Apply
Pesticides
Correctly
A guide
for private
applicators
lit at. t'
U.S. Department
of Agriculture
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
^H^^_ If ^ ^ **dtfB
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Apply
Pesticides
Correctly
Contents
A guide ===========^^^====.
for private Preface iii
applicators T *. j ±-
** Introduction iii
Pests l-l
Insects 1-1
Mites, Ticks, and Spiders . 1-1
Snails and Slugs + 1-1
Pest Animals 1-1
Weeds 1-1
Plant Diseases 1-2
Pest Control 1-2
Pesticides 2-1
How Pesticides Work 2-1
Using Pesticides 2-2
Types of Formulations 2-2
Labels and Labeling 3-1
Using Pesticides Safely 4-1
How Pesticides Harm Man 4-1
Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning 4-1
First Aid Procedures 1 4_1
Protecting Your Body 4_2
How Pesticides Harm the Environment 4-3
Safe Use Precautions _ 4_3
Application Equipment 5-1
Sprayers 5-1
Dusters and Granular Applicators 5-3
Calibration 5_3
Laws and Regulations 6-1
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, , 6-1
and Rodenticide Act
Residues ^ 6-1
U.S. Environmental U.S. Department
Protection Agency of Agriculture
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Preface
Introduction
This guide has been developed by the
Pesticide Operations Division, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), and the Extension Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The contributors are from State land-
grant universities, other universities,
USDA, EPA, and the pesticide industry.
They include:
J. Blair Bailey, University of
California,
Emerson Baker, Environmental
Protection Agency,
John Boehle, Jr., Ciba-Geigy
Corporation,
James J. Bonin, Consultant,
B. Jack Butler, University of
Illinois,
James E. Dewey, Cornell
University,
Burton R. Evans, Environmental
Protection Agency,
William D. Fitzwater,
Environmental Protection
Agency,
L. C. Gibbs, U.S. Department of
Agriculture,
Edward H. Glass, New York
Agricultural Experiment Station,
Wayland J. Hayes, Jr.,Vanderbilt
cr> University,
—Fred W. Knapp, University of
c— Kentucky,
John A. Lofgren, University of
i Minnesota,
=3 Otis C. Maloy, Washington State
University,
James F. Miller, University of
Georgia,
Frank Murphey, University of
Delaware,
Edward L. Nigh, Jr., University of
Arizona,
Arthur Retan, Washington State
University,
Harry K. Tayama, The Ohio State
University.
Gerald T. Weekman, North Carolina
State University, joint consultant for
EPA and USDA, organized the project
and served as editor. He was assisted by
Mary Ann Wamsley, USDA.
Many other people contributed greatly
to the book by reviewing it at various
stages. They represent EPA, USDA,
State regulatory agencies, the pesticide
industry, environmental groups, and
applicator associations.
Federal regulations set minimum
requirements that you must meet
before you can use certain pesticides.
This guide contains the practical
information you need to prepare you
to meet most of these requirements.
It does not include all the things you
need to know about the pests you
wish to control. It may not include
all the information you may be
required to know to meet your State
requirements. Your State Pesticide
Regulatory Agency and your State
Extension Service can give you this
additional information.
This book will tell you:
some features of common
pests, how they develop, and
the kinds of damage they do,
methods you can use to
control pests,
how pesticides work,
how pesticide labels can help
you,
how to use pesticides so they
will not harm you or the
environment,
how to choose, use, and care
for some equipment, and
the Federal laws that apply
to your use of pesticides.
in
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Pests
Pests can be put into five main
groups:
• insects (plus mites, ticks, and
spiders),
• snails and slugs,
• pest animals,
• weeds, and
• plant disease agents.
You probably will find some pests
that you cannot identify. Never try
to control a pest until you are sure of
what it is. Ask your Cooperative
Extension agent. He will help you to
get the correct answer.
Insects
Many kinds of insects are pests.
They may:
feed on leaves,
tunnel or bore in stems,
stalks, and branches,
feed on and tunnel in roots,
feed on and in seeds and nuts,
suck the sap from leaves,
stems, roots, fruits, and
flowers,
• carry plant and animal
disease agents, and
• feed on or in man and other
animals.
All adult insects have two things
in common—they have six jointed
legs and three body regions. Almost
all insects change in shape, form,
and size during their lives.
You can tell one insect from
another by looking at the wings and
mouthparts. Some insects have no
wings. Others have two or four. The
wings vary in shape, size, thickness,
and structure. Insects feed in
different ways. Those with chewing
mouthparts have toothed jaws that
bite and tear the food. Insects with
piercing-sucking mouthparts have a
long beak which they force into a
plant or animal to suck out fluids or
blood.
Mites, Ticks, and Spiders
Mites, ticks, and spiders are closely
related to insects. The main
differences are that the adults have
eight jointed legs instead of six and
have two body regions. They do not
have wings.
Snails and Slugs
Snails and slugs are members of a
large group of animals called
mollusks. Snails have a hard shell;
slugs have no shell. They feed on
plant foliage. They are pests in
lawns, landscape plantings, and
greenhouses.
Pest Animals
Fish, snakes, turtles, alligators,
lizards, frogs, toads, salamanders,
birds, and mammals may be pests.
What may be a pest animal in some
cases may be highly desirable in
others.
Weeds
A weed is simply "a plant out of
place." Before you can control weeds,
you need to know something about
how they grow. One important
feature is the length of their life
cycle.
Annuals
Plants with a one-year life cycle
are annuals. They grow from seed,
mature, and produce seed for the
next generation in one year or less
and then die.
Summer annuals are plants that
result from seeds which sprout in
the spring.
Winter annuals are plants that
grow from seeds which sprout in the
fall.
1-1
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Biennials
Plants with a two-year life cycle
are biennials. They grow from seed
and develop a heavy root and a
compact cluster of leaves the first
year. In the second year they
mature, produce seed, and die.
Perennials
Plants which live more than two
years and may live indefinitely are
perennials. During the winter many
lose their foliage and the stems of
others may die back to the ground.
Some grow from seed. Others
produce tubers, bulbs, rootlike
below-ground stems or above-ground
stems that produce roots.
Diseases Caused by Non-Laving
Agents
The causes include such things as
frost, air pollution, and drought.
These diseases cannot be passed
from one plant to another.
Diseases Caused by Living
Things
The most common causes of these
diseases and examples of the
diseases they cause are:
• fungi (scabs and rot),
• bacteria (blights, wilts, and
scabs),
• viruses (mosaics), and
• nematodes (root knots and
cysts).
Some visible ways plants respond
to disease causes are:
• galls, swellings, and leaf
curls,
• stunting, lack of green color,
and incomplete development
of parts, and
• blights, leaf spots, wilting,
and cankers.
Pest Control
If you have identified a pest, and you
know how it grows, spreads, and
does its damage, you can begin to
plan how to control it.
Using a pesticide is only one of
many ways to control pests. The use
of a combination of methods is basic
to all pest control. Be sure to think
about what other methods might
work before you decide to apply a
pesticide. You can minimize pest
problems by:
• encouraging pests' natural
enemies,
• planting crop varieties that
resist pests,
• destroying crop residues,
• practicing good manure
management,
• clean plowing and
cultivation.
