British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Environmental Science Glossary - Contact action (pesticide) definition

Definition: Contact action pesticides are used on plants that have been attacked by sap-sucking insects like aphids. There are 2 types of contact action pesticides – naturally derived and synthetic. The pesticide is sprayed on the plant and the insect gets it on its skin, which is enough to paralyse and kill the pest, dropping dead off the plant. The contact action prevents the pests from sucking the sap, saving the crop.