Revised
Editor's note
To be used in conjunction with Missouri Core Manual M87, Private Pesticide Applicator Reference Manual
Principles of pest control
- What is the first thing you should do when you detect the presence of a pest that you think youmay need to control?
- Dial 911
- Apply a pesticide
- Properly identify the pest
- Integrated pest management (IPM) is the combining of appropriate pest control tactics into a single plan to reduce pests and their damage to an acceptable level.
Name five control tactics that are involved in an IPM plan.
- ________________________
- ________________________
- ________________________
- ________________________
- ________________________
Pesticide labeling
The term "restricted use pesticide" means:
- The product can only be used in certain places.
- The product has been shown to be likely to harm people or the environment, if not used correctly.
- The product may be purchased and used only by certified applicators and those under their direct supervision.
- Both B and C are correct responses.
Any given pesticide will have three types of names on its label. What are the three names?
- ________________________
- ________________________
- ________________________
Match the following.
Caution | A) Moderately toxic |
Warning | B) Highly toxic |
Danger | C) Slightly toxic |
Formulations
- The two types of ingredients that are contained in the majority of pesticides used are the ____________ ingredient and the ____________ ingredients.
- Inert ingredients are added to a pesticide formulation for the following reason(s):
- To make the product safer.
- To prevent the active ingredient from reaching groundwater.
- To make the product easier to measure, mix and apply.
- Both A and C are correct responses.
- Two examples of a liquid formulation are
- ________________________
- ________________________
- If you had a choice of several formulations of a material, which would you select in a situation where spray drift is a concern?
- Aerosol
- Granule
- Wettable powder
- Fumigant
- Why are adjuvants added to pesticides?
- To make the formulation heavier.
- To increase the profits of the manufacturer.
- To increase the pesticide's safety or effectiveness.
Pesticides in the environment
- List three ways that a pesticide can move off site.
- ________________________
- ________________________
- ________________________
Special environmental concerns: Protecting groundwater and endangered species
- How will you know if you must take special action to protect an endangered species?
- The USDA will contact you.
- It will be noted on the pesticide's label.
- Your local law enforcement agency keeps bulletins.
- Place a check beside the factors that would influence a given pesticide reaching groundwater:
- Chemical characteristics of the pesticide.
- Soil type of the application site.
- Ground speed of the application equipment.
- Distance from the soil surface to the groundwater.
- Nozzle spacing on the spray rig's boom.
Harmful effects and emergency response
- What are the four routes that pesticides can enter your body?
- ________________________
- ________________________
- ________________________
- ________________________
- The most common route of pesticide exposure is through
- Eyes
- Mouth
- Air
- Skin
- The first thing that should be done to a person who has been overexposed to pesticides is to stop the source of pesticide exposure as quickly as possible.
- True
- False
- What should you do if you
- Get pesticide on your skin?
- Inhale a pesticide?
- Swallow a pesticide?
Personal protective equipment
- What legal responsibility do you have for wearing the personal protective equipment listed in the pesticide labeling?
- Since it's your body and health, you don't have to wear anything that makes you uncomfortable
- By law, you must wear at least the personal protective equipment listed on the pesticide's label
- You are allowed to wear protective equipment in addition to what is listed on the pesticide's label
- Both B and C are correct responses
- When the pesticide's label calls for protective eyewear, which of the following would be suitable to wear?
- Goggles
- Eyeglasses
- Face shield
- Safety glasses with brow and side shields
- Cheap sunglasses
Pesticide handling decisions
- List some consequences of the incorrect use of pesticides:
- ________________________
- ________________________
- ________________________
- Which of the following factors do you need to consider when selecting a formulation of a given pesticide?
- Cost factors
- If a full moon will be present at the time of application
- Habits or growth patterns of the pest
Mixing, loading and application
- Which precautions should you take to avoid contamination of your water sources when mixing pesticides?
- Keep the hose well above the mix level in the spray tank
- Avoid mixing or loading pesticides where an accident could allow pesticides to enter the water system
- Use only galvanized buckets in the mixing process
- The very first thing you should do when finished with a task that involves pesticide handling is
- Make a record of the application
- Go to the house for refreshments
- Wash your equipment, then yourself
- Wash yourself, then the equipment
Applying the correct amount
- It is very important to apply the correct amount of pesticide to the application site. What are some of the consequences that may result from
- Underdosing?
- Overdosing?
- Which of the following serve as reliable sources for finding out how much pesticide to apply for a given situation?
- The "Directions for Use" section of the pesticide label
- Your next-door neighbor
- Your pesticide dealer
- Your cooperative extension service
- __________________ is adjusting application equipment to apply the correct amount of pesticide.
- How is the application rate calculated?
- The number of 2.5-gallon containers purchased from your dealer
- The amount of pesticide dispersed divided by the area covered
- The amount of pesticide mixed into the spray tank
Transportation, storage, disposal and spill cleanup
- When transporting pesticides in your vehicle, you should consider the following:
- Never put pesticides in the passenger section
- Never allow passengers and pets to ride with pesticides
- The make and model of the vehicle
- Both A and B are important considerations
- A proper storage facility of pesticides should include:
- Adequate lighting
- Temperature control
- A trained-to-kill German shepherd watchdog
- Ventilation
- A lock on the door
- If you have excess pesticides that are still usable, what should you do with them?
- Apply them to a site listed on the pesticide's label
- Find someone else who can legally use them
- In some cases, return them to your dealer or the manufacturer
- A, B and C are all viable options
- Who can you call for assistance in the event of a pesticide spill?
- The Boy Scouts
- The emergency telephone numbers on the pesticide's label
- The police department or highway patrol
- The department of public health
- Your mother