Systemic pesticides are defined as:

• A. They kill on contact only
• B. They translocate from site of application to another site within the plant or animal
• C. They must be swallowed
• D. They are applied before planting

Answer: (B)

Systemic pesticides are defined by their ability to be absorbed and then move inside the plant or animal, so the toxicant reaches parts of the organism that were not directly treated. In plants, uptake through roots or foliage allows the chemical to travel via the vascular system, distributing to new growth and tissues, which protects against pests that feed on those areas. In animals, a systemic pesticide circulates in the bloodstream or within tissues, so pests that feed on the treated host ingest the pesticide even if they don’t contact it directly.

This is different from pesticides that only kill on contact and stay on the surface, or from ideas about needing to swallow the product, or from timing like applying before planting. The defining idea is internal movement (translocation) within the organism after application.