Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) Practice Exam

What government agency initiated a quarantine program for fire ants in the 1950s?

1. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

2. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

3. United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS)

4. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The correct answer is: United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS)

The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) is responsible for protecting U.S. agriculture from pests and diseases, which includes the management of invasive species such as fire ants. In the 1950s, this agency recognized the significant threat posed by fire ants to both agriculture and public health and thus initiated a quarantine program. This program was aimed at controlling the spread of fire ants, which had been unintentionally introduced to the United States, and involved the inspection of goods and materials that could facilitate their movement. USDA-APHIS's role includes both regulatory and management actions to prevent the introduction and establishment of harmful pests, making it the appropriate agency for this type of quarantine initiative. Other agencies listed do not have the specific focus or historical context directly related to the fire ant quarantine program initiated in that timeframe. Therefore, USDA-APHIS's involvement is critical to understanding how federal efforts were mobilized to address agricultural pest threats effectively.