Which pesticide is considered a contact poison?

Contact poisons are substances that must come into direct contact with pests to be effective. They act on the pest when they touch or ingest the pesticide, leading to immediate effects.

Herbicides, which are designed to kill unwanted plants, can be considered contact poisons if their mode of action involves direct contact with the foliage or plant parts. When herbicides are applied, they target specific components in the plant that lead to its destruction.

Fungicides are intended to eliminate or inhibit the growth of fungi and can also function similarly as contact poisons. They typically work by either disrupting fungal cell functions upon contact or through absorption into the fungal structure.

Both types of pesticides—herbicides and fungicides—are effective primarily when they physically interact with the target organism. Systemic poisons, on the other hand, are absorbed by the organism and typically circulate through its system, making them less reliant on direct contact to achieve their effects. Hence, recognizing both herbicides and fungicides as contact poisons is accurate, leading to the conclusion that both are viable answers.