What term describes the way a pesticide works, such as drying out a pest or affecting its nervous system?

The term that describes how a pesticide functions at a biological level is referred to as its mode of action. This term encompasses the specific biochemical processes and mechanisms through which a pesticide affects a pest. For example, a pesticide may work by disrupting the nervous system of insects or causing desiccation (drying out) of soft-bodied pests. Understanding the mode of action is crucial for effective pest management strategies, as it helps in selecting the right pesticide for specific pest problems and in assessing potential impacts on non-target organisms and the environment.

Pest resistance refers to the ability of a pest to survive despite pesticide application, which is a different concept focusing on how pests adapt over time. Application method pertains to the techniques or equipment used to apply the pesticide, which influences how effectively the pesticide is delivered but does not describe the action of the pesticide itself. Pesticide efficacy indicates the overall effectiveness of a pesticide in controlling a pest population, which can be influenced by its mode of action but is not synonymous with it.