Pesticides and insecticides

 Pesticides vs Insecticides

Pesticides

Pesticides are substances used to prevent, destroy, repel, or control pests.

The term "pest" includes:

Insects

Weeds

Fungi

Rodents

Mites

Nematodes

Other harmful organisms

Thus, pesticide is a broad umbrella term.

Insecticides

Insecticides are pesticides specifically designed to kill or control insects.

Therefore:

All insecticides are pesticides

Not all pesticides are insecticides

Classification of Pesticides

1. Insecticides

Used against insects.

Examples:

Malathion

Parathion

Chlorpyrifos

Permethrin

Cypermethrin

DDT

2. Herbicides

Used against weeds and unwanted plants.

Examples:

Glyphosate

Paraquat

Atrazine

2,4-D

3. Fungicides

Used against fungi.

Examples:

Mancozeb

Copper sulfate

Carbendazim

Fluconazole (agricultural use is uncommon)

4. Rodenticides

Used against rats and mice.

Examples:

Zinc phosphide

Warfarin

Brodifacoum

5. Acaricides

Used against mites and ticks.

Examples:

Amitraz

Dicofol

6. Nematicides

Used against nematodes.

Examples:

Aldicarb

Carbofuran

7. Molluscicides

Used against snails and slugs.

Examples:

Metaldehyde

Niclosamide

Classification of Insecticides

A. Based on Chemical Class

1. Organophosphates

Mechanism:

Inhibit acetylcholinesterase

Examples:

Malathion

Parathion

Chlorpyrifos

Diazinon

Clinical features:

Cholinergic crisis

SLUDGE syndrome

Miosis

Bronchorrhea

2. Carbamates

Mechanism:

Reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibition

Examples:

Carbaryl

Propoxur

Aldicarb

3. Pyrethroids

Mechanism:

Prolong sodium channel opening

Examples:

Permethrin

Cypermethrin

Deltamethrin

Features:

Relatively safer in humans

Paresthesias common

4. Organochlorines

Mechanism:

Alter sodium channel function

Examples:

DDT

Lindane

Endosulfan

Features:

Neurotoxicity

Environmental persistence

5. Neonicotinoids

Mechanism:

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists

Examples:

Imidacloprid

Thiamethoxam