Insect and Mite: Bug Quiz Bowl 1
Plant protection of greenhouse-grown horticultural crops requires a basic knowledge of the biology, behavior, and life cycle of the most common insect and mite pests such as aphids, whiteflies, thrips, and spider mites. It also requires a fundamental understanding of the pesticides (insecticides and miticides) and biological control agents (parasitoids and predators) that can be used to either suppress or regulate populations of insect and mite pests.
Therefore, in this article, I am going to determine how proficient you are in regards to your knowledge of insect and mite pests, pesticides, and biological control agents. Below are thirteen multiple choice questions (the answers are located at the bottom of the pageÉby the wayÉno cheating). It should be noted that there may be more than one correct answer. Good Luck!
Question 1:
What pest is kinoprene (Enstar) most effective against?
a. Mealybugs
b. Shore flies
c. Caterpillars
d. Broad mite
Question 2:
Which insect pests is pymetrozine (Endeavor) most active against?
a. Mites and shore flies
b. Thrips and whiteflies
c. Aphids and whiteflies
d. Mealybugs and mites
Question 3:
Which pesticide could be used against both thrips (western flower thrips) and mites (twospotted spider mite)?
a. Conserve
b. Pylon
c. Overture
d. Nuke Em
Question 4:
Which of the following insecticides could be used to suppress populations of fungus gnat larvae?
a. Talus
b. Distance
c. Floramite
d. Gnatrol
Question 5:
Which of the following pesticides could be used against the twospotted spider mite?
a. Pylon
b. Marathon
c. Judo
d. Mite-B-Gone
Question 6:
Of the following insecticides, which ones would be considered “sound” rotational partners against whiteflies?
a. TriStar and Safari
b. Pedestal and Endeavor
c. Distance and Talus
d. Marathon and Flagship
Question 7:
What would be considered “sound” pesticide rotational programs against mealybugs?
a. Marathon_Safari_TriStar_Flagship
b. Orthene_Talus_TriStar_Enstar
c. SuffOil-X_Marathon_Safari_Aria
d. TriStar_Talstar_Talus_SuffOil-X
Question 8:
Which pesticides could be mixed together to deal with both whiteflies and twospotted spider mites?
a. Pedestal + Pylon
b. Conserve + Floramite
c. Marathon + Enstar
d. Safari + Akari
Question 9:
Which biological control agent would be best to use against western flower thrips?
a. Encarsia formosa
b. Phytoseiulus persimilis
c. Neoseiulus cucumeris
d. Eatalotus thrips
Question 10:
Of the biological control agents listed below, which one would be best to use against fungus gnat larvae?
a. Orius spp.
b. Steinernema feltiae
c. Aphidius ervi
d. Killusmany fungusgnats
Question 11:
What type of biological control agent(s) could be used against aphids?
a. Orius spp.
b. Beneficial nematode
c. Parasitoid
d. Predator
Question 12:
Which of the following biological control agents would you use against the sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)?
a. Phytoseiulus persimilis
b. Green lacewing
c. Eatusmany whiteflies
d. Eretmocerus mundus
Question 13:
What is the best way to deal with insect and mite pests of greenhouse-grown crops?
a. Only use pesticides
b. Sell all infested plants to competitor
c. Implement a “holistic” plant protection strategy that includes cultural controls, sanitation, scouting, and if needed applying pesticides or biological control agents
d. Release biological control agents when pest populations are “high”
Answers:
1. a 2. c3. b4. b and d5. a and c6. b and c7. b and d8. a and d9. c10. b11. c and d12. d13. c