How do contact pesticides function differently from systemic pesticides?

Contact pesticides are designed to kill pests immediately upon physical contact. They do not penetrate or get absorbed by the plant tissue but instead act directly on the pests that come into contact with the treated surfaces. This means that effective application relies heavily on targeting the pest directly.

On the other hand, systemic pesticides are absorbed into the plant's vascular system and are transported throughout the plant. This allows them to control pests that feed on or interact with the plant tissues, even if the pests do not come into direct contact with the chemical.

Thus, the distinction that contact pesticides act directly on the pests upon contact, while systemic pesticides work internally through absorption, illustrates how each serves different pest management strategies.