Pest control is necessary only
when the pest is causing more
damage than is reasonable to accept.
Even though a pest is present, it
may not do much harm. It could cost
more to control the pest than would
have been lost because of the pest's
damage.
i
Plant Diseases
A plant disease is any harmful
condition that makes a plant
different from a normal plant. There
are two main kinds of plant diseases.
1-2
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Pesticides
Here are the types and uses of
pesticides:
Insecticide: controls insects and
other related pests such as ticks
and spiders.
Miticide: controls mites.
Acaricide: controls mites, ticks
and spiders.
Nematicide: controls nematodes.
Fungicide: controls fungi.
Bactericide: controls bacteria.
Herbicide: controls weeds.
Rodenticide: controls rodents.
Avicide: controls birds.
Piscicide: controls fish.
Molluscicide: controls mollusks,
such as slugs and snails.
Predacide: controls pest
animals.
Repellent: keeps pests away.
Attractant: lures pests.
Plant Growth Regulator: stops,
speeds up, or otherwise changes
normal plant processes.
Desiccants and Defoliants:
harvest-aid chemicals used to
remove or kill leaves and stems.
Antitranspirant: Reduces water
loss from plants.
How Pesticides Work
Pesticides can be grouped according
to what they do. Many work in more
than one way. Read the label to find
out what the one you are using will
do.
Some of the ways pesticides
work are:
Contacts: kill pests simply by
contacting them.
Stomach poisons: kill when
swallowed.
Systemics: kill pests by being
taken into the blood of the
animal or sap of the plant upon
which the pest is feeding.
Translocated herbicides: kill
plants by being absorbed by
leaves, stems, or roots and
moving throughout the plant.
Fumigants: gases which kill
2-1
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when they are inhaled or
otherwise absorbed by the pest.
Selective: kills certain kinds of
plants or animals.
Nonselective: kills most plants
or animals.
Using Pesticides
Many terms describe when and how
to use pesticides.
When To Use
Preemergence: used before crops
or weeds emerge. May also refer
to use after crops emerge or are
established, but before weeds
emerge.
Preplant: used before the crop is
planted.
Postemergence: used after the
crop or weeds have emerged.
How To Use
Band: application to a strip over
or along each crop row.
Broadcast: uniform application
to an entire, specific area.
Dip: complete or partial
immersion of a plant, animal, or
object in a pesticide.
Directed: aiming the pesticide at
a portion of a plant, animal, or
structure.
Drench: saturating the soil with
a pesticide; oral treatment of an
animal with a liquid pesticide.
Foliar: application to the leaves
of plants.
In-furrow: application to or in
the furrow in which a plant is
planted.
Over-the-top: application over
the top of the growing crop.
Pour-on: pouring the pesticide
along the midline of the back of
livestock.
Sidedress: application along the
side of a crop row.
Soil incorporation: application
to the soil followed by use of
tillage implements to mix the
pesticide with the soil.
Spot treatment: application to a
small area.
Types of Formulations
Active in
(the chemicals t
edients
at do the work)
Inert ingredients
(make the product easier to apply)
Pesticide formulation
Here are the most common kinds of
formulations. Labeling and
Cooperative Extension Service
recommendations may refer to them
by these common letter
abbreviations.
Liquid Formulations
Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC or
E)
An emulsifiable concentrate can
be mixed with water to form an
emulsion in your spray tank.
Ultra Low Volume Solutions
(ULV)
These formulations may contain
only the active' ingredient itself.
They require special application
equipment.
Solutions (S)
These formulations are ready to
use. They are often used on livestock
and in barns.
Flowables (F or L)
A flowable can be mixed with
water to form a suspension in your
spray tank.
2-2
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Aerosols (A)
Granules (G)
These are low concentrate Granular formulations are made
solutions, usually applied as a fine by adding the active ingredient to
spray or mist indoors. Some are sold coarse particles (granules) of some
in pressurized cans. inert material. Granule particles are
much larger than dust particles.
Liquified Gases
These fumigant formulations turn
into a gas when they are applied.
Some of them have to be packaged in
pressure containers.
Dry Formulations
Dusts (D)
Dust formulations are made by
adding the active ingredient to a
fine inert powder. Dusts must be
used dry.
Wettable Powders (WP or W)
Wettable powder formulations are
made by combining the active
ingredient with a fine powder and a
wetting agent. They look like dusts,
but they are made to mix with
water. These formulations need
continuous agitation to maintain a
suspension.
Soluble Powders (SP)
A soluble powder formulation is
made from an active ingredient that
dissolves in water.
Baits (B)
A bait formulation is made by
adding the active ingredient to an
edible or attractive substance.
2-3
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PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
HAZARDS TO HUMANS
(& DOMESTIC ANIMALS)
DANGER
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL
HAZARDS
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
It is a violation of Federal law to use
this product in a manner inconsistent
with its labeling.
RE-ENTRY STATEMENT
(If Applicable)
CATEGORY OF APPLICATOR
STORAGE AND
DISPOSAL
STORAGE •^===
DISPOSAL :
CROP: —
RESTRICTED USE
PESTICIDE
FOR RETAIL SALE TO AND, APPLICATION ONLY BY
CERTIFIED APPLICATORS OR PERSONS UNDER THEIR
DIRECT SUPERVISION
PRODUCT
NAME
ACTIVE INGREDIENT:
INERT INGREDIENTS:
TOTAL:
100.00 %
THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS LBS OF PER GALLON
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
DANGER — POISON
STATEMENT OF PRACTICAL TREATMENT
IF SWALLOWED:
IF INHALED =
IF ON SKIN
IF IN EYES
SEE SIDE PANEL FOR ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
MFG BY:
TOWN, STATE =
ESTABLISHMENT NO.:
EPA REGISTRATION NO.:
NET CONTENTS:
CROP:
CROP:
CROP:
CROP: .
CROP:
WARRANTY STATEMENT
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Labels and
Labeling
All the printed information you get
about a pesticide product from the
company or its agent is called
labeling. Labeling includes such
things as:
• the label on the product,
• brochures,
• flyers, and
• other printed information
handed out by your dealer.
The label is the information
printed on or attached to a container
of pesticides. The label will tell you:
• how to use the product
correctly, and
• what special safety measures
you should take.
Parts of the Label
Brand Name
Each company uses brand names
to identify its products. The brand
name shows up plainly on the front
panel of the label.
Type of Formulation
Different types of pesticide
formulations (such as liquids,
wettable powders, and dusts) require
different methods of handling. The
label will tell you what type of
formulation the package contains.
The same pesticide may be available
in more than one formulation.
Ingredient Statement
Every pesticide label must list
what is in the product. It tells you
the names and amounts of the active
ingredients and the amount of inert
ingredients.
Common Name
Many pesticides have complex
chemical names. Some have been
given another name to make them
easier to identify. These are called
common names. A chemical made by
more than one company will be sold
under several brand names, but you
may find the same common name or
chemical name on all of them.
