Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) Practice Exam

What term describes pesticides designed to kill insect eggs?

1. Larvicide

2. Adulticide

3. Fumigant

4. Ovicide

The correct answer is: Ovicide

The term that describes pesticides specifically formulated to target and kill insect eggs is ovicide. These products are designed to interrupt the life cycle of insects by preventing eggs from hatching into juvenile forms, thereby reducing the population of adult insects over time. By focusing on the egg stage, ovicides effectively limit the chances of an infestation growing and can be a strategic part of integrated pest management. Other types of pesticides, such as larvicides, are aimed at targeting larvae, adulticides target adult insects, and fumigants usually work to eradicate pests in a gaseous form, but none of these specifically address the egg stage like ovicides do. This targeted approach helps pest management professionals to act preemptively against pests, reducing reliance on more aggressive treatments later in the life cycle.