What characterizes selective pesticides?

Selective pesticides are specifically designed to target certain pests while minimizing harm to non-target organisms, particularly beneficial species such as pollinators, natural predators, and other creatures that play a vital role in the ecosystem. The characteristic of causing little injury to related organisms highlights their ability to distinguish between different species, thus allowing for effective pest control without significantly disrupting the balance of the ecosystem.

In contrast, other options describe effects that would not typically be observed with selective pesticides. For instance, affecting all organisms equally would suggest a non-selective approach, which is contrary to the purpose of selective pesticides. Similarly, causing significant injury to related organisms or being harmful to beneficial species indicates a lack of selectivity and could lead to negative ecological consequences, which selective pesticides aim to avoid. Therefore, the defining feature of selective pesticides lies in their design to minimize impact on organisms that are not the intended targets, promoting sustainability in pest management practices.