Net Contents
The net contents number tells you
how much is in the container. This
can be expressed in gallons, pints,
pounds, quarts, or other units of
measure.
Name and Address of
Manufacturer
The law requires the maker or
distributor of a product to put the
name and address of the company on
the label. This is so you will know
who made or sold the product.
Registration Number
A registration number must be on
every pesticide label. It shows that
the product has been registered with
the Federal Government.
Establishment Number
The establishment number tells
what factory made the chemical.
This number does not have to be on
the label, but will be somewhere on
each container.
Precautionary Statements
Hazards to Humans (and Domestic
Animals)
This section will tell you the ways
in which the product may be
poisonous to man and animals. It
also will tell you of any special steps
you should take to avoid poisoning,
such as the kind of protective
equipment needed.
If the product is highly toxic, this
section will inform physicians of the
proper treatment for poisoning.
Environmental Hazards
The label tells you how to avoid
hurting the environment. Some
examples are:
• "This product is highly toxic
to bees exposed to direct
treatment or to residues on*
crops."
• "Do not contaminate water
when cleaning equipment or
when disposing of wastes."
• "Do not apply where runoff is
likely to occur."
Physical and Chemical Hazards
This section will tell you of any
special fire, explosion, or chemical
hazards that the product may have.
3-1
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Signal Words and Symbols
Some pesticides may be hazardous
to people. You can tell how toxic a
product is by reading the signal
word and symbol on the label.
Signal Words
Signal
Words
DANGER
WARNING
CAUTION
Toxicity
Highly
toxic
Moderately
toxic
Low
toxicity
or
Compara-
tively free
from
danger
Appromixate Amount
Needed To Kill the
Average Person
a taste to
a teaspoonful
a teaspoonful
to a table-
spoonful
an ounce to
more than
a pint
All products must bear the statement
"Keep out of reach of children."
Symbol
The skull and crossbones is used
on all highly toxic materials along
with the signal word DANGER and
the word POISON.
Statement of Practical Treatment
If swallowing or inhaling the
product or getting it in your eyes or
on your skin would be harmful, the
label will tell you emergency first
aid measures. It also will tell you
what types of exposure require
medical attention.
The pesticide label is the most
important information you can take
to the physician when someone has
been poisoned.
Statement of Use Classification
Every pesticide label must show
whether the contents are for general
use or restricted use. The label will
say:
"General classification"
or
"Restricted use pesticide for
retail sale to and application only by
certified applicators or persons
under their direct supervision."
PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
HAZARDS TO HUMANS
(& DOMESTIC ANIMALS)
DANGER
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL
HAZARDS
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
II is a violation of Federal law to use
this product in a manner inconsistent
with its labeling.
RE-ENTRY STATEMENT
(If Applicable)
CATEGORY OF APPLICATOR
STORAGE AND
DISPOSAL
STORAGE:
DISPOSAL:
Directions for Use
The directions for use tell you:
• the pests the product will
control (If you cannot find a
product that lists the pest you
want to control, ask your
dealer or Cooperative
Extension agent. The label
may use a different name for
the pest than the one you
use.),
• the crop, animal, or other
item the product can be used
on,
• whether the product is for
general or restricted use,
• how the product should be
applied,
• how much to use,
• where the material should be
applied, and
• when it should be applied.
RESTRICTED USi
PESTICIDE
FOR RETAIL SALE TO AND| APPLICATION ONLY BY
CERTIFIED APPLICATORS OR PERSONS UNDER THEIR
DIRECT SUPERVISION
PRODUCT
NAME
ACTIVE INGREDIENT:
INERT INGREDIENTS: .
TOTAL:
100.00 %
THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS LBS OF PER GALLON
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
DANGER — POISON
STATEMENT OF PRACTICAL TREATMENT^
IF SWALLOWED:
IF INHALED
IF ON SKIN
Misuse Statement
This section will remind you that
it is a violation of Federal law to use
a product in a manner inconsistent
with its labeling.
Reentry Statement
If required for the product, this
section will tell you how much time
must pass before a pesticide-treated
area is safe for entry by a person
without protective clothing. Consult
local authorities for special rules
that may apply.
Category of Applicator
If required for the product, this
section will limit use to certain
categories of commercial applicators.
Storage and Disposal Directions
Every pesticide should be stored
and disposed of correctly. This
section will tell you how to store and
dispose of the product.
Do not use a product on a crop or
for a pest not listed on the label.
Always use it at the recommended
rate.
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Using Pesticides
Safely
There are two good reasons for using
pesticides safely:
• to keep yourself and other
people from being poisoned,
and
• to avoid harming the
environment.
How Pesticides Harm Man
Most pesticides can cause severe
illness, or even death, if misused.
But every registered pesticide can be
used safely if you use it correctly.
Many accidental pesticide deaths
are caused by eating or drinking the
product. But some applicators die
or are injured when they breathe a
pesticide vapor or get a pesticide
on their skin. Repeated exposure
to small amounts of some pesticides
can cause sudden severe illness.
To prevent all accidents with
pesticides you should:
• use and store pesticides away
from children and other
untrained persons,
• keep pesticides in their
original containers, and
• take care to follow directions
when using them.
Products for restricted use
require special handling. The label
is your guide.
Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning
You should know the kinds of
sickness that are caused by the
pesticides you use.
Get medical advice quickly if
you or any of your workers get sick
during or after pesticide use. If you
think a person may be poisoned, do
not leave him alone. Do not let
yourself or anyone else get
dangerously sick before calling a
physician or going to a hospital.
Take the container (or the label) of
the pesticide with you. Do not carry
a pesticide container in the
passenger space of a car or truck.
It is better to be too cautious
than too late.
Parathion and Similar Pesticides
(Organophosphates and
Carbamates)
These pesticides injure the
nervous system. The symptoms
develop in stages. They usually
occur in this order:
Mild Poisoning
fatigue
headache
dizziness
blurred vision
too much sweating and
salivation
nausea and vomiting
stomach cramps or diarrhea
Moderate Poisoning
• unable to walk
• weakness
• chest discomfort
• muscle twitches
• constriction of pupil of the
eye
• earlier symptoms become
more severe
Severe Poisoning
unconsciousness
severe constriction of pupil of
the eye
muscle twitches
secretions from mouth and
nose
breathing difficulty
death if not treated.
Illness may occur a few hours
after exposure. But if symptoms
start more than 12 hours after you
were exposed to the pesticide, you
Srobably have some other illness.
heck with your physician to be
sure.
Several other pesticides may
cause symptoms similar to these.
Fumigants and Solvents
are:
Too much exposure to these
chemicals may make a person
appear drunk. The symptoms i
• poor coordination,
• slurring words,
• confusion, and
• sleepiness.
First Aid Procedures
Read the "Statement of
Practical Treatment" on each label.
The directions listed can save your
life and the lives of your family and
your workers.
If you get a pesticide on your
skin:
• Remove the pesticide as
quickly as possible. Remove
all contaminated clothing.
