Section 3: Pesticide Basics

Question 1

What is a pesticide?

Answer 1

A pesticide is anything that is intended to control, prevent, destroy, repel, attract, or manage a pest.

Question 2

What is the difference between a selective pesticide and a systemic pesticide? **

Answer 2

A selective pesticide is toxic to some pests but has little or no effect on other pests or non-target organisms.

A systemic pesticide is absorbed by the treated plant ot animal and moves within the system of the treated organism to reach areas remote from the point of application.

Question 3

What is a chemical family and why group pesticides in this manner?

Answer 3

A chemical family is a group of chemicals that have similar chemical structures and properties, similar poisoning symtoms as well as similar first-aid, clean-up, and safety guidelines. Knowing chemical familes helps an applicator understand how a pesticide works and how to use them safely.

Question 4

The name given by the manufacturer to a pesticide product that is unique to that product and is prominently displayed on the pesticide label is the product name? True or false.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

A pesticide formulation is a mixture of active ingredients and formulants. True or false.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

List the advantages and disadvantages of the following formulations:
Wettable powder, Emulsifiable concentrate, True liquid or Solution

Answer 6

Wettable powder; WP
-advantages: containers empty easily, no liquid spills, easier to store in the cold
- disadvantages: dusty, requires agitation to remain suspended, may leave visable residue, may be abrasive

Emulsifiable concentrate; EC
-advantages: high concentration of active ingredient, less agitation required, not abrasive, less visible residue, buy less bulk
-disadvantages: possibly flammable, possibly phototoxic

Solution; S
- advantages: high concentration of active ingredient, not abrasive, less visible residue, buy less bulk, requires agitation
- disadvantage: possibly corrosive

Question 7

List 3 factors that may result when 2 pesticides that are incompatible are mixed together?

Answer 7

Loss of effectiveness of the pesticide
Non-target injury to treated surfaces including vegetation
Settling out of solids in the sprayer tank and clogging the application equipment

Question 8

What is the difference between stomach and contact insecticides?

Answer 8

Stomach insecticides must be eaten or ingested to be taken into the insect to be effective. Contact insecticides enter through the insects exoskeleton

Question 9

What type of insecticide requires the insect to touch a treated area to be effective?

Answer 9

Non-systemic

Question 10

What is micro-encapsulated suspension?

Answer 10

Micro-encapsulated suspension is the suspension with the active ingredient in microcapsules in liquid giving a slow release of active ingredient

Question 11

Match the following with the correct statement:
1. Contact Herbicide
2. Selective Herbicide
3. Systemic Herbicide
4. Non- Selective herbicide
5. Non-residual herbicide
6. Residual herbicide

a) kills only certain plants without killing others
b) enters the weed and moves within the weed to prevent it from growing
c) kills only those plant parts which the herbicide contacts
d) controls all plants within the treated area
e) does not break down quickly and provides long-term control of weeds
f) breaks down quickly in the soil

Answer 11

Contact herbicide- c
Selective herbicide- a
Systemic herbicide- b
non-selective herbicide- d
non-residual herbicide- f
residual herbicide- e

Question 12

What type of herbicide is applied after the crop is seeded but before desirable plants or weeds have started to grow

Answer 12

Pre emergence

Question 13

When are protectant and eradicant fungicides applied?

Answer 13

Protectant fungicides are applied before a disease occcurs. Eradicant fungicides will control diseases that have already infected the plant

Question 14

What type of rodenticides decrease the clotting ability of the blood are effective after only one feeding?

Answer 14

Single feeding anticoagulant

Question 15

List 6 factors you would consider when selecting a pesticide formulation.

Answer 15

1. How effective the formulation is against the pest
2. Risk of the formulation to the applicator, bystanders and the environment
3. Availability of safety and application equipment
4. Convenience of storage, mixing, application, and disposal
5. Possibility of injuring non-target plants/animlas or surfaces
6. Cost