HIC Vector Control & Pest Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which mosquito species is the primary vector for West Nile Virus in the United States?
- Aedes aegypti
- Culex pipiens (Correct answer)
- Anopheles gambiae
- Aedes albopictus
Correct answer: Culex pipiens
Culex pipiens (the northern house mosquito) is the primary vector responsible for transmitting West Nile Virus in the US.
Question 2: An inspector finds cockroach egg cases (oothecae) behind a restaurant's refrigerator. What is the MOST important immediate action?
- Apply a contact pesticide spray to the area
- Document findings and issue a critical violation (Correct answer)
- Remove the refrigerator and deep-clean behind it
- Notify the local health department by phone
Correct answer: Document findings and issue a critical violation
Finding cockroach oothecae indicates an active infestation and constitutes a critical violation that must be documented and cited formally.
Question 3: A health inspector is evaluating an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. Which element is LEAST consistent with IPM principles?
- Setting pest population thresholds before taking action
- Rotating chemical classes to prevent resistance
- Applying pesticides on a fixed weekly schedule regardless of pest levels (Correct answer)
- Using physical exclusion methods as the first line of defense
Correct answer: Applying pesticides on a fixed weekly schedule regardless of pest levels
IPM requires action only when pest populations exceed established thresholds; calendar-based spraying without monitoring pest levels contradicts IPM philosophy.
Question 4: Which rodent sign would BEST confirm an ACTIVE infestation rather than an old one?
- Soft, moist droppings with a shiny surface (Correct answer)
- Hardened, dry droppings with a chalky appearance
- Gnaw marks that have darkened with grease
- Nesting material that is dusty and compressed
Correct answer: Soft, moist droppings with a shiny surface
Fresh rodent droppings are soft, dark, and moist; dried, hardened droppings indicate an older or inactive infestation.
Question 5: Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), what is required before applying any pesticide?
- Verbal permission from the property owner
- Reading and following the EPA-registered product label (Correct answer)
- Completing a state-licensed applicator course
- Filing a pesticide use report with the EPA
Correct answer: Reading and following the EPA-registered product label
FIFRA mandates that pesticides be used only in accordance with their EPA-registered label, which is a legally binding document.
Question 6: A swimming pool facility reports an increase in mosquito complaints. Which site condition should an inspector prioritize investigating first?
- Chlorination levels in the main pool
- Standing water in filter backwash drainage areas (Correct answer)
- Frequency of pool vacuuming
- Presence of pool toys left overnight
Correct answer: Standing water in filter backwash drainage areas
Standing water in drainage areas provides ideal mosquito breeding habitat and should be the first site condition evaluated.
Question 7: What is the purpose of using a 'pheromone trap' in a pest management program?
- To kill adult insects through chemical attraction
- To monitor pest population levels and species identity (Correct answer)
- To repel target pests from sensitive areas
- To sterilize male insects before release
Correct answer: To monitor pest population levels and species identity
Pheromone traps are monitoring tools used to detect pest presence, track population trends, and identify species — they do not kill significant numbers.
HIC Vector Control & Pest Management 2
Which mosquito species is the primary vector for West Nile Virus in the United States?