What pesticide type should be avoided in areas where pollinators are active?

Systemic insecticides are absorbed by plants and can be taken up by various plant tissues, including flowers, which makes them particularly hazardous to pollinators. When pollinators such as bees visit blooming plants treated with systemic insecticides, they can be exposed to the chemical not only through direct contact but also through the nectar and pollen they collect. This exposure can lead to harmful or lethal effects on these essential organisms.

While contact insecticides can also harm pollinators upon direct exposure, their effects are generally more immediate and localized, making it easier for applicators to manage application methods to reduce risk during periods of pollinator activity. Granular pesticides usually target soil-dwelling pests or pests that are not directly associated with flowering plants, thereby posing less risk to pollinators. Herbicides, primarily designed to target unwanted plants, do not generally have a direct impact on pollinators unless they affect the flowering plants that provide food sources.

Thus, systemic insecticides should be avoided in areas where pollinators are active due to their potential to be absorbed by plants and subsequently harm pollinators visiting those plants.