Indiana Pesticide Applicator Core Practice Exam

Which of the following is a common type of adjuvant?

1. Activator

2. Fumigant

3. Insecticide

4. Herbicide

The correct answer is: Activator

An activator is indeed a common type of adjuvant used in pesticide applications. Adjuvants are substances added to a pesticide formulation to enhance its effectiveness and improve the application process. Specifically, activators can modify the pesticide's behavior, increasing its adhesion, spreading, and penetration on the target surface. This helps to improve the efficacy of the pesticide by ensuring it reaches the intended target more effectively. In contrast, fumigants, insecticides, and herbicides are types of pesticides themselves rather than adjuvants. Fumigants are gases used to control pests in soil or storage areas, insecticides target insects for control, and herbicides are designed to manage unwanted plants or weeds. Each of these plays a specific role in pest management but does not fall into the adjuvant category that enhances other substances, such as activators do.