/fog? What is the average
droplet size of this type of spray?
Aerosol/fog. The diameter of the droplets
in this type of spray ranges from 0.01 to
50 um.
Describe several ways you can
produce an aerosol/fog
You can use a thermal aerosol generator
or ultra-low-volume (ULV) equipment,
Thermal generator release the pesticide
directly into a blast of hot air to create
the tiny droplete. ULV equipment
produces aerosols with high-pressure
atomization from specialized nozzles, or
it may disperse the pesticide from the
rim of high-speed rotors. Household
bug bombs also produce aerosols, Bug
bombe work by mixing the pesticide
with a liquefied gas that is then released
through a small opening.
Can you use an aerosol/fog to control
mosquito larvae? Why or why not?
No. Because aerosols stay suspended in
the air, they generally do not drop to the
water surface where the larvae are living.
What is a temperature inversion?
How can it aid a pesticide
application that is targeting adult
mosquitoes or flies?
The occurrence of very stable air. This
means that the air above is warmer than
the air below. When the atmosphere
above the target gets warmer as altitude
increases, the air has a lifting action on
spray droplets. Small spray droplets
do not fall easily. Instead, they tend
to float around in concentrated groups
until eventually settling out. This can
cause droplets to drift. In public health
pest control, drift of the aerosol cloud is
desirable and essential. It increases the
chance that the pesticide will reach the
target insects. Temperature inversions
also help to hold aerosol droplets below
the canopy. This is because during an inversion, warmer air (that normally
rises) is up high and cooler air is down
low, holding the droplets down. Without
an inversion, warmer air is typically at
ground level. As it rises. it carries the
spray cloud upward.
What is the most common type of
aerosol application today?
Ultra-low-volume application.
How much pesticide is applied per
acre with most ULV applications?
From 1/2 to 3 fluid ounces.
In Virginia, to apply pesticides
from the air, in which commercial
category must you be certified?
Category 11, Aerial Pesticide
Application.
What are the basic parts of a ULV
application system?
Pump, nozzles, and a spray tank.
What is the best spray droplet size
for aerial ULV applications? Why?
About 25 to 50 microns mass median
diameter (mmd). Droplets larger than 50
microns waste material, are not the right
size for killing mosquitoes, and do not
give good coverage. Besides, the hazard
to nontarget organisms and automobile
finishes increases with droplet size.
How should you position the
spray nozzle for a ground ULV
application?
The nozzle should be in the rear of the
truck. It should be pointing upward at
an angle of 45° or more.
What is the best mmd for most
ground ULV aerosol applications of
public health pesticides?
8 to 20 um.
How can you prevent car spotting
(damaging the paint finish on cars)
during an aerial or ground aerosol
application?
Make sure the spray droplets are small
less than 50 um.
How can you determine the size
of spray droplets that you are
applying? How can you adjust the
droplet size?
You can determine the droplet size in
several ways. The most common method
is to catch a sample of the droplets on
a silicone-coated glass slide. Then,
measure the droplets under a high-power
microscope with a micrometer. If the
droplets are too big or too small, adjust
your equipment accordingly. You may
also need to clean or replace the parts as
used, worn, and/or dirty parts can affect
droplet size.
In what situation do thermal fogs
work better than ULV applications?
When you need to kill insects in heavy
vegetation.
What are the safety risks of ULV
applications and thermal fogs?
Thermal fogs tend to pose a greater risk
to the environment. This is because
thermal fogging releases a cloud of fuel-
oil smoke with the pesticide.
The ULV method, on the other hand, may
pose a greater risk of applicator exposure.
This is because the insecticide used in ULV
application is more concentrated than the
diluted fuel-oil mixtures used in thermal
foggers. However, better equipment has
improved applicator safety in recent years.
What is the purpose of this manual?
This manual is a reference book
that will enable you to prepare for
your certification exam in Virginia’s
Commercial Pesticide Applicator
Category 8, Public Health Pest Control.
Its purpose is to provide you with the
information you will need to safely and
effectively control public health pests.
List several topics covered by this
manual.
- Basic pest biology to help you better
understand the relationship between
the groups of pests that cause most of
the public health problems in Virginia. - The many pests that can affect the
health and well-being of Virginians. - Some of the most common pest-related
diseases and other problems that
threaten public health in Virginia - Ways to prevent or control infestations
of public health pests. - Basic safety information that will help
you keep yourself, your coworkers, and
the public safe during public health
pesticide applications. - Pesticide application equipment and
techniques used to control public
health pests. - Basic organization of a good public
health control program. - The importance of good
communications in public health pest
control
What is an arthropod? Name several
groups of arthropods.
An invertebrate organism that has:
1. Jointed legs.
2. A body made of segments that are
grouped or fused together.
3. Legs, antennae, and other appendages
attached in pairs.
4. An exoskeleton, a hard or tough
external covering, with some pliable or
soft parts.
Examples of arthropods include spiders,
mites, ticks, millipedes, centipedes, and
insects.
