Welcome to the print version of Copesan University’s Ant Quiz. Copesan University is an online training program available to the entire pest management industry. Copesan University features courses on technical topics (control of bees and wasps, flies, rodents and others) and business topics (telephone skills, customer service tips, management and more). Visit www.pctonline.com/copesan for available courses.
On the next two pages are questions on ant identification, biology, habits, inspection and control. Visit www.pctonline.com/copesanquiz to see the answers and to learn more about Copesan University courses. Good luck!
1. Plant-feeding aphids produce a liquid substance that is a favorite food of many ant species. This substance is called:
a. Honey
b. Honeydew
c. Sweat
d. Nectar
2. If an ant species has “polymorphic workers” it means that it has:
a. More than 100 workers in the colony
b. Workers of two or more sizes
c. Many workers of one size
d. Only fertile workers
3. From the list of ant species below check the three that best match the following description:
• They are strong trail makers
• Their colonies are very prone to budding
• They have multiple queens in their colonies
• Their colonies are huge and spread out over large areas
Answer Choices:
a. Odorous house ant
b. Pharaoh ant
c. Argentine ant
d. Carpenter ant
e. Pavement ant
4. Construction voids where various common household ants may create colonies are best treated with:
a. Baits
b. Dusts
c. Non-repellent residual spray labeled for outdoor use
d. Non-repellent residual spray labeled for indoor use
e. Repellent residual spray labeled for outdoor use
f. Repellent residual spray labeled for indoor use
g. Elimination of conducive conditions
5. The substance some ants use to create and identify a trail is a/an:
a. Trail marker
b. Fumigant
c. Pheromone
d. Odorous marking agent
6. The best way to correct a conducive condition is to:
a. Enhance it
b. Spray it
c. Eliminate it
7. The best and most targeted way to eliminate an ant nest is by:
a. Indirect nest treatment
b. Direct nest treatment
c. Space treatment
d. Trailing and foraging treatment
8. What is an ant-feeding habit that often enhances bait effectiveness?
a. Trophallaxis
b. Sarcophagy
c. Coprophagy
d. Predation
9. Which would best describe the occasional failure of baits in ant control:
a. Loss of toxicity
b. Unpredictable acceptance
c. Resistance
d. Avoidance
10. From the choices below, select the two that represent what ants are most likely doing when they are walking around:
a. Looking for mama
b. Looking for papa
c. Searching for a food source
d. Carrying food to the colony
e. Trying to find the colony
11. Which one of the following choices is particularly important for making a successful ant inspection?
a. Hand lens
b. Knowledge of ant mating habits
c. Knowledge of ant behavior
d. Ant control products
12. When making a surface “spot application” indoors for ant control, the formulation of choice would be:
a. Baits
b. Dusts
c. Non-repellent liquid residual spray registered for indoor use
d. Repellent liquid residual spray registered for indoor use
13. The customer is complaining about the presence of these ants. Because of their small size, you aren’t sure what they are but some crushed ones have a smell of rotten coconut. They are most like which of the following:
a. Odorous house ant
b. Ghost ant
c. Carpenter ant
d. Pharaoh ant
e. Pavement ant
f. Acrobat ant
g. Argentine ant
h. Fire ant
i. Crazy ant
14. From the list below, select the one that is considered to be the first step in solving an ant problem:
a. Flushing cracks and crevices with pyrethrins
b. Interviewing the customer
c. Driving to the customer location
d. Introducing yourself and knocking on the door
15. A good non-toxic bait to use for an ant survey might be:
a. Protein bait like liver pâte
b. A high-energy bait like meat grease
c. A sweet bait like mint apple jelly
16. Inspections often show that ants are foraging and nesting throughout mulch beds around buildings. The treatment of choice for these areas would be:
a. Dusts
b. Baits
c. Non-repellent residual sprays registered for outdoor use
d. Non-repellent residual sprays registered for indoor use
e. Repellent granules
f. Repellent residual sprays registered for outdoor use
g. Aerosols
17. Match the conducive conditions with the appropriate solution.
1. Gap around doors and windows
2. Branches touching house
3. Spilled bird seed in laundry room
4. Aphids and ants on ornamental plants
5. Leaky valve behind water heater
6. Damp crawl space
a. Provide cross ventilation
b. Spray it with insecticide
c. Clean it up
d. Cut it back
e. Repair it
f. Caulk it
18. Which one of the following is the food type and consistency preferred by the Argentine ant:
a. Solid protein
b. Gel fats
c. Liquid sweets
d. Granular sweets
e. Gel sweets
f. Gel protein
19. A springtime prevention of ants that we suspect to be entering a structure in search of food can best be accomplished using which of the following products:
a. Dusts
b. Baits
c. Non-repellent liquid residual spray labeled for outdoor use
d. Non-repellent liquid residual spray labeled for indoor use
e. Repellent liquid insecticide labeled for outdoor use
f. Elimination of conducive conditions
20. What is the correct set of stages for an ant’s life cycle?
a. Egg, nymph, adult
b. Egg, nymph, larva, adult
c. Egg, naiad, adult
d. Egg, larva, pupa, adult
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