What Does Insecticide Mean?
An insecticide is a chemical substance used to kill insects and other arthropods.
An insecticide can be formulated to kill, mitigate, repel, or harm one or several species of insects. Various insecticides work in different ways. Some damage the insect's exoskeleton, some act upon the nervous system, and others kill or control them by some other means.
Insecticides are used in many settings and applications. Insecticides have been claimed to be the biggest factor behind the advancement realized in agriculture and also a large influence on 20th century agricultural productivity.
The most commonly used insecticides include carbamates, pyrethroids, and organophosphates.
Maximum Yield Explains Insecticide
Insecticides can be classified into two categories:
- Contact insecticides - Have no residual activity
- Systematic insecticides - Have long-term or residual activity
Moreover, an insecticide can be organic, inorganic, or natural. Organic insecticides contain organic chemical compounds and normally act upon contact. Inorganic insecticides contain metals. Natural insecticides such as neem, pyrethrum, and nicotine are made by plants as defense mechanisms against insects.
An insecticide can be packaged in various forms such as baits, sprays, or slow-release diffusion.
Because of their toxic properties, insecticides can pose a great danger to non-target insects, pets, people, and the environment. Nearly all insecticides have a potential to considerably alter ecosystems and some concentrate along the food chain.
