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Sample questions
According to the biology of the American cockroach, what is the approximate lifespan of a female under good conditions?
- 600 days
- 10 months
- About 15 months
- One year
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Reaching adulthood takes about 600 days, and Penn State reports a female can live up to about 15 months in good conditions.🔗 Source
An applicator is inspecting a property for American cockroach activity. At what time of day is it most effective to conduct this inspection?
- At night, because they avoid light by day
- At noon, when light levels are highest
- During the early morning
- During the day, when they are most active searching for food
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Inspect at night, when this light-shy roach is on the move.🔗 Source
When differentiating the American cockroach from the oriental cockroach, what key difference is noted?
- The American cockroach is almost black, while the oriental is reddish-brown
- The oriental cockroach is reddish-brown with a pale margin, while the American is almost black
- The American cockroach is almost black, whereas the oriental is reddish-brown with lighter edging on the pronotum
- The American cockroach is wingless, while the oriental is fully winged
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The oriental cockroach is the easiest to rule out: UC IPM describes it as almost black, whereas the American is reddish-brown with lighter edging on the pronotum.🔗 Source
Which of the following is a recommended prevention strategy for controlling American cockroach populations?
- Using insecticides as the primary method for a lone outdoor stray
- Applying heavy sprays to all indoor surfaces daily
- Sealing cracks around doors, windows, and utility lines
- Eliminating all organic matter in the neighborhood
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Because this species pushes in from outside, seal cracks around doors, windows, and utility lines and correct dampness near the pipes and drains where it shelters.🔗 Source
What is a documented health risk associated with the shed parts and feces of the American cockroach?
- Direct transmission of asthma
- Allergens that can cause rashes, watery eyes, and nasal congestion
- Skin infections from contact with the pronotum
- Respiratory distress caused by the musty odor
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UF/IFAS reports that the roaches shed feces, cast skins, and body parts such as antennae and legs that act as allergens, leaving sensitive people with rashes and other reactions; Penn State likewise counts asthma among the responses to cockroach excrement and shed skins, alongside watery eyes, nasal congestion, and sneezing.🔗 Source
Which physical characteristic is described as the surest field mark for identifying an adult American cockroach?
- An almost black body color
- A shield behind the head (pronotum) with a pale tan-to-yellow margin
- A small, wingless body with no wing pads
- A bright yellow stripe running down the center of the back
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The surest field mark is the shield behind the head (the pronotum), edged with a pale tan-to-yellow margin.🔗 Source
What is the recommended first step in an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program for this species, according to UC IPM?
- Immediate application of liquid insecticides
- Sanitation, exclusion, and monitoring
- Applying dusts to all cracks and crevices immediately
- Massive application of outdoor baits
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UC IPM anchors control in sanitation, exclusion, and well-placed baits and dusts.🔗 Source
Based on the provided text, how does the American cockroach primarily cause food safety concerns?
- By acting as a proven direct disease carrier
- Through the consumption of human food in kitchens
- By fouling food and utensils, leading to contamination
- By secreting toxic enzymes that poison organic matter
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Texas A&M is careful to say the species is not a proven direct disease carrier, but it does foul food and utensils, making contamination the practical hazard.🔗 Source
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