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Georgia Pest Control Registration Exam
With Correct Detailed Answers 2025.
GSPCC - ANSWER-Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission GDA - ANSWER-Georgia Department of Agriculture FIFRA - ANSWER-Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 1947 Regulate the registration and labeling of pesticides. Amended in 1972 to include classification systems for types of pesticides and created requirements for: -Certification of applicators authorized to apply pesticides -Safety of workers using pesticides -Protection of environment from contamination by pesticides -Creation of EPA to administer FIFRA EPA - ANSWER-Environmental Protection Agency Endangered Species Act of 1973 - ANSWER-Required EPA to ensure that using registered pesticides would not harm species placed on endangered species list. FQPA - ANSWER-Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 Amended FIFRA and directed EPA to regulate pesticides through establishment of tolerance levels for pesticides from dietary, drinking water, and non-occupational (residential) exposure in conjunction with the Federal, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. In order to obtain a registration, EPA and GDA require pesticide manufactures provide what information to the EPA? - ANSWER--Toxicity of the pesticide -Hazard to the applicator -Effect on the environment OSHA - ANSWER-Occupational Safety and Health Administration 1970 Any company with 10 or more employees to keep certain records and make reports including all work related deaths, injuries, and illnesses. SPCA - ANSWER-Structural Pest Control Act Primary law for the pest management industry in Georgia. The Department of Agriculture is the enforcement agency for the SPCA. Requirements for Georgia SPCA - ANSWER-Company License -All pest management companies must be licensed before they begin operation Certified Operator
-Every pest management company (branch) must employee at least one person who has taken and passed the certification exam. Registered Employees -all non-certified technicians must be registered, in order to work without the presence of a certified or registered employee. Re-certification/re-registration -All certified and registered employees must be re-certified and re-registered periodically. Re-certification -5 years -HPC- 25 hours -WDO- 25 hours -FUM- 12 hours Re-registration -2 years -HPC- 8 hours -WDO- 8 hours -FUM- 3 hours Designated Certified Operators (DCO) Categories - ANSWER-WDO- Wood Destroying Organisms HPC- Household Pest Control FUM- Fumigation Contracts for Control of WDO - ANSWER-A contract must be issued for every WDO service before the work begins. Copied must be kept for 2 years following the expiration of the contract. Comprehensive Post Construction Soil Termiticide Application for Subterranean Termites - ANSWER-Removal of all cellulosic material from under the building Removal of all wood to earth contacts except pressure treated wood designed for ground contact Removal of all visible and accessible termite tunnels Application of of an approved termiticide to all exterior and interior soils Defined Post Construction Soil Termiticide Application for Subterranean Termites - ANSWER-Removal of all cellulosic material from under the building Removal of all wood to earth contacts except pressure treated wood designed for ground contact Removal of all accessible termite tunnels Application of of an approved termiticide Post Construction Soil Termiticide Application for Subterranean Termites, Other than Baits - ANSWER-Removal of all cellulosic material from under the building