Prompt washing may prevent
sickness even when the spill
is very large. Detergents
work better than soap in
removing pesticides. Don't
forget your hair and
fingernails.
4-1
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If you inhale a pesticide:
o Get to fresh air right away.
If you splash a pesticide into
your mouth or swallow it:
0 Rinse your mouth with
several glasses of water.
o Go or be taken to a physician
immediately.
o It is sometimes dangerous to
cause vomiting; follow label
directions.
If a person has been poisoned,
do not leave him alone.
In addition, remember to bathe,
using a detergent, when you finish
working with pesticides or pesticide-
contaminated equipment. Any time
you spill a pesticide on yourself,
wash immediately.
Protecting Your Body
The label of each pesticide you
use will tell you the kind of
protection you need.
Protective Clothing
Body Covering—In general, any
time you handle pesticides, you
should wear;
o a long-sleeved shirt and long-
legged trousers, or
o a coverall type garment.
Clothing should be made of
closely woven fabric. When you
handle pesticide concentrates or very
toxic materials, also wear a liquid-
proof raincoat or apron. Trousers
should be outside of the boots to keep
pesticides from getting inside.
.'->X
Gloves—Gloves should be long
enough to protect your wrist. They
should be made of neoprene and not
lined with a fabric. Never use cotton
or leather gloves unless the label
tells you to. Sleeves should be
outside of the gloves to keep
pesticides from running down the
sleeves and into the gloves.
Hat—Always wear something to
protect your head. A wide-brimmed,
waterproof hat will help protect your
head, neck, eyes, mouth, and face.
Wide-brimmed plastic "hard hats"
are good. They are waterproof and
easy to clean and are cool in hot
weather. A plastic sweatband is
best.
Care of Clothing—Wear clean
clothing daily. If clothes get wet
with spray, change them right away.
If they get wet with pesticide
concentrates or highly toxic
pesticides, destroy them. They are
hard to get clean in normal home
laundering. Never store or wash
pesticide contaminated clothing with
the family laundry. Wash hats,
gloves, and boots daily. Test gloves
For leaks by filling them with water
and gently squeezing.
Wash goggles or face shields at
least once a day. Elastic fabric
headbands absorb pesticides. Use
neoprene headbands.
Respiratory Protective Devices
You must wear an approved
respiratory device when the label
directs you to do so. Follow the label
instructions on respiratory
protection.
Boots—Wear unlined neoprene
boots. Do not use leather or canvas
boots unless the label tells you to.
Chemical Cartridge
Respirators—These half-face
masks cover the mouth and nose.
Goggles or Face Shield—Wear
goggles or a face shield when
handling pesticides to avoid getting
pesticides in your eyes.
4-2
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How Pesticides Harm the Safe Use Precautions
Chemical Canister
Respirators (Gas Masks)—
Canister respirators cover your face.
When correctly fitted they protect
the face better than cartridge
respirators.
Do not use either cartridge
or canister respirators for
protection during space fumigation
or when the oxygen supply is low.
Use special breathing devices as
directed on the label.
Selection and Maintenance—
Be sure you choose a respirator that
is made to protect against the
pesticides you use. Use only those
approved by the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) or the Mining Enforcement
and Safety Administration (MESA).
The respirator you choose must fit
your face. Long sideburns, a beard,
or glasses can prevent a good seal.
Read the manufacturer's
instructions on the use and care of
any respirator and its parts before
you use it.
When applying pesticides, change
cartridges and canisters if you have
trouble breathing or if you smell
pesticides. After use, remove and
dispose of them as you would excess
pesticides. Wash the face piece with
detergent and water, rinse it, and
dry it with a clean cloth after each
use. Store your respirator in a clean,
dry place away from pesticides. If
you have trouble breathing while
wearing a respirator, see your
physician to find out if you have a
respiratory problem.
Environment
Here are some ways damage can
occur.
Direct Kill
Fine mists of herbicide can drift to
nearby crops or landscape plants and
kill them. You can kill bees and
other pollinators if you treat a crop
with a pesticide while they are in
the field. Or you could kill the
natural enemies of pest insects.
Life in streams or ponds can be
wiped out by:
o accidental spraying of ditches
and waterways.
o runoff from sprayed fields,
o careless tank filling or
draining, or
o careless container disposal.
If more than one pesticide will
control the pest, choose the one that
is the least hazardous to the
environment and most useful for
your situation. Ask your
Cooperative Extension agent to help
you make this choice.
Persistence and Accumulation
Not all pesticides act the same
after you apply them. Most are in
one of these two groups:
Pesticides that break down quickly
remain in the environment only a
short time before being changed into
harmless products.
Pesticides that break down slowly
may stay in the environment
without change for a long time. They
are called persistent pesticides.
Some persistent pesticides can
build up in the bodies of animals,
including man. These pesticides are
called accumulative.
Pesticide Movement in the
Environment
Pesticides become problems when
they move off target. This may
mean:
o drifting out of the target area
in the form of dust or mist,
o moving on soil particles by
erosion,
o leaching through the soil,
o being carried out as residues
in crops and livestock, or
o evaporating and moving with
air currents.
You can prevent harm from
pesticides if you follow safety
precautions and use common sense.
Here are the minimum safety steps
you should take.
Before You Buy a Pesticide
The first and most important step
in choosing a pesticide is to know
what pest you need to control. Then
find out which pesticides will control
it. You may have a choice of several.
Ask your dealer or Cooperative
Extension agent to help you.
At the Time of Purchase
Read the label of the pesticide you
intend to buy to find out:
o restrictions on use,
o if this is the correct chemical
for your problem,
o if the product can be used
safely under your conditions,
o environmental precautions
needed,
o if the formulation and
amount of active ingredient
are right for your job,
° if you have the right
equipment to apply the
pesticide,
o if you have the right
protective clothing and
equipment, and
o how much pesticide you need.
Before You Apply the Pesticide
Read the label again to find out:
o the protective equipment
needed to handle the
pesticide,
o the specific warnings and
precautions,
o what it can be mixed with,
o how to mix it,
o how much to use,
o safety measures,
o when to apply to control the
pest and to avoid illegal
residues,
o how to apply,
o the rate of application, and
o special instructions.
Transportation of Pesticides
You are responsible for the safe
transport of your pesticide.
o The safest way to carry
pesticides is in the back of a
truck. Fasten down all
containers to prevent
breakage and spillage.
o Keep pesticides away from
food, feed, and passengers.
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• Pesticides should be in their
original labeled packages.
Keep paper and cardboard
packages dry.
• If any pesticide is spilled in
or from the vehicle, clean it
up right away. Use the
correct cleanup method.
• Do not leave unlocked
pesticides unattended. You
are responsible if accidents
occur.
Pesticide Storage
The label will tell you how to store
the product.
The storage place should keep the
pesticides dry, cool, and out of direct
sunlight.
The storage place should have:
• fire-resistant construction,
including a cement floor,
• an exhaust fan for
ventilation,
• good lighting, and
• a lock on the door.
Keep the door locked when the
building is not in use.
Store all pesticides in the original
labeled containers.
Do not store them with food, feed,
seed, or animals.
