Pest Control Aircraft Pilot Practice Test

A pesticide that disrupts the normal development of insects is known as what?

1. Insecticide

2. Growth regulator

3. Systemic pesticide

4. Herbicide

The correct answer is: Growth regulator

The term for a pesticide that disrupts the normal development of insects is known as a growth regulator. Growth regulators are specific types of pesticides that interfere with the hormones and biological processes that govern insect growth and development. They prevent insects from maturing through their life stages, effectively controlling pest populations by altering their life cycle rather than directly killing them. Insecticides, while effective against insects, primarily work by killing them through various means, such as neurotoxicity or other lethal mechanisms, rather than altering their growth processes. Systemic pesticides are absorbed by plants and affect pests feeding on them, but they do not specifically target developmental processes. Herbicides target plant species and are not related to insect control at all. Understanding the specific roles and functions of different categories of pesticides is essential for effective pest management strategies.