Acaricides are pesticides designed to control _________.

Acaricides are pesticides designed to control _________.

• A. Insects
• B. Caterpillars
• C. Mites
• D. Birds

Answer: (C)

Acaricides are pesticides that specifically kill mites. The name comes from "acari," another term for mites, combined with the suffix "-cide," meaning to kill. Mites are arachnids with eight legs, which sets them apart from insects; thus products meant to kill insects (insecticides) aren’t the right tool for mites. Caterpillars are insect larvae, so they’re targeted by insecticides or other controls, not acaricides. Birds aren’t typically managed with pesticides in the same way for crop protection, so they’re outside the typical use of acaricides. That’s why mites are the correct target for this class of pesticide.

Acaricides are pesticides that specifically kill mites. The name comes from "acari," another term for mites, combined with the suffix "-cide," meaning to kill. Mites are arachnids with eight legs, which sets them apart from insects; thus products meant to kill insects (insecticides) aren’t the right tool for mites. Caterpillars are insect larvae, so they’re targeted by insecticides or other controls, not acaricides. Birds aren’t typically managed with pesticides in the same way for crop protection, so they’re outside the typical use of acaricides. That’s why mites are the correct target for this class of pesticide.