Washington Pesticide Laws and Safety Practice Test

What defines a severe pest?

1. A pest that causes minor damage that's rarely above the economic injury level

2. A pest present in populations that are always above the economic injury level in the absence of control

3. A pest that moves from one location to another causing damage

4. A pest that becomes a problem only under certain environmental conditions

The correct answer is: A pest present in populations that are always above the economic injury level in the absence of control

A - A pest that causes minor damage that is rarely above the economic injury level does not fit the definition of a severe pest because its impact is not significant enough to be considered severe. C - While the movement of a pest from one location to another can cause damage, it is not the defining characteristic of a severe pest. A pest can cause significant damage without needing to move from one location to another. D - A pest that only becomes a problem under certain environmental conditions is not necessarily a severe pest. It may still cause significant damage when those conditions are present, but it is not always present in population levels that are above the economic injury level. In summary, a severe pest is defined as a pest that is consistently present in populations that are always above the economic injury level in the absence of control measures. This means that it consistently causes significant damage and poses a high risk to crops or other resources.