QAL Laws & Regulation Practice Exam

What type of pesticide controls pests through direct contact?

1. Systemic pesticide

2. Contact pesticide

3. Emulsifiable concentrate

4. Pesticide formulation

The correct answer is: Contact pesticide

Contact pesticides are specifically designed to control pests through direct contact with the organism. When these pesticides are applied, they adhere to the surface of the pest or the environment where the pest resides. This means that when a pest comes into contact with the treated surfaces or the pesticide itself, it is either killed on contact or rendered unable to reproduce or feed. This direct action mechanism is crucial in situations where swift pest control is needed. For example, contact pesticides are commonly used for managing surface-dwelling insects or pests that come into direct contact with treated surfaces, making them highly effective for immediate pest elimination. In contrast, systemic pesticides are absorbed by plants and travel through their tissues, affecting pests that feed on the plants but do not necessarily kill them upon contact. Emulsifiable concentrates refer to a type of pesticide formulation where the active ingredient is mixed with oils or solvents, which may or may not be contact pesticides. Pesticide formulation is a broader term that encompasses various ways that pesticides can be prepared and presented for use, and does not specifically refer to the method of pest control. Thus, the specific action of contact pesticides on pests through direct contact makes this choice the most accurate.