Name and describe the three body
regions of an adult insect.
Head, thorax, and abdomen. The head
bears a single pair of antennae. The
thorax bears three pairs of legs and
usually one or two pairs of wings. The
abdomen contains most of the digestive
system and the reproductive organs.
List the five basic types of insect
mouthparts.
- Filter feeding.
- Chewing.
- Sponging.
- Piercing-sucking.
- Siphoning.
Describe several sanitation actions
that can help to prevent or reduce
rodent populations.
Always store and handle food materials
and animal feeds properly. Store pet
food in metal, rodent-proof containers.
Properly store and regularly dispose
of garbage and rubbish. You should
also keep areas free of clutter. Debris
removal and weed control are key. For
example, to discourage rats, keep areas
around buildings and structures free of
weeds and stacked lumber, firewood, and
other stored materials.
How should you store commercial
products in order to reduce rodent
damage?
Store them on pallets at least 8 inches off
the ground. Keep the pallets 18 inches
from adjacent walls, and separate them
by an aisle that is at least 12 inches
wide. Do not stack pallets more than 6
feet across.
Describe several ways rodents can
enter buildings.
They run along or climb electrical
wires and cables that lead to buildings.
They climb trees and almost any rough
vertical surfaces such as wood, brick,
concrete, and weatherized sheet metal.
They crawl horizontally along pipes or
conduits. Rodents also gnaw through
a wide range of materials such as lead.
aluminum sheeting, wood, rubber, vinyl,
and concrete blocks, all to make their
way into a building. In addition, rodents
can enter buildings through holes that
are very small. For example, rats can
squeeze through openings larger than 1/2
inch square, Mice need only quarter-inch
holes. Conversely, rodents often enter
buildings through doors that stay open
for long periode,
If you discover a hole in your attic
or basement where rodents are
entering a home, what materials
would work well to seal that hole?
Durable materials, such as:
* Heavy mesh hardware cloth.
* Metal flashing.
* Aluminum (22 gauge or thicker).
* Brick.
You can also pack steel wool, lath screen
and copper mesh tightly into holes to
close openings or protect other areas
from gnawing. Be sure to caulk over
steel wool and copper mesh to seal them.
What are the advantages of trapping
rodents as a method of control?
Trapping does not rely on hazardous
rodenticides. It provides visible proof of
success. In addition, trapping allows you
to dispose of carcasses. This avoids odor
problems from decomposing carcasses
that could occur when poisons are used
inside buildings.
When trapping rodents with trigger
traps, where should you place the
traps for the best results?
Close to walls, behind objects in dark
corners, and in other areas of known
rat and mouse activity. Place traps so that rats and mice will pass directly
over the trigger as they follow their
natural course of travel (usually close
to a wall). Set traps on ledges or on top
of pallets of stored materials, if rodents
are active in these places. Cover all
escape routes with traps. Use enough
traps to make the campaign short and
decisive. Because mice seldom venture
far from their shelter and food supply,
place trigger traps 3 to 10 feet apart in
areas where mouse activity is noted, and
within 20 feet of each other for rats.
How long should you leave traps in
place before moving them to another
location?
Five days. Intensive trapping for several
weeks works best.
What is a drawback of using glue
boards to catch rodents?
The animals do not die instantly.
What are the disadvantages of using
noise or electrical devices to control
rodents?
Rodents quickly get used to regularly
repeated sounds. In addition, ultrasonic
sounds have very limited use in rodent
control because they are directional, they
do not penetrate behind objects, and they
lose their intensity with distance. In
fact, there is little evidence that sound of
any type will drive established mice or
rats from buildings.
How do anticoagulant baits kill
rodents?
Repeated ingestion causes the animals’
blood to lose its ability to clot. Animals
die due to internal bleeding that begins
about three to five days after they first
eat the bait.
In what situations would you use a
single-dose rodenticide vs. a slow-
acting (multiple-dose) rodenticide?
Single-dose rodenticides work best
where rodents are abundant or where
it is hard to get the animal to accept a
bait for several days in a row because of
competing food items.
What is the purpose of a bait station?
Describe a basic bait station used to
bait rodents.
Bait stations shelter rodenticides from
weather and protect people, pets, and
other animals from accidental poisoning.
Bait stations, should have at least two
openings, about 2-1/2 inches in diameter
for rats or 1 inch in diameter for mice.
Be sure each station is large enough
to accommodate several rodents at one
time.
When baiting mice, what type of
bait can help to prevent the mice
from moving the bait to an area that
could endanger nontarget animals?
Meal baits.
What is prebaiting? Why is it
important?
Placing nontoxic bait (food) in a trap
or bait station. Once the target pest
becomes used to feeding from the trap or
bait station, the nontoxic bait is replaced
with toxic bait. Prebaiting ensures that
the target pest eats enough of the toxic
bait and does not become bait shy.
What are tracking powders, and how
do they work?
