What is a disadvantage of dust formulations?

• A. Require specialized equipment
• B. May need moisture to activate pesticide
• C. Easily drift off-target during application
• D. Require constant agitation

Answer: (C)

Dust formulations are dry powders with very small particles, and their fineness makes them easily carried by air currents. That means they can drift off-target during application, especially in breezy conditions or when the applicator stirs or pours the powder. This drift reduces effectiveness on the intended pest and increases the risk of contaminating nearby non-target crops, humans, and beneficial insects. In contrast, dusts typically don’t require specialized equipment, aren’t activated by moisture, and don’t need constant agitation, so those aspects aren’t the main drawbacks of using dusts. The key idea is that drift is the main disadvantage of powder formulations.