CCA - Certified Crop Advisor Integrated Pest Management Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following best defines the Economic Threshold (ET) in an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program?

Accepted Answer

The pest density at which control measures should be applied to prevent the pest population from reaching the Economic Injury Level.

Answer

The Economic Threshold (ET), also known as the Action Threshold, is the point at which a pest population is projected to reach the Economic Injury Level (EIL) if no management action is taken. Therefore, it is the trigger point for implementing control measures to prevent economic loss.

Question 2

A grower is experiencing significant corn rootworm damage despite rotating corn with soybeans. Some adult rootworms are observed laying eggs in the soybean field. Which cultural control practice would be most effective in this scenario to disrupt the pest life cycle?

Accepted Answer

Planting a different non-host crop, such as alfalfa or wheat, for at least one year.

Answer

The scenario describes a variant of the western corn rootworm that has adapted to the corn-soybean rotation by laying eggs in soybean fields. Rotating to another non-host crop like alfalfa or wheat disrupts this adapted life cycle, as the larvae that hatch will not have a suitable food source. Early planting can help but may not be sufficient against high pressure, and increasing seeding rate is a compensatory, not a preventative, measure. Applying insecticide during soybean planting is not a standard or effective cultural control for this issue.

Question 3

The release of mass-reared lady beetles to control an aphid population in a greenhouse is an example of which type of biological control?

Accepted Answer

Augmentative

Answer

Augmentative biological control involves the periodic release of natural enemies, like lady beetles, to supplement the existing population and suppress a pest. Classical biological control is the introduction of a non-native natural enemy to control an invasive pest, with the goal of permanent establishment. Conservation biological control focuses on practices that protect and enhance existing populations of natural enemies.

Question 4

To effectively manage pesticide resistance, a key IPM strategy is to rotate pesticides with different modes of action (MOA). Why is this practice recommended?

Accepted Answer

It prevents the selection and buildup of resistant individuals within the pest population.

Answer

Repeatedly using pesticides with the same mode of action selects for the few individuals in a pest population that are naturally resistant. These individuals survive and reproduce, leading to a resistant population. By rotating to a different MOA, you target pests in a different way, making it less likely for resistance to a single mode of action to develop.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT considered a fundamental component of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program?

Accepted Answer

Scheduled, calendar-based pesticide applications.

Answer

A core principle of IPM is to move away from preventative, calendar-based spraying. Instead, actions are taken based on monitoring and economic thresholds, ensuring that controls are applied only when necessary. The other options are all essential elements of a robust IPM program.

(CCA) Certified Crop Advisor Practice Test

(CCA) Certified Crop Advisor Practice Test

CCA - Certified Crop Advisor Integrated Pest Management Questions and Answers