Georgia Pest Control Practice Test

What do we call things that compete with us for food and fiber or attack us directly?

1. Bugs

2. Wild animals

3. Host

4. Pests

The correct answer is: Pests

The term used to describe organisms that compete with humans for food and fiber or attack us directly is "pests." Pests encompass a broad range of living beings, including insects, rodents, weeds, and other organisms that can cause harm to crops, livestock, or even human health. The definition of pests encompasses their ability to disrupt food production, invade living spaces, and spread diseases, making it crucial to manage and control their populations. Other terms, such as bugs, wild animals, and host, do not accurately capture the complete nature of these competitive or harmful interactions as pests do. While bugs refer specifically to a subset of insects and may include some pests, the term is too narrow to encompass all potential threats to human interests. Wild animals propose a broader category that includes both beneficial and harmful species but does not specifically focus on the competitive aspect. Similarly, the term host refers to an organism that harbors another, often in a symbiotic relationship, but it does not imply the negative impact associated with pests. Thus, "pests" is the most suitable term to describe these competing or directly harmful entities.