What term refers to any organism that is not the intended target of a pesticide?

The term that refers to any organism that is not the intended target of a pesticide is known as a non-target organism. This designation is important in the context of pest management because it highlights the potential for pesticides to impact other species in the environment, including beneficial organisms that play critical roles in ecosystems, such as pollinators and natural pest predators. Understanding this concept helps pest management professionals evaluate the ecological consequences of pesticide use, leading to more responsible and sustainable practices that minimize harm to non-target species while effectively managing pest populations.

Secondary pests, while they do refer to organisms that may become problematic due to changes in the ecosystem, do not encompass the full range of unintended organisms affected by pesticide application. Beneficial organisms specifically focus on those that provide positive effects in pest management or ecosystem health, and inadvertent species is a less common term that does not widely describe the concept in this context. Thus, "non-target organism" is the most accurate term to use here.