What is true about contact pesticides?

Contact pesticides are specifically designed to function upon direct contact with the target pests. This means that for these pesticides to be effective, they must come into direct contact with the insects, weeds, or other pests they are intended to eliminate. When sprayed, the pesticide must touch the pest on its body or penetrate its exterior for it to take effect, making direct contact essential for their efficacy.

While some pesticides can be absorbed by plants or have residual effects that last over time, contact pesticides prioritize immediate interaction with a pest rather than ongoing action. Additionally, systemic action refers to pesticides that are taken up by a plant and distributed throughout its tissues, which is not the case for contact pesticides. Thus, the characteristic of requiring direct contact is key to understanding how these types of pesticides operate effectively.