CGM Pest Management & Integrated Pest Management (IPM) 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary goal of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?
- Eliminate all pests using maximum pesticide application
- Manage pest populations using a combination of strategies to minimize environmental impact (Correct answer)
- Rely exclusively on biological controls to eliminate pests
- Apply pesticides on a fixed schedule regardless of pest presence
Correct answer: Manage pest populations using a combination of strategies to minimize environmental impact
IPM uses a combination of biological, cultural, physical, and chemical strategies to manage pests while minimizing environmental and human health impacts.
Question 2: Which step in the IPM process involves determining how many pests are present before taking action?
- Prevention
- Identification
- Monitoring and scouting (Correct answer)
- Treatment evaluation
Correct answer: Monitoring and scouting
Monitoring and scouting involves regularly checking pest populations to determine if they have reached action thresholds before deciding to treat.
Question 3: What does the 'economic threshold' represent in pest management?
- The total cost of an annual pesticide application program
- The pest population level at which control measures become economically justified (Correct answer)
- The maximum budget a grounds manager can allocate to pest control
- The point at which pest damage first becomes visible to the naked eye
Correct answer: The pest population level at which control measures become economically justified
The economic threshold is the pest population level at which the cost of crop or turf damage exceeds the cost of implementing control measures.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of biological pest control?
- Applying a contact herbicide to broadleaf weeds
- Installing physical barriers around garden beds
- Releasing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to control caterpillar larvae (Correct answer)
- Removing thatch to reduce pest habitat
Correct answer: Releasing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to control caterpillar larvae
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a naturally occurring bacterium used as a biological control agent specifically against caterpillar and larval pests.
Question 5: In IPM, what is the most critical first step when a new pest is suspected in a managed landscape?
- Apply a broad-spectrum pesticide immediately to contain the problem
- Contact a licensed pest control company for emergency treatment
- Correctly identify the pest and assess the extent of damage (Correct answer)
- Remove all affected plants to prevent the pest from spreading
Correct answer: Correctly identify the pest and assess the extent of damage
Correct pest identification is essential before any control measures are taken to ensure the appropriate and most effective treatment strategy is selected.
Question 6: What is the purpose of maintaining an IPM record-keeping system?
- To track employee performance and productivity metrics
- To document pest populations, treatments applied, and outcomes for future reference (Correct answer)
- To comply with federal employment and labor regulations
- To record irrigation schedules and water usage data
Correct answer: To document pest populations, treatments applied, and outcomes for future reference
IPM records document monitoring data, pest levels, treatments used, and outcomes, allowing grounds managers to refine future pest management decisions.
Question 7: Which type of pest control method involves modifying the landscape environment to make it less favorable to pests?
- Chemical control
- Biological control
- Cultural control (Correct answer)
- Mechanical control
Correct answer: Cultural control
Cultural control involves practices such as proper mowing height, irrigation timing, and fertilization schedules that promote plant health and reduce conditions favorable to pests.
CGM Pest Management & Integrated Pest Management (IPM) 1
What is the primary goal of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?