Dusts and powders are particularly dangerous around pollinators because they...

• A. They evaporate quickly
• B. They have a strong odor
• C. They stick to the legs of pollinators
• D. They are more toxic

Answer: (C)

Dusts and powders are especially dangerous around pollinators because their fine, dry particles readily cling to the bodies of bees and other foragers, especially their legs. When a pollinator visits multiple flowers, these particles are carried from bloom to bloom and can be deposited on nectar and pollen or ingested during grooming. This means a single application can spread the chemical widely through the floral environment and back to the colony, increasing exposure for many organisms. The danger isn’t that the powder is inherently more toxic or evaporates quickly; it’s that its physical properties cause it to hitchhike on pollinators and move around the landscape.