Insecticides and pesticides are an important component of any pest management program.  Many insecticides and pesticides over the years have been cancelled or banned by the EPA due to misuse. 

Today we have the advantage of selecting from multiple active ingredients and formulations that have been proven effective and safe by numerous researchers and governmental agencies. 

In recent years there has been a great increase in the number of botanical insecticides (pyrethrins, plant oils, etc) and natural products. With the increase in "green" product demand it is likely that we will see more and more products with these active ingredients.

Pesticide is a broad term used to describe a substance or agent used to kill pests. The Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, FIFRA, defines pesticide as "any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest, and any substance intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant. The most common types of pesticides are insecticides, biopesticides (microbial pesticides, plant incorporated protectants and biochemical pesticides), and acaracides. 

Insecticides are pesticides that are targeted at controlling insects but they can also affect other pests such as spiders, ticks, mites, sowbugs, and millipedes. 

Biopesticides are natural pesticides derived from animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. They are classified by the EPA into three groups: microbial pesticides, plant incorporated protectants, and biochemical pesticides. To be classed a biochemical pesticide the compound must be naturally occurring and have a nontoxic mode of action. Biochemicals include insect pheromones, and plant essential oils.

There are many ways to identify pesticides. Trade names, common names, molecular structural formula, chemical name, or empirical formula are all ways to identify differing pesticides. 

A insecticide or pesticide's common name is proposed by scientists or by the manufacturer and then approved by the International Organization for Standardization. A pesticide has only one recognized name but manufacturers may use brand names for various products.

The molecular structural formula of a pesticide shows the way atoms are joined together into a molocule.

A chemical name is a name given for the active ingredient found in the pesticide and is derived from the chemical structure of the compound. 

Pesticides can be classed according to their routes of entry into the insects body. Insects can be exposed to pesticides through contact, ingestion, or respiration. Most pesticides control insects on contact.

Contact pesticides are short lived, nonresidual, pesticides that need to be applied directly to the insect in order to kill. They leave no residual and are considered contact kill only. Many of these products are highly repellent to insects and will be used as a flushing agent to provide quick knockdown of pests. It is possible for hairs, spines, and other structures of the insects body to interfere with the pesticide's effectiveness. 

Residual pesticides are long lasting pesticides that when applied to certain surfaces leave a toxic pesticide residue deposit that can continue to control insects for three to six months. Insects will contact these residual insecticides through their tarsi (legs), antennae, mouthparts, or abdomen. Residual insecticides can act as contact insecticides when applied directly to pests but generally have a much longer time to kill than non residual pesticides.

Stomach pesticides found in baits and insecticide dusts must be ingested to kill the insect. Some insecticides absorbed through the stomach may also act as residual contact insecticides. 

Respiration pesticides are very volatile compounds that can kill insects from the pesticide vapor. They are very effective in small areas and work best nearest the source of pesticide. DDVP is the most common example in Nuvan Pro Strips.

Pesticides are organized into four major groups: inorganic pesticides, botanical pesticides, and synthetic compounds. The majority of products fall into the third category of synthetic compounds such as bifenthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, and cypermethrin.

Inorganic pesticides are commonly called mineral insecticides as they are mined from mineral deposits before being formulated into pesticides. These include boron compounds, silica gel, diatomaceous earth.

Botanical pesticides occur naturally and are derived from plants. The most common botanical insecticide products contain pyrethrins. Other botanical insecticides include plant essential oils like rosemary, limonene, linalool, thyme oil, rosemary, and peanut extract. Most botanical insecticides are organic and have low to no human and pet toxicity.

Synthetic organic compounds are the most common pesticide group used by pest management professionals. Synthetic compounds are divided into organophosphates, pyrethroids, and synergists/insect growth regulators IGR. 

Organophosphates always contain carbon, hydrogen, and phosphorus. In general organophosphates are less stable, more volatile, and faster acting than other pesticides. They are also known for their bad odors. Organophosphates affect the insects nervous system. Bugs that are exposed exhibit tremors, convulsions, and paralysis and death. Now generally organophosphates are formulated as microencapsulated insecticides to reduce exposure to the applicator and prevent toxic effects. Common organophosphates are acephate, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, propetamphos, carbaryl, methomyl, and propoxur.

Synthetic pyrethroids affect an insects nervous system by stimulating nerve cells to produce repetitive discharges causing paralysis and death. Synthetic pyrethroids were originally created with the desire to have a more dependable and economical pesticide than natural pyrethrum. In general pyrethroids may be distinguished from other pesticides with a few common characteristics. Synthetic pyrethroids have rapid activity against insects, are toxic to insects at low use rates, have low mammalian toxicity, are low odor, have long residual activity and kill, are photo-stable, have low water solubility, are toxic to fish, are repellent to insects.

There are first generation pyrethroids (allethrin) that mimic pyrethrum in chemical structure and effectiveness. 

Second generation pyrethroids (tetramethrin, resmethrin, phenothrin, bioallethrin) are much more effective against insects and less toxic to mammals as well. Resmethrin for example is 20 times more effective against flies than pyrethrum. 

Third generation pyrethroids (permethrin, esfenvalerate, cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, cypermthrin, lambda cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, etc) were the first photo-stable pyrethroids and also exhibit excellent effectiveness at much lower rates of use. 

Some pyrethroids exhibit negative temperature coefficient which means they are more effective at low temperatures. Other pyrethroids have positive temperature coefficients meaning they are more effective at higher temperatures. 

Pyrethroids have become the largest and most important group of pesticides/insecticides for both pest control companies and agricultural use. 

Finally neonicotinoids are the fastest growing group of synthetic pyrethroids. Neonicotinoids affect an insect's nervous system by binding to te nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. This prevents the insect's brain from thinking eventually resulting in the death of the insect. All neonicotinoids have very low toxicity to mammals, fish, and birds resulting in them being widely used for agriculture. Common neonicotinoids include imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, and dinotefuran.

Insect growth regulators IGRs are unique chemicals. The affect the metbolic processes found in insects but not in mammals. We use the analogy birth control for bugs to explain them to customers. Basically IGRs interfere with the normal growth and development of insects by mimicking a hormone. Insect exposed to juvenoids IGRs have delays in development, changes in color, ovicidal eggs, sterilized adults, wing twisting, and molting inhibition. Insects exposed to chitin synthesis inhibitor IGRs develop malformed cuticles and cannot molt. The advantage of chitin synthesis inhibitors over juvenoids is that insects are killed while molting and no larval or nymphal stages can occur. All IGRs are non toxic to birds mammals, fish, and other non-target animals. Methoprene, hydroprene, pyriproxyfen, diflubenzuron, hexaflumuron, and noviflumuron are all available for homeowner or pest management professional purchase.