Tracking powders are rodenticides formulated as dusts. The powder adheres to the rodents’ feed and fur and is consumed during grooming. These powders can kill rats even when the animals have become bait or trap shy.
Apply tracking powders inside wall voids, around rub marks, along pipe runs, and in dry burrows (if the label permits).
Do not use the powders in suspended ceilings, around air ventilators, or near food preparation areas.
In which commercial category might you need to be certified to use fumigant pesticides in Virginia?
To use certain fumigants to control pests in Virginia, you may need to be certified in commercial category 1C, Fumigation of Soils and Agricultural Products, or in commercial category 7C, Fumigation (Non-Agricultural). Contact the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) for more information on which category 15 required for your situation
Why are odor repellents generally
not effective against birds?
Because few birds can smell.
Against which type(s) of pest bird is
nest and/or egg destruction effective?
Pigeons.
What is the most cost-effective way
to destroy pigeon nests?
Using high-pressure hosing from
firefighting equipment or other water
lines. This destroys the nest, kills
ectoparasites, cleans droppings and
feathers from the nest site, and harasses
the roosting birds.
List several ways you can prevent
pest birds from entering buildings.
- Eliminate large crevices.
- Block openings into vents, cooling
towers, and rooftop equipment with
hardware cloth, - Replace broken windows and screens.
Describe several exclusion materials that can discourage or prevent birds from nesting, roosting, or loafing on buildings
- Spikes will help to prevent birds from roosting on ledges
- Netting may exclude birds from the eaves of a building or the internal support structure of a large warehouse,
- Covers or ramps designed for ledges, window air-conditioning units, and roof edges can keep birds from infesting these sites.
Do ultrasonic sound devices
effectively scare and/or harass birds?
No.
What is the advantage of traps that
capture pest animals alive?
They allow you to release nontarget
species unharmed.
Ideally, where should you place pigeon traps?
In general, you will want to set traps where the pigeons often roost or feed. Be sure to place the traps in inconspicuous sites where people are not likely to vandalize them a major risk in trapping programs).
Traps are LEAST effective against
which type of pest bird discussed in
this manual
Starlings.
What should you do before setting a
funnel trap to make sure it captures
the largest number of sparrows?
Bait the trap for a few days.
If you plan to use shooting as a bird control tactic, what time of day and what location will yield the best results?
At night or first thing in the morning in roosting areas.
How do sticky repellents repel roosting birds from buildings?
They make birds uncomfortable as they try to land on treated surfaces. After a few attempts, the birds will usually stop trying.
What reduces the effectiveness of
sticky repellents? How can you
remedy these problems?
Over time, sticky repellents lose their
effectiveness, especially in dusty areas.
When this happens, you will need to make
a second application. Sticky repellents will
also be ineffective if you treat only some of
the roosting or loafing sites in a problem
ared.
Whenever possible, the birds will
move a short distance to an untreated
surface. For this reason, it is important to
treat all roosting and loafing surfaces in a
given area.
How do frightening baits work to control pest birds?
Within 15 minutes of eating a toxic dose, birds become intoxicated and begin to react violently. Most die within a few hours. The rest of the flock is frightened away from the site. Only 5% to 15% of the flock need to be affected to scare away the rest of the flock.
Using pigeons as an example, describe the basic prebaiting process for birds.
One method is to place untreated whole corn in many small piles (1/4 pound each 20 feet apart). Place these piles on flat rooftops, on ledges, and in similar sites in the treatment area.
An appropriate treatment would be 20 piles of bait on a flat 5,000-square-foot roof.
Another method is to scatter the bait in a natural manner. Flocks of birds will feed better on bait that is scattered and accessible to
more birds.
The goal is to get at least 40% of the birds to accept the untreated bait.
Expect the effort to take from three days to three weeks. When possible, remove all of the untreated bait before switching over to treated bait.
How can prebaiting help you to protect nontarget species?
It allows you to observe what species of birds feed at your site before you place the toxic bait. If several nontarget animals begin feeding at the site, you have two options.
One: if the prebait site is one of many, you can continue to bait the isolated site with untreated bait. This will keep the nontargets away from the other sites where you can use toxic bait.
Two: if you are only prebaiting at one or a few sites, you may need to abandon the site where the nontargets appeared.
How much toxic bait should you
put out in relation to the amount of
prebait you used?
The amount of treated bait you set out
should be about half the amount of prebait
you used each day. For example, if you put
out 8 pounds of prebait daily for a flock of
about 100 birds, then you should set out 4
pounds of the treated blend of bait.
Q. What can you do to protect yourself
from contracting a disease through
the bite of a mosquito?
Unless you are applying adulticides,
avoid working outside at dawn and
dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
When working outside, avoid known
mosquito habitats, and make yourself as
unattractive to mosquitoes as possible.
To do this:
1. Wear light-colored clothing.
2. Cover your arms and legs with long
sleeves and long pants.
3. Apply an insect repellent to any
exposed skin.
