What characteristic is essential for the effectiveness of a pesticide?

Overall efficiency is a crucial characteristic for the effectiveness of a pesticide because it encompasses how well the pesticide performs its intended function, which is to control or eliminate pests. This includes not only its toxicity to target organisms but also its persistence in the environment, its application method, and how well it adheres to surfaces or penetrates into target habitats.

Efficiency reflects a cumulative assessment of how a pesticide achieves its goals with minimal adverse effects on non-target organisms and the environment. High efficiency means the pesticide can achieve effective control with less product use, which is beneficial for both economic and environmental reasons.

While other characteristics like high LD50, rapid breakdown, and solubility in water can have implications for safety and application, they do not encompass the broad array of factors that contribute to a pesticide's overall performance as effectively as the concept of overall efficiency. Thus, understanding this characteristic can guide applicators in selecting the most suitable product for their specific pest management needs.