Check every container often for
leaks or breaks. If one is damaged,
transfer the contents to a container
that has held exactly the same
pesticide. Clean up any spills. Use
correct cleanup methods.
Mixing and Loading Pesticides
Keep livestock, pets, and people
out of the mixing and loading area.
Work outdoors. Do not work alone.
Choose a place with good light and
ventilation. Do not mix or load
pesticides indoors or at night unless
there is good lighting and
ventilation.
Before handling a pesticide
container, put on the correct
protective clothing and equipment.
Each time you use a pesticide,
read the directions for mixing. Do
this before you open the container.
This is essential. Directions,
including amounts and methods,
may have changed since you last
used the product.
When taking a pesticide out of the
container, keep the container and
pesticide below eye level. This will
avoid a splash or spill on your
goggles or protective clothing.
If you splash or spill a pesticide
while mixing or loading:
* stop right away.
• remove contaminated
clothing.
• wash thoroughly with
detergent and water. Speed is
essential.
• use correct cleanup methods
to clean up the spill.
When mixing pesticides, measure
carefully. Use only the amount
called for on the label. Mix only the
amount you plan to use.
When loading pesticides, stand so
the wind blows across your body
from the right or left to avoid
contaminating yourself.
To prevent spills, replace all pour
caps and close containers after use.
Pesticide Application
Wear the protective clothing and
equipment the label requires.
To prevent spillage of chemicals,
check all application equipment for:
• leaking hoses, pumps or
connections, and
• plugged, worn, or dripping
nozzles.
Use water to calibrate your spray
equipment before use.
Before starting a field application,
clear all livestock and people from
the area to be treated.
Drift is the movement of spray
droplets or dust particles away from
the target area. To minimize drift,
apply pesticides only on days with
light breezes. If moderate to strong
winds come up while you are
working, stop immediately.
You also can reduce drift by
spraying at the lowest practical
pressure and using the largest
practical nozzle openings for the job
you are doing.
Vaporization is the evaporation of
an active ingredient during or after
application. Pesticide vapors can
cause injury far from the site of
application. High temperatures
increase vaporization. You can
reduce vaporization by:
• choosing pesticide
formulations that do not
evaporate easily, and
• spraying in the cooler parts of
the day.
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Cleaning Equipment
Mixing, loading, and application
equipment must be cleaned as soon
as you finish using it. Clean both the
inside and outside. Wear the
protective clothing you would wear
for mixing pesticides.
Take special care if you must
make equipment repairs before the
equipment is completely cleaned.
Have a special area for cleaning.
It is best for the area to have a wash
rack or concrete apron with a good
sump. This will catch all
contaminated wash water and
pesticides. Dispose of sump wastes
by burning or burial as you would
excess pesticides. Keep drainage out
of water supplies and streams.
Disposal
Excess Pesticides
If you have excess diluted
pesticides or pesticides in their
original containers:
• Use them up according to
label directions; if you
cannot,
• bury them in a special
landfill or store them until
you can.
Empty Containers
Rinse and drain all metal, plastic,
or glass containers this way:
1—Empty the container into the
tank. Let it drain an extra
30 seconds.
2—Fill it one-fifth to one-fourth
full of water.
3—Replace and tighten the
closure and shake the
container. Upend the
container so the rinse
reaches all the inside
surfaces.
4—Drain the rinse water from
the container into the tank.
Let the container drain for
30 seconds after emptying.
5—Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 two
more times.
You can bury rinsed containers
singly in open fields. Puncture or
break the containers before burying
them. Bury them at least 18 inches
below the surface where they will
not pollute surface or subsurface
water. Or you can dispose of empty
rinsed containers in a sanitary
landfill. Check state and local
regulations.
You may burn small numbers of
paper containers in open fields. Stay
out of fumes and smoke. Be sure
your state and local regulations
permit open burning.
Cleanup of Spills
Keep people away from spilled
chemicals.
If the pesticide was spilled on
anyone, give the correct first aid.
Confine the spill. Dike it up with
sand or soil if necessary.
Use an absorbent material to soak
up the spill. You can use soil,
sawdust, or a special product made
to do this. Shovel all contaminated
material into a leakproof container
for disposal. Dispose of it in a special
landfill.
If the spill is on a state highway,
call the highway patrol.
If the spill is on a county road or a
city street, call the county sheriff or
city police.
If water is contaminated, notify
your county health officials.
Safe Entry Times
It may be dangerous for an
unprotected person to enter an area
immediately after some pesticides
have been used. The time that must
pass before the area is safe for a
person without protective clothing is
called a safe-entry time, or reentry
period. This time is given on the
label of each pesticide that may
cause a reentry problem. Reentry
may pose special problems in some
areas. Check with local authorities
for any special rules that may apply.
4-5
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Application
Equipment
The pesticide application equipment
you use is important to the success
of your pest control job. You must
first select the right kind of
equipment. Then you must use it
correctly to suit your needs and take
good care of it. Here are some things
you should know about choosing,
using, and caring for equipment.
Sprayers
Hand Sprayers
Hand sprayers are for small jobs
around the farm and home. You can
use them in restricted areas where a
power sprayer would not work.
Advantages:
• economical,
• simple, and
• easy to use, clean, and store.
Limitations:
• may give an uneven
application rate because of
hand operation, and
• lack agitation and screening
for using wettable powder
formulations. You must
shake the sprayer often to
provide agitation.
Low Pressure Field Sprayers
Most of these sprayers are used for
treating field and forage crops,
pastures, and fence rows. They also
may be used to apply fertilizer-
pesticide mixtures.
Advantages
• medium to large tanks,
• low cost,
• light weight, and
• versatility.
Limitations
• low gallonage output limits
their use when high volume
is needed,
• low pressure limits pesticide
penetration, and
• agitation is limited.
High Pressure Sprayers
These are often called hydraulic
sprayers. They are designed to
deliver high volumes (100 or more
gallons per acre) at high pressure
(above 100 psi). They are used to
spray fruits, vegetables, landscape
plants, and livestock.
Advantages:
• well built,
• usually have mechanical
agitation,
• durable.
Limitations:
high cost,
large -amounts of water,
power, and fuel needed,
nigh tire loads, and
high pressure which makes a
spray that drifts easily.
Air Blast Sprayers
These units use a high speed
airstream to break up the nozzle
output into fine drops which move
with the airstream to the target. The
air is directed to either one or both
sides as the sprayer moves forward.
Advantages:
• good coverage and
penetration,
• low pump pressures, and
• mechanical agitation.
Limitations:
• drift hazards,
• chance of overdosages,
• difficult to use in small areas,
and
• hard to confine spray
discharge to specific target.
Ultra Low Volume (ULV)
Sprayers
Deliver undiluted special pesticide
formulations. High speed airstreams
may be used to break up and direct
the spray.
Advantages:
• no water is needed, and
• equal control with less
pesticide.
Limitations:
• does not provide for thorough
wetting,
• hazards of using high
concentrates,
• chance of overdosage, and
• small number of pesticides
that can be used this way.
Nozzles
There are five basic nozzle types.
