List of insecticides used in agriculture and pest control

Insecticides are a crucial tool in agriculture and pest control, helping to protect crops and prevent the spread of disease. Many types of insecticides are used, including organophosphates and pyrethroids.

Organophosphates, such as malathion and parathion, are commonly used in agriculture to control a wide range of pests. They work by interfering with the insect's nervous system.

Pyrethroids, including permethrin and deltamethrin, are synthetic versions of natural insecticides found in chrysanthemum flowers. They are often used to control pests in homes and gardens.

These insecticides are effective against a variety of pests, including mosquitoes, flies, and ticks.

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Organophosphates are one of the largest and most versatile classes of insecticides. They are especially effective against sucking insects such as aphids and mites, which feed on plant juices.

Two widely used compounds in this class are parathion and malathion. Others are Diazinon, naled, methyl parathion, and dichlorvos.

Organophosphates usually have little residual action and are important, therefore, where residual tolerances limit the choice of insecticides. They are generally much more toxic than the chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Organophosphates kill insects by inhibiting the enzyme cholinesterase, which is essential in the functioning of the nervous system.

The carbamates are a group of insecticides that includes compounds like carbamyl, methomyl, and carbofuran. These compounds are rapidly detoxified and eliminated from animal tissues.

Their toxicity is thought to arise from a mechanism somewhat similar to that for the organophosphates.

Fosthiazate is a type of carbamate that has been studied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its ecological risk. The EPA conducted a Preliminary Ecological Risk Assessment for the Registration Review of Fosthiazate in 2013, which is a 47-page report.

Fosthiazate has been registered for use as a pesticide, but its ecological impact is still being studied. This assessment is an important step in understanding the potential risks associated with its use.

The EPA's report highlights the need for further study on the ecological effects of Fosthiazate. This emphasizes the importance of ongoing research in this area.

Fosthiazate's ecological risk assessment is a complex issue that requires careful consideration of various factors. By studying its effects on the environment, we can better understand its potential impact on ecosystems.

The EPA's assessment is a crucial step in ensuring that Fosthiazate is used safely and effectively. By taking a proactive approach to understanding its ecological risks, we can minimize its negative impact on the environment.

Thiodicarb is a carbamate insecticide that transforms relatively quickly into methomyl, another systemic insecticide. This rapid transformation is a key characteristic of thiodicarb.

Thiodicarb has been found to be xylem-mobile, meaning it can move through the plant's water-conducting tissues. This mobility is suggested by the physiochemical properties of thiodicarb.

The EPA has conducted a preliminary ecological risk assessment for thiodicarb, which is a comprehensive evaluation of the potential risks to the environment. This assessment is a crucial step in determining the safety of thiodicarb for use in agriculture.

Thiodicarb has been found to have a similar mode of action to other carbamate insecticides, including carbamyl, methomyl, and carbofuran. These insecticides are rapidly detoxified and eliminated from animal tissues.

The EPA has also found that thiodicarb is not phloem-mobile, meaning it does not move through the plant's food-conducting tissues. This is in contrast to some other systemic insecticides that can move through the phloem.

Thiodicarb has been shown to have a low oral acute value for adult bees, with a value of >4 µg/bee. This suggests that thiodicarb is relatively safe for bees when used as directed.

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Malathion is a carbamate insecticide that can persist in plants for a significant amount of time. A half-life value of 114 days in plants is recorded from a study of residues in stored corn.

Malathion can be absorbed and translocated within plants, although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood. This can lead to prolonged exposure to the insecticide.

Malathion has been studied extensively by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has conducted a preliminary ecological risk assessment for its registration review. The EPA's 2016 draft risk assessment for human health is a comprehensive document that provides detailed information on the insecticide's properties and potential risks.

Malathion's persistence in plants can be influenced by various factors, including the type of crop and environmental conditions.

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Chlorinated hydrocarbons were developed in the 1940s after the discovery of DDT's insecticidal properties in 1939.

These compounds include BHC, lindane, Chlorobenzilate, methoxychlor, and the cyclodienes, which are valuable for long-term protection due to their stability and residual action.

Their toxic action is not fully understood, but it's known to disrupt the nervous system, and some of these insecticides have been banned for their deleterious effects on the environment.

Dichlorvos is also known as DDVP. It's a major degradate of trichlorfon, another systemic.

Dichlorvos is used in a liquid formulation of 14% Imidacloprid+DDVP for trunk injection.

The control effect of Anoplophora Glabripennis with this formulation was studied by Guanghui, T., H. Jun, and J. Zhili in 2007.

The "B" section of chlorinated hydrocarbons is a long list of chemicals, but let's break it down. Barium hexafluorosilicate is one of them, but not a chlorinated hydrocarbon itself.

Bendiocarb is a carbamate insecticide that's sometimes confused with chlorinated hydrocarbons, but it's actually a different class of chemicals. Benfuracarb is another carbamate insecticide that's similar to bendiocarb.

Bensultap is a sulfonylurea herbicide, not a chlorinated hydrocarbon. Benzpyrimoxan is a chemical used in agriculture, but it's not a chlorinated hydrocarbon either.

Beta-cyfluthrin and beta-cypermethrin are pyrethroid insecticides, which are synthetic versions of natural insecticides found in chrysanthemum flowers. Bifenthrin is another pyrethroid insecticide that's commonly used in agriculture.

Bioallethrin is a natural insecticide found in chrysanthemum flowers, but it's not a chlorinated hydrocarbon. Bioethanomethrin, biopermethrin, and bioresmethrin are all synthetic versions of natural insecticides found in chrysanthemum flowers.

