C27 License Pest and Disease Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the core principle of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as applied to landscaping?
- Applying pesticides on a fixed calendar schedule to prevent all pests
- Using a combination of biological, cultural, mechanical, and chemical controls to minimize pest damage while reducing risk (Correct answer)
- Eliminating all insects from a landscape site using broad-spectrum pesticides
- Relying exclusively on organic treatments and avoiding synthetic pesticides
Correct answer: Using a combination of biological, cultural, mechanical, and chemical controls to minimize pest damage while reducing risk
IPM is a holistic approach that combines multiple control methods to manage pests effectively while minimizing environmental and health risks.
Question 2: Which pesticide application method is most appropriate for targeting soil-dwelling pests such as grubs?
- Foliar spray applied to leaf surfaces
- Soil drench or granular application incorporated into the root zone (Correct answer)
- Aerial mist blower directed above the canopy
- Trunk injection targeting vascular tissue
Correct answer: Soil drench or granular application incorporated into the root zone
Soil drench or granular applications deliver pesticide directly to the root zone where soil-dwelling pests like grubs reside.
Question 3: Under California law, which document must a landscaping contractor possess before applying restricted-use pesticides (RUPs)?
- A C-27 contractor license only
- A Qualified Applicator License (QAL) or certificate from the CDFA (Correct answer)
- A written contract with the property owner
- An EPA Pesticide Operator Permit
Correct answer: A Qualified Applicator License (QAL) or certificate from the CDFA
California requires a Qualified Applicator License (QAL) or Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) issued by CDFA to legally purchase and apply restricted-use pesticides.
Question 4: What is the primary visual indicator of powdery mildew on landscape plants?
- Dark, water-soaked lesions on lower leaf surfaces
- White to grayish powdery coating on leaf surfaces and stems (Correct answer)
- Yellowing of leaf margins progressing inward
- Raised, rust-colored pustules on the undersides of leaves
Correct answer: White to grayish powdery coating on leaf surfaces and stems
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease identified by white or grayish powdery fungal growth on the surfaces of leaves and stems.
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of a biological control method for managing aphid populations in a landscape?
- Applying a systemic neonicotinoid insecticide to the soil
- Releasing or encouraging populations of ladybugs (Coccinellidae) (Correct answer)
- Using a pyrethrin foliar spray on affected plants
- Pruning and disposing of heavily infested branch tips
Correct answer: Releasing or encouraging populations of ladybugs (Coccinellidae)
Ladybugs are natural predators of aphids and represent a biological control method within an IPM program.
Question 6: What is the legal significance of a pesticide label under federal and California law?
- It is a manufacturer's suggestion that applicators may adapt as needed
- It is a legally binding document and applicators must follow all label directions (Correct answer)
- It applies only to commercial agriculture, not landscape contractors
- It governs storage requirements only, not application rates or sites
Correct answer: It is a legally binding document and applicators must follow all label directions
The pesticide label is a legal document under FIFRA; using a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling is a violation of federal and state law.
Question 7: Which turfgrass disease is characterized by roughly circular patches of brown or dead grass, often with a 'frog-eye' pattern?
- Dollar spot
- Brown patch (Rhizoctonia blight)
- Take-all patch
- Necrotic ring spot (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Necrotic ring spot
Necrotic ring spot (Ophiosphaerella korrae) produces circular to ring-shaped patches of dead turf with a characteristic frog-eye pattern in the center.
C27 License Pest and Disease Management 1
What is the core principle of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as applied to landscaping?