What is a systemic insecticide?

What is a systemic insecticide?

• A. A pesticide absorbed and moved throughout plant or animal tissues.
• B. A pesticide that only sits on the surface.
• C. A pesticide that repels insects without killing.
• D. A pesticide that kills only mites.

Answer: (A)

Systemic insecticides are absorbed into the plant or animal and then move through its internal tissues. In plants, they’re taken up by roots or leaves and travel via the xylem and/or phloem to all parts of the plant, so insects feeding on any tissue ingest the toxin. This is what gives protection from within, rather than from a residue on the surface. That’s why this option best matches the definition. The other ideas describe pesticides that simply sit on surfaces, deter pests without killing, or target a narrow pest group, which aren’t what “systemic” means.

Systemic insecticides are absorbed into the plant or animal and then move through its internal tissues. In plants, they’re taken up by roots or leaves and travel via the xylem and/or phloem to all parts of the plant, so insects feeding on any tissue ingest the toxin. This is what gives protection from within, rather than from a residue on the surface. That’s why this option best matches the definition. The other ideas describe pesticides that simply sit on surfaces, deter pests without killing, or target a narrow pest group, which aren’t what “systemic” means.