What is the effect of systemic pest control methods?

Systemic pest control methods work by allowing the pesticide to be absorbed by the plant and then distributed throughout its tissues. When pests consume the treated portions of the plant, they ingest the pesticide, which is designed to target their physiology and ultimately leads to their elimination. This method is particularly effective for controlling pests that feed on the plant by allowing the pesticide to reach areas that might be less accessible to traditional contact treatments.

In contrast, methods that solely affect surface pests or rely on contact would not have the same efficacy for pests that feed internally or hidden within the plant. Systemic approaches ensure that even pests that are not directly exposed to the pesticide can still be affected, as long as they consume plant material.