-Outdoor: allowed if students are not expected to be present within 20 feet of the application site. Must be clearly marked by fence or similar barrier. -All dilutions must be mixed outside of student occupied areas. -Liquid termiticides must be performed when students are not present (20+ feet away) and are not expected to be present for 3+ hours Fair Business Practices Act - ANSWER-All contracts signed contain a notice that the contract can be canceled for up to 3 business days after signing. Requires all work be performed in a quality manner. Hazardous Waste Management Act - ANSWER-1979- Follow the Federal Resource Conservation and Recover Act (RCRA). This law protects human health and the environment from improper activities involving hazardous waste. Pesticide Use and Application Act - ANSWER-The GDA enforces the Georgia Pesticide Use and Application Act. This law deals with the regulation and licensing of certain areas related to structural pest control. Mosquito and Lawn Three Life Support Requirements a Pest Needs to Survive - ANSWER-Food Water Harborage (a place to hide) Three Major Groups of Pests - ANSWER-Insects and other arthropods (mites, ticks, spiders) Vertebrates (birds, squirrels, rats, and mice) Wood decay fungi Arthropods - ANSWER-A group of animals that includes insects, spiders, mites, and ticks. All Arthropods share some biological characteristics with Humans: What biological characteristics do Arthropods share with Humans? - ANSWER-A central nervous system- a main nerve cord that runs the length of the body Striated skeletal muscles- like in humans, but arthropod muscles are attached inside the exoskeleton Bilateral symmetry- like humans, if you cut an arthropod down the middle both halves look like mirror images How do Arthropods differ from Humans? - ANSWER-Segmented body and appendages- a body with at least 2 segments and legs and antennae that are divided into sections
Chitinous exoskeleton- The skeleton on the exterior is made of a protein called chitin. This "skin" must be shed before the arthropod can grow. Open circulatory system- the exoskeleton creates a cavity and "blood" flows inside the cavity. Arthropods do not have a system of veins and arteries. The arthropod nervous system- has main nerve cord but it includes several "control" centers or little brains (ganglia), usually one ganglia per body segment, not a single brain like Humans. How are Insects different from Arthropods? - ANSWER-Insects have the following features: Bodies are segmented into 3 sections - head, thorax, and abdomen. Head with one pair of antennae Thorax with 3 pairs of legs If they have wings, 2 pair Abdomen has no locomotion appendages Insects make up what percentage of all known species of animals on Earth? - ANSWER-85% Diptera - ANSWER-Order containing flies Blattodea - ANSWER-Order containing cockroaches and termites Hemiptera - ANSWER-Order containing bed bugs Instars - ANSWER-Increments or stages that insects grow in, due to their exoskeleton Molt - ANSWER-As insects mature toward becoming an adult must shed their exoskeleton before they can grow into the next instar. Molt is shedding of the exoskeleton to grow. Metamorphosis - ANSWER-All insects go through several instars where the outward appearance may change in size, color, shape, and form as it matures to adulthood. Stages of Insect Metamorphosis - ANSWER-Egg Several immature stages (larva, nymph, or naiad) Resting (Pupal) Adult Most insects do not grow or change after becoming an adult. Most live and die in one and only adult exoskeleton Different Categories of Insect Metamorphosis - ANSWER-Gradual Metamorphosis (Ametaboly)
Harborage site: Sewers, storm drains, and plumbing chases Adults have wings and can glide but are not good at powered flight Smokybrown Cockroach - ANSWER-1 1/4 inch long. uniform dark brown. Egg to adult 4-12 months, adults live for 1 year Harborage site: trees, migrate into homes in spring and fall Adults have fully developed wings and both sexes are excellent flyers Brownband Cockroach - ANSWER-1/2 inch long. brown with 2 lighter bands across the top of abdomen Egg to adult 3-4 months, adults live for 1 year Harborage site: prefer dryer conditions than German Adults have wings and males are good flyers, female wings do not cover tip of abdomen. Oriental Cockroach - ANSWER-1 inch long. uniform dark brown or black. Egg to adult 6-12 months, adults live for 1-1.5 years. Harborage site: cool temperatures and do not do well in warm conditions. Found in damp places, basements and sewer lines. Adults have wings, neither sex can fly. Males wings are longer. Fleas - ANSWER-Undergo Holometaboly (complete metamorphosis). Immature and adults feed and live differently The adult flea feeds on the blood of warm blooded animals, and spend adult life on the host. Larva eat frass (flea dirt) Adult female lays eggs on the host but they drop off when host moves. Larva spins a silk cocoon that protects the pupal stage. Cat Flea - ANSWER-1/8 to 1/6 inch long. dark brown, flattened side to side, wingless. Not animal specific; cats, dogs, opossums, humans
