NYS PCO NYS PCO General 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During an inspection you find German cockroaches in a restaurant kitchen. Which condition contributes MOST to their persistence?
- Available food, moisture, and harborage in cracks near warm equipment (Correct answer)
- Bright overhead lighting left on overnight
- Frequent door openings to the dining room
- Cold air from walk-in coolers
Correct answer: Available food, moisture, and harborage in cracks near warm equipment
German cockroaches thrive where food, water, warmth, and tight harborage coexist, such as cracks near dishwashers and stoves.
Question 2: Which rodent sign BEST indicates a current, active infestation rather than an old one?
- Fresh, soft, dark droppings and greasy rub marks (Correct answer)
- Faded gnaw marks on old lumber
- Dusty droppings that crumble when touched
- An abandoned nest in a wall void
Correct answer: Fresh, soft, dark droppings and greasy rub marks
Moist, dark droppings and fresh rub marks indicate rodents are currently active in the area.
Question 3: A technician plans to apply a rodenticide bait outdoors near a daycare. What is the required practice?
- Place bait in a secured, tamper-resistant bait station according to the label (Correct answer)
- Scatter bait pellets along the fence line
- Place loose bait blocks under shrubs
- Mix the bait into pet food to increase acceptance
Correct answer: Place bait in a secured, tamper-resistant bait station according to the label
Labels require tamper-resistant stations where children, pets, or non-target animals may access bait.
Question 4: Which pest is the most common cause of structural wood damage in New York State?
- Eastern subterranean termite (Correct answer)
- Drywood termite
- Old house borer
- Bark beetle
Correct answer: Eastern subterranean termite
The Eastern subterranean termite is New York's primary wood-destroying termite, nesting in soil and entering structures through mud tubes.
Question 5: Carpenter ants differ from termites in that carpenter ants have what characteristic?
- Elbowed antennae and a pinched (narrow) waist (Correct answer)
- Straight antennae and a broad waist
- Wings of equal length on both pairs
- The habit of eating wood for nutrition
Correct answer: Elbowed antennae and a pinched (narrow) waist
Carpenter ants have elbowed antennae, a constricted waist, and excavate wood for nesting rather than eating it.
Question 6: You confirm bed bugs in one unit of an apartment building. What is the BEST next step?
- Inspect adjoining units above, below, and beside the infested unit (Correct answer)
- Treat only the reported unit and close the ticket
- Fumigate the entire building immediately
- Advise all tenants to discard their mattresses
Correct answer: Inspect adjoining units above, below, and beside the infested unit
Bed bugs spread through walls and along utility lines, so adjacent units must be inspected to define the true extent of the infestation.
Question 7: Which non-chemical measure is MOST effective for long-term house mouse control?
- Sealing entry points larger than 1/4 inch (exclusion) (Correct answer)
- Ultrasonic repellent devices
- Leaving lights on in storage rooms
- Spreading mothballs along baseboards
Correct answer: Sealing entry points larger than 1/4 inch (exclusion)
Mice can squeeze through 1/4-inch openings, so pest-proofing entry points prevents reinfestation better than any repellent.
NYS PCO NYS PCO General 3
During an inspection you find German cockroaches in a restaurant kitchen.
Which condition contributes MOST to their persistence?