In what context is the term nonselective pesticide used?

The term nonselective pesticide refers to products that are toxic to a wide range of species, meaning they do not differentiate between harmful and beneficial organisms. Nonselective pesticides can affect a variety of pests as well as non-target species, including beneficial insects, plants, and animals. This broad spectrum of activity makes them effective for controlling many types of pests but also raises concerns about unintended harm to desirable species in the ecosystem.

In contrast, products that target specific pests come under the category of selective pesticides, which are designed to minimize impacts on non-target organisms. Likewise, products that are harmful only to non-native species would not typically fall under the nonselective category, as they specifically aim to affect a limited range of organisms. Additionally, products deemed safe for all plants would imply a lack of toxicity to both target and non-target species, which is the opposite of a nonselective pesticide's function. Thus, the context of nonselective pesticides focuses on their broad-spectrum toxicity rather than on selectivity or safety to non-target organisms.