What is a contact pesticide?

A contact pesticide is defined as one that directly affects the parts of pests to which it is applied. This means that the pesticide must come into direct contact with the pest for it to be effective. When the pesticide is sprayed on pests, it targets their outer surfaces, leading to immediate action against them. This mode of action is crucial for managing pests that are exposed on the surface of plants or in the environment.

Understanding the mechanisms of pesticides is important for effective pest management. For instance, a contact pesticide is different from a systemic pesticide, which is absorbed by the plant and affects pests that feed on it, as well as from an ingestible pesticide, which requires the pest to consume the pesticide for it to be effective. The efficiency of contact pesticides can also be influenced by environmental conditions, but they do not exclusively require dry conditions to function. Therefore, the focus on direct contact with the pest highlights the functional nature of contact pesticides in pest control strategies.