Pest Control Technician Practice Exam

What does an Insecticide Growth Regulator (IGR) do?

1. Kills insects upon contact

2. Interferes with normal insect development

3. Enhances reproductive capabilities of insects

4. Attracts pests to traps

The correct answer is: Interferes with normal insect development

An Insecticide Growth Regulator (IGR) functions primarily by interfering with the normal development of insects. IGRs are designed to disrupt various stages of an insect’s life cycle, particularly their growth and maturation processes. This can include preventing larvae from transitioning to the pupal stage or stopping adults from reproducing successfully. By targeting these specific developmental pathways, IGRs effectively reduce insect populations over time without the immediate lethality of traditional insecticides. This approach is particularly useful for managing pests that would typically develop resistance to conventional insecticides because IGRs operate differently, focusing on growth rather than direct lethality. Consequently, IGRs have applications in areas where long-term pest management strategies are necessary, such as in stored products or turf management. In contrast, options like killing insects upon contact or enhancing their reproductive capabilities do not align with the fundamental action of IGRs. IGRs are not designed to function as contact insecticides or to increase insect populations, which makes these alternatives less relevant in the context of what an IGR does. Similarly, while attracting pests to traps might relate to pest management strategies, it is not the mechanism by which IGRs operate.