Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) Practice Exam

What does the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) provide?

1. A guide to pest management strategies

2. Recommendations for pesticide marketing

3. A guide to pesticide modes of action

4. Regulation of pesticide use

The correct answer is: A guide to pesticide modes of action

The Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) is known for providing a comprehensive guide to pesticide modes of action. Understanding the modes of action is crucial in pest management, as it helps professionals classify insecticides based on how they affect pests and can aid in developing effective resistance management strategies. This information is vital for minimizing the risk of insects developing resistance to certain pesticide classes by rotating or mixing insecticides with different modes of action. While the other options are relevant to the field of pest management, they do not accurately capture the primary focus of IRAC. For instance, a guide to pest management strategies would encompass broader practices beyond insecticide modes of action. Recommendations for pesticide marketing pertain more to commercial strategies than technical guidelines, and regulation of pesticide use is typically handled by governmental bodies rather than IRAC. Thus, the emphasis of IRAC is distinctly on educating and informing those in the industry about pesticide modes of action and their implications for resistance management.