NYS PCO NYS PCO Pest Identification 3

Question 1

The black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis), primary vector of Lyme disease in NY, is identified by its:

Accepted Answer

Reddish-orange body with black legs and a black scutum

Answer

The black-legged (deer) tick has a characteristic reddish-orange body with distinctly black legs and a black dorsal scutum.

Question 2

Silverfish infestations are most commonly found in which environments?

Accepted Answer

High-humidity areas such as bathrooms and basements

Answer

Silverfish thrive in high-humidity environments such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements where they feed on starchy materials.

Question 3

A PCO notices small, c-shaped white larvae in the soil near the roots of a lawn. These are most likely:

Accepted Answer

White grubs (scarab beetle larvae)

Answer

C-shaped white grubs are the larval stage of scarab beetles (e.g., Japanese beetle, European chafer) and are common turf pests in New York.

Question 4

Which wasp builds open, umbrella-shaped paper nests under eaves and in shrubs in New York?

Accepted Answer

Paper wasp (Polistes spp.)

Answer

Paper wasps construct exposed, umbrella-shaped combs attached by a single stalk, making their nests easy to identify under overhangs.

Question 5

The presence of shed skins (exuviae) and live insects in wall voids or along baseboards most likely indicates:

Accepted Answer

German cockroach infestation

Answer

German cockroaches shed their skins (nymphal exuviae) multiple times during development, and finding shed skins alongside live insects in harborage areas is a classic sign.

NYS PCO Test Practice Test

NYS PCO Test Practice Test

NYS PCO NYS PCO Pest Identification 3