Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) Practice Exam

Which of the following is a characteristic of physical controls?

1. They use biological agents for pest control.

2. They do not involve living organisms.

3. They primarily use chemical substances.

4. They require constant monitoring of pest populations.

The correct answer is: They do not involve living organisms.

Physical controls are techniques used in pest management that do not involve living organisms or synthetic chemical substances. This approach includes methods such as mechanical trapping, exclusion (like sealing entry points), and environmental manipulation (such as altering temperature or humidity) to deter or eliminate pests. The key characteristic here is the non-biological nature of these controls; they rely on physical barriers or modifications to the environment rather than on any form of biological agents or chemical treatments. The options that imply biological agents, chemical substances, or require continuous monitoring do not align with the definition of physical controls. Biological controls involve the use of natural predators or parasites to manage pest populations, while chemical controls encompass pesticides and other synthetic substances. Monitoring, while important in overall pest management strategies, is not specific to physical control methods, which can often be effective with less frequent oversight once implemented. Thus, the statement highlighting that these controls do not involve living organisms accurately captures the essence of physical controls in pest management.