All other types are variations. They
are:
Solid Stream—A single jet
used in handguns to spray a distant
target or fixed in a nozzle body to
apply a narrow band or to inject into
the soil.
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Flat Fan—This type has three
different variations:
The regular flat fan nozzle
makes a narrow oval pattern
with lighter edges. It is used
on booms for broadcast
spraying and is designed to
be overlapped 30-50 percent
for even distribution.
Hollow Cone—This nozzle
forms a pattern that is circular with
tapered edges and little or no spray
in the center. It is used for spraying
foliage. There are two types of
hollow cone nozzles:
• the core and disk, and
• the whirl chamber.
The even flat fan nozzle
makes a uniform pattern
across its width. It is used for
band spraying and for
spraying walls and other
surfaces.
Solid Cone—This nozzle forms
a circular pattern. The spray is well-
distributed throughout the pattern.
It is used for spraying foliage.
effective swath width when attached
to the end of a boom.
You can get nozzles in many
materials. Here are the main
features of each kind.
Brass:
• Inexpensive,
• Wears quickly from abrasion,
• Probably the best material
for limited use.
Stainless Steel:
• Will not corrode,
• Resists abrasion, especially if
it is hardened,
• Probably the best material
for extensive use.
Plastic:
• Resists corrosion and
abrasion,
• Swells when exposed to some
solvents.
Aluminum:
• Resists some corrosive
materials,
• Is easily corroded by some
fertilizers.
Tungsten Carbide and Ceramic:
• Highly resistant to abrasion
and corrosion,
• Expensive.
Use and Care of Nozzles
Use nozzles of uniform type and
size. Nozzle caps should not be over-
tightened. Adjust nozzle height and
spacing to suit the target. Follow the
nozzle manufacturer's instructions
and the directions on the pesticide
label.
Replace any nozzles having faulty
spray patterns.
Check each nozzle for uniform
flow using water and a jar marked
in ounces. Replace any with flow 5
percent more or less than the
average of the nozzles in the system.
Clean nozzles only with a
toothbrush or wooden toothpick.
Operation and Maintenance
Always read and follow the
operator's manual. It will tell you
how to use and care for your sprayer.
Always drain and rinse your sprayer
after each use. Check for leaks
before and during use. Be alert for
nozzle clogging and changes in
nozzle patterns.
• The flooding nozzle makes a
wide-angle flat spray pattern.
It works at lower pressures
than the other flat fan
nozzles. Its pattern is fairly
uniform across its width. It is
used for broadcast spraying.
Broadcast—This nozzle forms
a wide flat fan pattern. It is used on
boomless sprayers and to extend the
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If nozzles clog or other trouble
occurs in the field, shut off the
sprayer and move it to the edge of
the field before dismounting to
correct the problem. Wear protective
clothing while making repairs.
Store sprayers properly after use.
But first, rinse and clean the system.
Then fill the tank almost full with
clean water. Add a small amount of
new light oil to the tank. Coat the
system by pumping tank contents
out through the nozzles. Drain the
pump and plug its openings or fill
the pump with light oil or antifreeze.
Remove nozzles and nozzle screens
and store in light oil or diesel fuel.
Dusters and Granular
Applicators
Hand Dusters
Like hand sprayers, hand dusters
are used mainly around homes and
in gardens. They may consist of a
squeeze tube or shaker, a sliding
tube, or a fan powered by a hand
crank.
Advantage:
o the pesticide is ready to
apply.
Limitations:
o high cost for pesticide,
o hard to get good foliar
coverage, and
o dust is subject to drifting.
target. They range from knapsack
types to those mounted on or pulled
by tractors.
Advantages:
o simply built,
o easy to maintain, and
o low in cost.
Limitations:
o drift hazards,
o high cost of pesticide, and
o application may be less
uniform than sprays.
Granular Applicators
These include:
o hand-carried spinning disk
types for broadcast coverage,
o mounted equipment for
applying bands over the row
in row crops, and
o mounted or tractor-drawn
machines for broadcast
coverage.
Advantages:
o eliminates mixing,
° is low in cost, and
o minimizes drift.
Limitations:
o high cost for pesticide,
o limited use against some
pests because granules won't
stick to most plants.
Use and Maintenance
Dusters and granular applicators
are speed-sensitive, so maintain
uniform speed. Do not travel too fast
for ground conditions. Bouncing
equipment will cause the application
rate to vary. Stay out of any dust
cloud that may form.
Watch banders to see that band
width stays the same. Small height
changes due to changing soil
conditions may cause rapid changes
in band width.
Clean equipment as directed by
the operator's manual.
Calibration
Calibration is simply adjusting your|
equipment to apply the desired rate*
of pesticide. You need to do this so
that you can be sure you are using
each pesticide as directed on the
label. Too much pesticide is
dangerous; too little will not do a
good job. Only by calibrating
correctly can you safely get the best
results.
There are many ways to calibrate
equipment. The preferred methods
differ according to the kind of
equipment used. Your Cooperative
Extension agent can show you how
to calibrate your equipment. Here is
one basic method for sprayers and
another for dusters and granular
applicators.
Power Dusters
Power dusters use a powered fan
or blower to propel the dust to the
Sprayers
To apply a pesticide evenly and
accurately, your sprayer must move
at a constant speed when in use. It
also must be pumping at a constant
pressure. Each nozzle must be clean
and at the right height. All nozzles
must be of the correct type and size.
Each nozzle in the system must
deliver its rated amount of pesticide.
First, choose the speed, pumping
pressure, and nozzles that you want
to use. Fill the spray tank with
water and operate the sprayer in
place to fill the system. Then top off
the tank. Spray one acre as if you
were applying the pesticide.
Measure the amount of water
needed to refill your tank. This is
your application rate per acre. If it
takes 8 gallons to refill the tank, you
are spraying at the rate of 8 gallons
per acre. If your sprayer has a tank
of more than 10 gallons capacity,
spray an area large enough to use at
least 10 percent of the tank capacity.
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If your sprayer is delivering more
or less spray than the label directs,
you can change the rate three ways:
o You can change the pressure.
Lower pressure means less
spray delivered; higher
pressure means more spray
delivered. Pressure change
may change the nozzle
pattern and droplet size.
Pressure must be increased 4
times to double the output.
° You can change the speed of
your sprayer. Slower speed
means more spray delivered;
faster speed means less spray
delivered. If you drive half as
fast, you double the delivery
rate.
o You can change the nozzle
tips to change the amount
delivered. The larger the hole
in the tip, the more spray
delivered. This is the best
method for making major
changes in the delivery rate
of sprayers. Always select
nozzles for the job you want
done. Use the manufacturer's
performance charts to make
your selection.
After making a pressure, speed, or
nozzle change, recalibrate your
sprayer to measure its delivery rate.
You now know how many gallons
of spray per acre your equipment
will apply. Next you must find out
how much pesticide to put in the
tank to apply the correct dosage of
pesticide. To do this you need to
know two more facts:
o How much your sprayer tank
o holds.
o The amount of formulation to
be used per acre; this will be
listed on the label.
