Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) Practice Exam

What class of pesticides contains both fast-acting and longer-lasting types?

1. Borates

2. Carbamates

3. Organophosphates

4. Pyrroles

The correct answer is: Organophosphates

The class of pesticides that contains both fast-acting and longer-lasting types is organophosphates. Organophosphates are widely used in agriculture and pest control due to their versatility and effectiveness against a broad range of pests. They work by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which is crucial for nerve function, leading to the rapid disruption of nervous system processes in pests. One of the key characteristics of organophosphates is that they can have varying durations of action. Some organophosphates are formulated to act quickly, providing immediate knockdown of target pests, while others are designed for longer-lasting effects, allowing for prolonged pest control. This dual nature makes them particularly useful in situations where both immediate pest control and residual activity are desirable. The other options provided—borates, carbamates, and pyrroles—do not typically exhibit this combination of fast-acting and longer-lasting properties to the same extent as organophosphates. Borates primarily act as contact insecticides with more sluggish effects, carbamates have a similar mode of action to organophosphates but generally do not offer the same range of persistence, and pyrroles tend to have slower modes of action as they disrupt metabolic processes over a longer timeframe. Therefore