Structural Pest Control Applicator Practice Exam

Pesticide pollution can help a pest you are trying to destroy by killing predators and parasites of the pest. What is the true statement?

1. True

2. False

3. Only if used in excess

4. Only in closed environments

The correct answer is: True

Pesticide pollution can indeed impact ecosystems in ways that may inadvertently benefit the pests being targeted. When pesticides are applied, they can not only eliminate the target pests but also reduce populations of their natural predators and parasites. This reduction can create an environment where the pest population can thrive without the checks and balances typically provided by these natural enemies. This phenomenon highlights the complexity of ecological relationships and the potential consequences of human interventions such as pesticide use. It underscores the importance of integrated pest management practices, which consider the ecological balance and seek to minimize negative impacts on non-target organisms while effectively managing pest populations. The other choices suggest conditions or circumstances that do not encompass the broader truth of how pesticide pollution affects pest populations. For instance, the idea that it only occurs in closed environments or only if used in excess does not fully capture the potential ecological effects seen in various environments where pesticides are applied.