What is a systemic insecticide?

A systemic insecticide is an insecticide that is absorbed and translocated throughout a plant or animal, allowing it to affect pests that feed on those organisms. This means that when a plant takes up the systemic insecticide, it becomes part of the plant’s tissue, including its sap. As pests feed on the plant, they ingest the insecticide, which can lead to effective pest control. This mode of action is particularly beneficial for targeting sap-sucking insects such as aphids and whiteflies, or for managing internal pests like root-feeding larvae.

The other choices do not accurately describe systemic insecticides. The option stating that it affects only surface pests would apply to contact insecticides rather than systemic ones. An insecticide that targets all insects equally misses the point that systemic insecticides can have selective action, often targeting specific pests while minimizing benefits to beneficial insects or other wildlife. Lastly, the idea of being less toxic is not a defining factor of systemic insecticides, as toxicity levels can vary greatly among different formulations regardless of whether they are systemic.