Category D includes the biology of vertebrate animals (animals with backbones) and that are associated with public health problems in some way, especially in connection with infectious diseases of people. Domestic and wild rodents fall under this category, with special emphasis on domestic rats and mice, and wild rodents that are associated with hantavirus infections of humans. Other such animals of concern include possums, skunks, squirrels, and poisonous snakes. Methods of control of some of these animals is included, most frequently those animals such as Norway rats and house mice that are closely associated with human habitats.

 

Category C includes the identification and control of a variety of arthropods of public health importance, exclusive of mosquitoes. Insects included in this category are domestic flies (house flies and relatives), cockroaches, fleas, lice, bed bugs, biting midges, kissing bugs, and bees and wasps. Other arthopods besides insects that are covered here are ticks, mites, and scorpions.

 

Category B includes the classification and identification of mosquitoes of California, their biology and ecology, and the control of mosquitoes using modern methods that fall under strategies known as integrated pest management (IPM), or integrated vector management (IVM). Also included in this category are methods of surveillance for mosquitoes and public relations associated with mosquito control.

Category A covers the application of public health pesticides and the procedures and equipment needed to ensure the safety of applicators, the public, and the environment from adverse effects of such applications. Some of the topics in this category are descriptions of public health pests; classification of pesticides; pesticide labeling; first aid procedures for pesticide poisoning; protective clothing and equipment of pesticide applications; the use of pesticide application equipment, including calibration; and the handling of pesticide wastes. Chemicals used for weed control (herbicides) are also covered here.