What is defined as any substance used to control or repel a pest or to reduce the harmful effects of a pest?

• A. Pesticide
• B. Sanitation
• C. Scouting
• D. Target Pest

Answer: (A)

The key idea is identifying the term for a substance used to control, repel, or lessen the harm caused by pests. That term is pesticide. Pesticides include chemicals and biological products designed to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate pests such as insects, weeds, or fungi, and they come with labels that specify what pests they target and how they should be used safely.

Sanitation refers to cleaning and removing pest habitats or food sources, which helps reduce pest pressure but isn’t a substance used to manage pests. Scouting is the process of monitoring pest populations to decide if and when management is needed. A target pest is the pest itself, not a substance.