Which of the following constitutes a pest?

• A. Any animals (insects, snails, slugs, rodents, etc.); plant pathogens; or plants normally considered to be a pest, or declared pest by the KDA.
• B. Only insects
• C. Only plant pathogens
• D. Only birds

Answer: (A)

Pests are defined broadly in Kentucky pesticide law to include more than just insects. The definition covers any animals (such as insects, snails, slugs, rodents, etc.), plant pathogens, and plants that are normally considered pests or that the Kentucky Department of Agriculture has declared to be pests. This wide scope matters because it determines which organisms and plants fall under pesticide regulations and may require control measures, labeling, and certification. The other options are too narrow, as they restrict pests to only one category (insects, or plant pathogens, or birds), which would miss many other pests that the law treats as needing regulation.