Transmit plague, tapeworms, and murine typhus Ticks - ANSWER-Arthropods (not insects) that have a body divided into 2 sections (head and abdomen) Blood feeding parasites that must take a blood meal in each instar, each host larger than the last. Attached for 24 hours before feeding begins, feeding takes 2-4 days Larva stage (1-2 instars)- 6 legs Nymph stage (1-2 instars)- 8 legs Adult stage- 8 legs Transmit lyme disease and rocky mountain spotted fever Stored Product Pests And four categories: - ANSWER-Beetles and Moths Undergo Holometaboly (complete metamorphosis) Less than 1 inch. Not a health problem. Internal Feeders- larva develop within the kernels of whole grains or seeds. External Feeders- larva develop external but can feed on finished and unfinished products (flour or cereal) Scavengers- feed only processed products or products previously damaged by the other two groups Secondary Pests- feed on out-of-condition or moldy food Fabric Pests - ANSWER-Beetles and Moths Undergo Holometaboly (complete metamorphosis) Damage caused by larva (immature stage) Feed mainly on animal materials: wool, silk, fur, and feathers Do not feed on cotton but can damage mixed fiber material Egg to adult about 6 months. Adults do not feed, just mate Ants - ANSWER-Social insects, live in colonies, cannot live on their own. Over 100 species in GA
Biting Flies - ANSWER-Small to medium sized adults. Maggots feed on dung or rotten vegetative matter, others (wrigglers) live and feed in water. Blood meal required for adult females to lay eggs, can transmit diseases. EX: mosquito, deer flies, stable flies Silverfish - ANSWER-Undergo Ametaboly (gradual metamorphosis). Little visible difference between immature and adult, except size. 1/2 inch long. Grey/brown. Wingless, long antennae, and three appendages (cerci) at the tail end. Feed on starch, book glue, paper, sugar Nocturnal. Require 75% humidity Egg to adult 1 year, adults live 2-8 years Spiders - ANSWER-Arthropods, not insects. 8 legs. Body divided into 2 regions, cephalothorax (head and thorax combined) and abdomen. Eggs laid in silk sac containing dozens of eggs. Immature spiderlings look like adult and will molt 4-14 times over 1-5 years to reach adulthood, adult lives 1-20 years. All spiders eat other arthropods and insects. Beneficial. Bed Bugs - ANSWER-3/16 x 1/8 inch reddish brown and flat. Nocturnal. Feed on blood, swollen after feeding. Undergo Paurametabolous (incomplete metamorphosis). Egg to Adult 4-5 weeks in warm and humid Egg to Adult 4 months in cold and dry Adults live for several months - a couple years 5 instars, blood meal required for each instar Transported by luggage, clothing, or furniture. Infestations may produce foul odor Termites - ANSWER-Social insects that feed on cellulose found in wood, wood by products, and plants/fruit. Share food, but not as rapidly as ants. Undergo Paurometaboly
1-2 instar - larva 3+ instar - worker Adults - alates Immature - nymph Worker- 80% of colony. Searches for food, tunneling, take care of larva. Soldier- protects against attacks from ants, etc. Have large mandibles (head and jaw) Only adults in the colony are the King and Queen, during swarm all adults (alates) leave the nest and start new colonies. Neotenics are replacement queens. Differences between Ants and Termites? - ANSWER-Antennae- Termite are straight. Ant are elbowed. Wings- Termite has 2 pair of equal length. Ant has 2 pair of unequal length. Waist- Termite is broadly. Ant is narrow. Subterranean Termites - ANSWER-Formosan and 5 other native Maintain connection to the earth because they require moisture. Workers follow cracks and crevices for food Workers use soil and excrement to build tunnels/shelter tubes Swarming: Formosan fly at dusk in May and June. 4 of 5 native fly morning/early afternoon Feb through June. Drywood Termites - ANSWER-Do not require contact with the earth, get their humidity from the air and their food source. Produce hard fecal pellets below infested wood Swarming: late evening from spring - fall Carpenter Ants - ANSWER-Single Queen colonies and nest in rotten wood or voids in buildings. Have main nest and satellite nests. Nocturnal. Largest ant in GA Do not eat wood, just chew out wet/rotten wood to make room for nests. Leave pile on chewed wood/pieces of prey outside of infested wood Wood Boring Beetles Four Families of Beetles: - ANSWER-Holometabolous. Females lay eggs on wood and larva hatch and borrow into the wood