Suppose your tank holds 50
gallons of spray. The directions say
to apply one pint of formulation on
each acre. In our example, you found
that your sprayer applies 8 gallons
per acre. First find the number of
acres one tank load will spray.
Divide 50 gallons by 8.
Then find the amount of
formulation you must add to your
tank so you can spray 6V4 acres
with one pint per acre. Multiply 1
pint by 6^4.
1 pint per acre x 6Vt acres per tankful
= 6V4 pints per tankful.
Suppose the formulation of a
pesticide is a 50 percent wettable
powder and you want to apply lk
pound of active ingredient per acre.
In our example your tank covers
6% acres.
' Find how many pounds of
formulation are needed to apply 1k
pound of active ingredient per acre.
There is 1k pound of active
ingredient in 1 pound of 50 percent
wettable powder formulation.
So you need to use 1 pound of
formulation for each acre your
sprayer will cover.
1 pound per acre x 6% acres per tankful
= 6% pounds per tankful.
You should add the 6V* pounds of
wettable powder to a small amount
of water in a clean bucket. Stir until
it is mixed well and then add this
50 gallons per tankful
8 gallons per acre
= 61/t acres per tankful
spraying and recalibrate. If you have
figured wrong or your sprayer
delivery rate changes, you will be
able to catch it before you make a
major mistake.
Dusters and Granular
Applicators
o Read the manufacturer's
operator's manual. Follow
these instructions to set the
gate openings for the product
you are going to use.
Caution: Always set the
openings from the same
direction, such as from closed to
open. This will minimize
variations in settings.
o Fill each hopper to an easily
determined level.
o Operate the equipment over a
measured area or distance at
your normal working speed.
The area should be at least 1k
acre or 1,000 feet of row.
o Refill the hopper to the same
level, carefully weighing the
amount of pesticide needed.
o The amount of pesticide it
takes to refill the hopper is
the amount applied to the
measured area or distance. If
the amount applied does not
fall within 5 percent of the
recommended dosage, reset
the gate openings and repeat
the previous three steps.
o Keep a record of the acreage
treated with each filling of
the hopper. This will let you
see any slight change in rate
of application and make the
necessary adjustments.
mixture (called a slurry) to the
partly filled tank. Remember to
operate the sprayer's agitator while
adding the mixture and filling the
tank.
Even after your sprayer is
calibrated, you should recheck it
often. Be sure you are spraying the
same area for each tankful as you
figured on. If you are spraying more
or less area than you planned, stop
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Laws and
Regulations
Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA), as Amended
This is the law which requires you to
show that you know the correct way
to use and handle pesticides. Here
are the parts of the law which
concern you:
• It says that all pesticide uses
must be classified as either
general or restricted,
• It requires you to be certified
as competent to use any of
the pesticides classified for
restricted use, and
• It provides penalties (up to
$1,000 and 30 days in prison)
for people who do not obey
the law.
Residues
The pesticide that stays in or on
raw farm products is called a
residue. The Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act gives EPA the
authority to say what amounts of
residue are safe. These amounts are
called tolerances.
Tolerances are expressed in "parts
per million" (ppm). One ppm equals
one part (by weight) of pesticide for
each million parts of the farm
product. Using pounds as a measure,
50 ppm would be 50 pounds of
pesticide in a million pounds of the
product. The same pesticide may
have a different tolerance on
different products.
Label instructions take these
things into account. They will tell
you how many days before harvest
the pesticide may be applied. Follow
the label exactly.
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Other Terms Used
in Pest Control
Some of these words have several
meanings. Those given here are the
ones that relate to pest control.
Abrasion: The process of wearing away by
rubbing.
Abscission: The separation of fruit, leaves,
or stems from a plant.
Absorption: The process by which a
chemical is taken into plants, animals,
or minerals. Compare with adsorption.
Activator: A chemical added to a pesticide
to increase its activity.
Adherence: Sticking to a surface.
Adjuvant: Inert ingredient added to a
pesticide formulation to make it work
better.
Adsorption: The process by which chemicals
are held on the surface of a mineral or
soil particle. Compare with absorption.
Adulterated: Any pesticide whose strength
or purity falls below the quality stated
on its label. Also, a food, feed, or product
that contains illegal pesticide residues.
Aerobic: Living in air. The opposite of
anaerobic.
Aerosol: An extremely fine mist or fog
consisting of solid or liquid particles
suspended in air. Also, certain
formulations used to produce a fine
mist.
Agitation: The process of stirring or mixing
in a sprayer.
Alkaloids: Chemicals present in some
plants. Some are used as pesticides.
Anaerobic: Living in the absence of air. The
opposite of aerobic.
Animal Sign: The evidences of an animal's
presence in an area.
Antagonism: The loss of activity of a
chemical when exposed to another
chemical.
Antibiotic: A substance which is used to
control pest microorganisms.
Antidote: A practical treatment for
poisoning, including first aid.
Aqueous: A term used to indicate the
presence of water in a solution.
Arsenicals: Pesticides containing arsenic.
Aseptic: Free of disease-causing organisms.
Bait Shyness: The tendency for rodents,
birds, or other pests to avoid a poisoned
bait.
Bipyridyliums: A group of synthetic organic
pesticides which includes the herbicide
paraquat.
Botanical Pesticide: A pesticide made from
plants. Also called plant-derived
pesticides.
Broadleaf Weeds: Plants with broad,
rounded, or flattened leaves.
Brush Control: Control of woody plants.
Carbamate: A synthetic organic pesticide
containing carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen,
and sulfur.
Carcinogenic: Can cause cancer.
Carrier: The inert liquid or solid material
added to an active ingredient to prepare
a pesticide formulation.
Causal Organism: The organism (pathogen)
that produces a specific disease.
Chemosterilant: A chemical that can
prevent reproduction.
Chlorinated Hydrocarbon: A synthetic
organic pesticide that contains chlorine,
carbon, and hydrogen. Same as
organochlorine.
Chlorosis: The yellowing of a plant's green
tissue.
Cholinesterase: A chemical catalyst
(enzyme) found in animals that helps
regulate the activity of nerve impulses.
Compatible: When two or more chemicals
can be mixed without affecting each
other's properties, they are said to be
compatible.
Concentration: The amount of active
ingredient in a given volume or weight
of formulation.
Contaminate: To make impure or to pollute.
Corrosion: The process of wearing away by
chemical means.
Crucifers: Plants belonging to the mustard
family, such as mustard, cabbage,
turnip, and radish.
Cucurbits: Plants belonging to the gourd
family, such as pumpkin, cucumber, and
squash.
Deciduous Plants: Perennial plants that
lose their leaves during the winter.
Deflocculating Agent: A material added to.
a suspension to prevent settling.
Degradation: The process by which a
chemical is reduced to a less complex
form.
Dermal: Of the skin; through or by the skin.
Dermal Toxicity: Ability of a chemical to
cause injury when absorbed through the
skin.
, Diluent: Any liquid or solid material used to
dilute or carry an active ingredient.
Dilute: To make thinner by adding water,
another liquid, or a solid.
