ACE Urban & Structural Pest Management Flashcards

Which stored product pest is most commonly found infesting flour, cereals, and grain-based products in homes and warehouses?

Answer: Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella)

The Indian meal moth is one of the most common stored grain pests in the US, infesting flour, cereals, dried fruit, and pet food.

Which of the following correctly describes the 'sanitation' component of urban IPM?

Answer: Removing food, water, and shelter sources to make the environment less hospitable to pests

Sanitation in IPM removes the food, moisture, and harborage that pests need to survive and reproduce, reducing pest pressure.

Pharaoh ants (Monomorium pharaonis) are notoriously difficult to control with repellent sprays because:

Answer: Repellents cause colony budding, spreading the infestation

Repellent insecticides cause Pharaoh ant colonies to split (bud) and scatter, worsening the infestation rather than eliminating it.

What is the main advantage of using insect bait stations over sprays for cockroach control?

Answer: Baits reduce pesticide exposure to non-target organisms and humans

Bait stations contain pesticide within an enclosed matrix, greatly reducing exposure to non-target organisms compared to broadcast sprays.

Which structural modification is MOST effective at preventing roof rat entry into a building?

Answer: Trimming tree branches so they do not overhang or touch the roof

Roof rats are excellent climbers and frequently use tree branches touching rooftops as entry points, so trimming branches eliminates this pathway.

The term 'IPM threshold' refers to:

Answer: The pest population level at which control action becomes economically or health justified

An IPM action threshold is the pest density at which control measures must be taken to prevent unacceptable harm or damage.