A professional who locates and exterminates plant and tree pests and diseases. Respnsibilities include:

• Searches fields, brush, trees, and warehouses to locate plant pests, such as witchweed, boll weevil, Japanese beetle, soybean cyst nematode, fire ant, gypsy moth, white-fringed beetles, and army worms.
• Mixes exterminating agents, such as herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, according to type of infection or infestation to be treated.
• Applies exterminating agents, using spray equipment.
• Destroys clusters of gypsy-moth eggs by painting or spraying clusters with creosote.
• Collects samples of infected soil or plants for laboratory analysis.
• Marks infested area to determine effectiveness of treatment.
• May specialize in treatment of one type of infestation, such as gypsy moth or witchweed.