All other types of decay fungi require wood made wet from external source (rain, irrigation, burst pipe) White Rot - ANSWER-Digest lignin and cellulose which leaves the wood a lighter color and fibrous (not cracked into cubes) Commensal Rodents Three Common Structure-Infesting Rodents: - ANSWER-Live near areas inhabited by humans and depend on food intended for humans and their animals. Single rat can eat 20-40 lbs of food a year. Transmit: Haverhill (rat bite) fever, typhoid, and hantavirus as well as carry bacteria which can cause food poisoning. Gnawing can damage structures and cause electrical issues. Norway Rat Roof Rat House Mouse Norway Rat - ANSWER-Large and robust in appearance, weigh 18 oz Small ears, small eyes, and blunt snout Nests in ground burrow Omnivore but prefers meat 4-7 litters per year, 8-12 per litter Roof Rat - ANSWER-Sleek appearance, weigh 7 oz Large ears, large eyes, pointed snout Nests near vines, walls, trees, and attics Omnivore but prefers fruits and veggies 4-6 litters per year, 4-8 per litter House Mouse - ANSWER-Slender appearance, weigh 1 oz Small eyes, large ears, pointed snout Nests within structures Omnivore but prefers grains 8 litters per year, 4-7 per litter IPM 6 Control Methods of IPM:
8 Features of IPM: - ANSWER-Integrated Pest Management- Not a cookie cutter application, treating each house like its own. Exclusion Habitat Modification Sanitation Repellents Mechanical/Physical Pesticides Identification Inspection Communication Action Plan Development Action Plan Implementation Action Plan Monitoring Action Plan Revision Continued Monitoring Exclusions - ANSWER-Reducing or eliminating the ways pests can enter a building EX: door sweeps, screen doors, caulking around windows Habitat Modification - ANSWER-Reducing sources of food, water, and harborage EX: Indoors- fixing pipes, cleaning up garbage Outdoors- adjusting landscape, depth of mulch, timers on lights Sanitation - ANSWER-Cleaning up and removing items a particular pest can use as food. Repellents - ANSWER-Using a chemical or physical device to keep pests away from the area. EX: bird spikes, insect repellent Mechanical/Physical - ANSWER-Fly swatters, air curtains, all traps Pesticides - ANSWER-The application of materials defined by the US EPA as pesticides Pesticide - ANSWER-Any chemical or mixture of chemicals used to control a pest. May kill, repel, attract, or change the normal growth or reproduction of a pest.
Porous surfaces may absorb the formulation Flammable Microencapsulated Pesticides (ME or FM) Advantages or Disadvantages: - ANSWER-Made by enclosing tiny droplets of the active ingredient in small polymer (gel like material) beads in a liquid formulation. The active ingredient is released when the polymer breaks down. These are usually diluted before application. Advantages of ME: Remains on the surface of porous surfaces Low toxicity to plants Provides a longer residual because of the slow release of AI Disadvantages of ME: Requires frequent agitation to keep the power from settling to the bottom of the tank Leaves visible residue Wettable Powder (W or WP) Advantages or Disadvantages: - ANSWER-Dry formulation that has the active ingredient that has the AI attached to a powder particle. Wetting agent is added to the formulation before application. Wetting agent creates a suspension, powder does not dissolve, it is suspended (floating/sinking) in the wetting agent. Advantages of WP: Remains on the surface of porous surfaces Low toxicity to plants Not readily absorbed in the skin of humans and domestic animals Disadvantages of WP: Requires frequent agitation to keep the power from settling to the bottom of the tank Leaves visible residue Easily inhaled when mixing Wear on spray applicator due to abrasion of powder Water Dispersable Granules (WDG) Advantages or Disadvantages: - ANSWER-Similar to Wettable Powder but the particle size is not a dust like powder, WDG granules are small easily measured granules which are less likely to get airborne and be inhaled during mixing/measuring. Advantages of WDG:
Reduced risk of inhalation Disadvantages of WDG: Application equipment must have good agitation to suspend heavy granules Dusts (D) Advantages or Disadvantages: - ANSWER-Powder of AI mixed with an inert ingredient (clay or talc). Ready to use, dry formulation. Dermal, Ingestion, or drying out the insect and drying out all internal water (desiccants) Ineffective when damp. Too thick a layer imposes risk of human inhalation. Advantages of D: Long residual life, if kept dry Ready to use Remain on the surface of porous materials Not readily absorbed through skin of human or animals Disadvantages of D: Leaves visible residue that is moved off target by wind or water Application can require special equipment Can become airborne and breathed by applicator Baits (B) Advantages or Disadvantages: - ANSWER-Formulation of pesticide designed to be eaten or swallowed, is generally marketed as ready to use and can be formulated as a dust, granular, pellet, semi-liquid gel, or a liquid. Contains different material to make it "taste good" to pests. Advantages of B: Placement is targeted by the applicator,reducing non target exposure Most are ready to use Easy to apply Disadvantages of B: Must compete with other available foods May be attractive to domestic animals and humans Repeated applications can cause build up of non-eaten bait Granules (G)
Disadvantages of A: Risk of inhalation Hazard if punctured. Flammable Difficult to direct application of fog Fumigants - ANSWER-Pesticides that are gas at room temperature. Absorbed through skin or inhaled by pests. Commonly used for WDO. Tenting entire house Risk of inhalation. Can burn skin Desiccants - ANSWER-Chemical agents that absorb moisture. Damages was layer on exoskeleton and dehydrates the pest IRAC 6 Biological Functions: - ANSWER-Insecticide Resistance Action Committee -Group of scientists that maintain a list of all registered insecticide Active Ingredients. Nervous Action Muscle Action Energy Metabolism Insect Growth Regulation Chitin Synthesis Inhibitors Disruption of Insect Guts Anticoagulants Two Generations: - ANSWER-Doesn't allow blood to clot. Used in rondenticides.
- Require bait consumption over several feedings (days) in order to receive a lethal dose
- Lethal after a single ingestion of bait. Mechanical Pest Control Devices - ANSWER-Air Curtain- Air blower at doorways to keep insects from coming inside. Walmart Sticky Traps- Used for monitoring. Locate nesting, harborage, and feeding. Electrocution Traps- Flying insects killed when they touch an ultra violet light. Keep away from entry, as this may attract more insects than without. Light Traps- Glue board attached to a light. Live Traps- Catch and release rodents and small mammals without harm.
Glue Boards, Snap Traps, and Multiple Catch Traps- Rodent control. Cleaning out and replacing are necessary Protective Netting, Wires, and Spikes- Bird control to prevent birds from landing. Ultrasonic Pest Control Devices- DO NOT WORK SDS - ANSWER-Safety Data Sheet Labels Must have the Following Information: - ANSWER-Brand or Product Name Type of Formulation- product type. G, D, WP, EC Net Contents- how much product Ingredient Statement- AI percentage of total Common Name, Chemical Name, and IRAC MoA Category Number Name and Address of Manufacturer\Registration and Establishment Numbers- registration number provided by EPA Signal Words and Symbols- Signal Words and Symbols Five Criteria: Three Toxicity Levels: - ANSWER-All pesticides are toxic and can be hazardous. Swallowing (oral) Applied to the skin (dermal) Inhaled (inhalation) Irritation to skin (dermal) Irritation to eye (exposure to eyes) Danger XXX highly toxic Warning XX moderately toxic Caution X slightly toxic Precautionary Statements - ANSWER-Statement of Practical Treatment- first aid in case of exposure Environmental Hazard Physical or Chemical Hazard- fire or explosion Storage and Disposal Personal protective Equipment (PPE)
