What does the term "residual toxicity" refer to?

The term "residual toxicity" specifically refers to the length of time a pesticide remains active and capable of affecting pests after it has been applied. This is crucial for pest management as it indicates how long a pesticide will continue to work against targeted pests.

Understanding residual toxicity allows pest control professionals to make informed decisions regarding application timing and the frequency of reapplications. This helps in optimizing effectiveness while minimizing environmental impact and potential harm to non-target organisms.

Other options, while related to the behavior of pesticides, do not accurately define residual toxicity. For instance, the period a pesticide remains on a surface without degradation pertains to adherence or stability, but does not address its activity against pests. Similarly, the duration of effectiveness in a storage facility or the time it takes for degradation in soil speaks to different aspects of pesticide management that do not capture the essence of residual toxicity itself.