Bistrifluron is a chemical used in agriculture, but it's not a chlorinated hydrocarbon. Borax and boric acid are naturally occurring minerals that have been used as insecticides for centuries.

Brofenvalerate, broflanilide, brofluthrinate, and bromethrin are all pyrethroid insecticides. Bromfenvinfos is a chemical used in agriculture, but it's not a chlorinated hydrocarbon.

Bromocyclen, bromo-DDT, and bromophos are all organophosphate insecticides. Bufencarb, buprofezin, butacarb, butathiofos, butethrin, butocarboxim, and butoxycarboxim are all carbamate or organophosphate insecticides.

Here's a list of the pyrethroid insecticides mentioned in the "B" section:

Neonicotinoids are systemic insecticides that have become the most widely used pesticides in the world since their introduction in the late 1980s. They selectively bind to the postsynaptic nicotinic receptors of insects, causing paralysis and death.

The major neonicotinoids in commercial pesticides are acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam. These chemicals are most commonly used as seed dressings for a broad variety of crops.

Insecticide poisoning of humans also occurs occasionally, and the use of one common organophosphate, parathion, was drastically curtailed in the United States in 1991 due to its toxic effects on farm labourers.

Imidacloprid is a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide that's absorbed via the roots, stems, and foliage of plants. It's commonly used to treat a variety of crops, including squash, cucurbits, tomatoes, and peppers.

Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide, which means it's absorbed by the plant and can move through its tissues. This makes it effective against a wide range of pests, including insects and mites.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has conducted several studies on the effects of imidacloprid on pollinators. In 2016, the EPA released a preliminary pollinator assessment to support the registration review of imidacloprid.

Imidacloprid has been shown to have toxic effects on honey bees, with a study finding that the oral LD50 (the dose required to kill 50% of the population) was 0.118 µg/larva over an 18-day period.

The EPA has also proposed to cancel seed treatment registrations for bulb vegetables due to concerns over the potential impact on pollinators. This decision highlights the ongoing debate over the use of neonicotinoids and their effects on the environment.

Imidacloprid is often used as a seed treatment, which allows it to be absorbed by the plant before it's even planted. This makes it an easy and efficient way to control pests at the early stages of growth.

The EPA has released several reports on the environmental fate and ecological risk assessment of imidacloprid, including a 305-page report in 2016 and a 77-page proposed interim registration review decision in 2020. These reports provide a comprehensive look at the potential risks and benefits of using imidacloprid.

Sulfoxaflor is a neonicotinoid that can move through a plant's xylem and phloem. This means it can be transported throughout the plant, potentially affecting more than just the roots where it's applied.

The acute oral toxicity of sulfoxaflor has been tested, and it's shown to be more toxic to bees when used as a formulated product compared to its technical active ingredient. EPA noted that this is an important consideration for bee health.

Sulfoxaflor's major degradate, X-474, is expected to be very persistent in soil and water, lasting for over 1000 days in many environments.

Neem Oil (Azadirachtin) is a powerful systemic insecticide that has been shown to be effective against a wide range of pests.

Azadirachtin, the active ingredient in neem oil, is taken up by plants and translocated throughout their tissues, allowing it to target pests on multiple fronts. This property makes it particularly useful for controlling pests that are difficult to reach with traditional insecticides.

Studies have shown that neem oil can persist in plant tissues for extended periods of time, providing long-lasting protection against pests. For example, one study found that azadirachtin residues persisted in white and green ash trees for up to 127 days after direct stem injection.

Neem oil has been successfully used to control the emerald ash borer, a highly invasive pest that can decimate ash tree populations. In fact, one study found that azadirachtin was 100% effective in controlling the emerald ash borer when applied via direct stem injection.

Azadirachtin has also been shown to be effective against other pests, including the two-spotted spider mite and the agrilus planipennis beetle.

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Synthetic insecticides are the primary agents of insect control. They penetrate insects readily and are toxic to a wide range of species.

One of the main synthetic groups is the chlorinated hydrocarbons. These chemicals are effective but also have potential environmental risks.

Organic phosphates, also known as organophosphates, are another main synthetic group.

Diazinon is a synthetic contact insecticide that has been widely used for insect control. It penetrates insects readily and is toxic to a wide range of species.

The main groups of synthetic contact insecticides include chlorinated hydrocarbons, organic phosphates, and carbamates, and Diazinon falls under the category of organic phosphates.

Diazinon is xylem-mobile, meaning it can move through the plant's xylem tissue. This property makes it useful for seed treatments.

A previously authorized corn seed treatment containing Diazinon has been discontinued.

Fipronil is a synthetic insecticide that has been extensively studied for its environmental fate and exposure.

Fipronil has been detected in pollen and/or nectar following seed, soil, and/or foliar applications made prior to or during bloom.

Research has shown that fipronil's degradation rates slow over time, indicating its potential persistence in the environment.

Fipronil has been found to be taken up and transported through the xylem in sunflower plants, highlighting its ability to move through plant tissues.

Studies have compared the xylem mobility of fipronil with other pesticides, including thiamethoxam and abamectin, in soybean plants.

The environmental fate and exposure of fipronil have been extensively studied in various environments, including agricultural settings and waterways.

Fipronil has been found to have a significant impact on non-target species, including bees and other beneficial insects.

Bonmatin et al. (2015) have published a comprehensive review of fipronil's environmental fate and exposure, highlighting its potential risks to the environment.

Aajoud et al. (2006) have studied the uptake and xylem transport of fipronil in sunflower plants, providing valuable insights into its behavior in plant tissues.

Li et al. (2016) have compared the xylem mobility of fipronil with other pesticides in soybean plants, highlighting its potential for environmental persistence.