North Carolina Pesticide Application Practice Test

Which of the following is a physical method of pest control?

1. Natural weather patterns

2. Genetically altering plant resistance

3. Lower humidity levels

4. Laying traps and screens

The correct answer is: Lower humidity levels

The correct choice highlights a physical method of pest control that involves manipulating environmental conditions to deter pests. Lowering humidity levels can effectively create an inhospitable environment for many pests, which thrive in moist conditions. This method capitalizes on the physical properties of the environment to disrupt pest life cycles or survival, offering a non-chemical means of management. On the other hand, while natural weather patterns can influence pest populations, they are not a method that can be actively employed or controlled by a pest management professional. Genetically altering plant resistance implies a biological modification rather than a physical approach, focusing on the plant's genetic makeup to deter pests. Laying traps and screens is a more direct physical strategy which does indeed control pest populations but might not be as broadly categorized under environmental manipulation as adjusting humidity levels. Each of these concepts plays a unique role in pest management, but lowering humidity specifically emphasizes the use of physical environmental controls.