Dispersing Agent: A material that reduces
the attraction between particles.
Dormant: State in which growth of seeds or
other plant organs stops temporarily.
Dose, Dosage: Quantity of a pesticide
applied.
Emulsifier: A chemical which aids in
suspending one liquid in another.
Emulsion: A mixture in which one liquid is
suspended as tiny drops in another
liquid, such as oil in water.
Fungistat: A chemical that keeps fungi from
growing.
GPA: Gallons per acre.
GPM: Gallons per minute.
Growth Stages of Cereal Crops: (1)
Tillering—when additional shoots are
developing from the flower buds. (2)
Jointing—when stem internodes begin
elongating rapidly. (3) Booting—when
upper leaf sheath swells due to the
growth of developing spike or panicle.
(4) Heading—when seed head is
emerging from the upper leaf sheath.
Hard (water): Water containing soluble
salts of calcium and magnesium and
sometimes iron.
Herbaceous Plant: A plant that does not
develop woody tissue.
Host: The living plant or animal a pest
depends on for survival.
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration: A measure
of acidity or alkalinity, expressed in
terms of the pH of the solution. For
example, a pH of 7 is neutral, from 1 to
7 is acid, and from 7 to 14 is alkaline.
Immune: Not susceptible to a disease or
poison.
Impermeable: Cannot be penetrated.
Semipermeable means that some
substances can pass through and others
cannot.
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Lactation: The production of milk by an
animal, or the period during which an
animal is producing milk.
Larva: The early form of an insect from the
time that it leaves the egg until it
becomes a pupa.
LC50: The concentration of an active
ingredient in air which is expected to
cause death in 50 percent of the test
animals so treated. A means of
expressing the toxicity of a compound
present in air as dust, mist, gas, or
vapor. It is generally expressed as
micrograms per liter as a dust or mist
but in the case of a gas or vapor as parts
per million (ppm).
LD50: The dose of an active ingredient taken
by mouth or absorbed by the skin which
is expected to cause death in 50 percent
of the test animals so treated. If a
chemical has an LD50 of 10 milligrams
per kilogram (mg/kg) it is more toxic
than one having an LD50 of 100 mg/kg.
Leaching: Movement of a substance
downward or out of the soil as the result
of water movement.
Mammals: Warm-blooded animals that
nourish their young with milk. Their
skin is more or less covered with hair.
Metamorphosis: A change in shape, form,
and size in insects.
Miscible Liquids: Two or more liquids that
can be mixed and will remain mixed
under normal conditions.
MPH: Miles per hour.
Mutagenic: Can produce genetic change.
Necrosis: Localized death of living tissue
such as the death of a certain area of a
leaf.
Necrotic: Showing varying degrees of dead
areas or spots.
Nitrophenols: Synthetic organic pesticides
containing carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen,
and oxygen.
Noxious Weed: A plant defined as being
especially undesirable or troublesome.
Nymph: The stage of development in certain
insects after hatching. They look like
the adult but lack fully developed
wings.
Oral: Of the mouth; through or by the
mouth.
Oral Toxicity: Ability of a pesticide to cause
injury when taken by mouth.
Organic Compounds: Chemicals that
contain carbon.
Organochlorine: Same as chlorinated
hydrocarbon.
Organophosphate: A synthetic organic
pesticide containing carbon, hydrogen,
and phosphorus; parathion and
malathion are two examples.
Ovicide: A chemical that destroys eggs.
Parasite: A plant or animal that lives on or
in another plant or animal from which
it gets food.
Pathogen: Any disease-producing organism.
Penetration: The act of entering or ability
to enter.
Pest: Living things that compete with man
for food and fiber, or attack man
directly.
Phytotoxic: Harmful to plants.
Pollutant: An agent or chemical that makes
something impure or dirty.
PPB: Parts per billion. A way to express the
concentration of chemicals in foods,
plants, and animals. One part per
billion equals 1 pound in 500,000 tons.
PPM: Parts per million. A way to express
the concentration of chemicals in foods,
plants, and animals. One part per
million equals 1 pound in 500 tons.
Predator: An animal that destroys or eats
other animals.
Propellant: Liquid in self-pressurized
pesticide products that forces the active
ingredient from the container.
PSI: Pounds per square inch.
Pubescent: Having hairy leaves or stems.
Pupa: The stage between the larva and
adult in the development of some
insects.
Respiratory Tract: Having to do with or
used for breathing; the lungs and other
parts of the breathing system.
Rhizome: A rootlike underground stem.
RPM: Revolutions per minute.
Safener: A chemical added to a pesticide to
keep it from injuring plants.
Seed Protectant: A chemical applied to seed
before planting to protect seeds and new
seedlings from disease and insects.
Soil Sterilant: A chemical that prevents the
growth of all plants and animals in the
soil. Soil sterilization-may be temporary
or permanent, depending on the
chemical.
Soluble: Will dissolve in a liquid.
Solution: Mixture of one or more substances
in another in which all ingredients are
completely dissolved.
Solvent: A liquid which will dissolve a
substance to form a solution.
Spreader: A chemical which increases the
area that a given volume of liquid will
cover on a solid or on another liquid.
Sticker: A material added to a pesticide to
increase its adherence.
Stolon: An above-ground stem that produces
roots.
Surfactant: A chemical which increases the
emulsifying, dispersing, spreading, and
wetting properties of a pesticide
product.
Susceptible: Capable of being diseased or
poisoned; not immune.
Susceptible Species: A plant or animal
that is poisoned by moderate amounts of
a pesticide.
Suspension: Finely divided solid particles
mixed in a liquid.
Synergism: The joint action of two or more
pesticides that is greater than the sum
of their activity when used alone.
Target Pest: The pest at which a particular
pesticide or other control method is
directed.
Tolerance: (1) The ability of a living thing
to withstand adverse conditions, such as
pest attacks, weather extremes, or
pesticides. (2) The amount of pesticide
that may safely remain in or on raw
farm products at time of sale.
Toxicant: A poisonous chemical.
Trade Name: Same as brand name.
Vapor Pressure: The property which causes
a chemical to evaporate. The lower the
vapor pressure, the more easily it will
evaporate.
Vector: A carrier, such as an insect, that
transmits a pathogen.
Viscosity: A property of liquids that
determines whether they flow readily.
Viscosity usually increases when
temperature decreases.
Volatile: Evaporates at ordinary
temperatures when exposed to air.
Wetting Agent: A chemical which causes a
liquid to contact surfaces more
thoroughly.
if U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1975 O—588-644
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Weights and Measures
Weights
16 ounces = 1 pound
1 gallon water = 8.34 pounds
Liquid Measure
1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons
16 fluid ounces = 1 pint
2 pints = 1 quart
8 pints = 4 quarts = 1 gallon
Length
3 feet = 1 yard
16 V2 feet = 1 rod
5,280 feet = 320 rods = 1 mile
Area
9 square feet = 1 square yard
43,560 square feet =160 square
rods = 1 acre
Speed
1.466 feet per second = 88 feet per
minute = 1 mph
Volume
27 cubic feet = 1 cubic yard
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