Classification of Insecticides by Dahlia Shumba
What are insecticides
✓ These are chemicals that are used to control, kill, or injure insects.
✓ They are mainly used in agriculture, forestry and households.
Classification of insecticides
✓ Insecticides are classified in various ways; therefore, it is important for farmers to understand these
classifications so as to use them effectively
1. According to formulation
✓ Insecticides are available in a number of forms, such as
a) Wettable powders(WP)- these are powder formulations applied after being dispersed in water, for
example Cyromazine, Carbaryl 85%
b) Soluble concentrates(SC)- these are liquid homogenous formulations to be applied after dilution in
water, for example Indoxacarb, Chlorfenapyr
c) Suspension concentrates(SL)- these have the active ingredient suspended in liquid concentrate and
applied after dilution with water, for example Oxamyl, Cyfluthrin, Imidacloprid etc.
d) Emulsifiable concentrates(EC)- these come in liquid form and need to be diluted in water and applied
as concentrate emulsion, for example Abamectin, Dichlorvos, Diazinon, Dimethoate
e) Water dispersible granules(WDG)- these come in granular form and need to be dispersed in water
before application, for example Emamectin benzoate
f) Soluble powder(SP)- these are powders which are soluble in water, for example Acephate,
Acetamiprid, Cartap
g) Dusts- these are suitable for dusting, for example ABC powder, Malathion 5%, Carbaryl 5%,
Vegdust, Huku dust, Poultry dust, Dusting sulphur etc
2. According to chemical groups/mode of action:
✓ Insecticides may be classified into chemical groups, these include
a) Organophosphates (1A) – Acetylcholinestarase inhibitors with nerve action. Examples include
Acephate, Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon, Dichlorvos, Dimethoate, Fenthion, Methamidophos,
Monocrotophos, Profenofos,
b) Carbamates (1B)- Acetylcholinestarase inhibitors with nerve action. Examples include Aldicarb,
Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Methomyl, Oxamyl
c) Organochlorines (2A)- Chlorine channel blockers with nerve action. Example include Endosulfan
d) Phenylpyrazoles (2B)- Chlorine channel blockers with nerve action. Example include Fipronil
e) Pyrethroids (3A)- Sodium channel modulator with nerve action. Examples include Bifenthrin,
Cyfluthrin, Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin, Fenvelerate, Lambda cyhalothrin
f) Nionicotinoids (4A)- Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (competitive modulators) with nerve action.
Examples include Acetamiprid, Imidacloprid, Thiacloprid, Thiamethoxam
g) Spinosyns (5)- Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (allosteric modulators) with nerve action. Examples
include Spinetoram, Spinosad
h) Avermectins (6)- Glutamate-gated chloride channel (allosteric modulator) with nerve and muscle
action. Examples include Abamectin, Emamectin benzoate
i) Pyrroles (13)- Uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation with Energy metabolism action. Example
include Chlorfenapyr
j) Benzylureas (15)- Chitin biosynthesis inhibitors with growth regulation action. Examples include
Novaluron, Lufenuron
k) Triazines (17)- Moulting disruptor (Dipterans) with growth regulation. Example include Cyromazine
l) Amidines (19)- Octopamine receptor with nerve action. Example include Amitraz
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m) Oxadiazines (22)- Voltage-dependent sodium channel blocker with nerve action. Example include
Indoxacarb
n) Phosphides (24A)- Mitochondrial electron transport inhibitors with respiratory action. Example
include Aluminium phosphide
o) Diamides (28)- Ryanodine receptor modulator with nerve and muscle action. Examples include
Chlorantraniliprole, Cyantraniliprole, Flubendiamide
3. According to mode of entry
✓ These can be classified into the following groups:
a) Contact poison- effective for less mobile pests. Examples include all pyrethroids, Dichlorvos
b) Fumigants (inhalation) poisons- examples include Oxamyl, Aluminium phosphide
c) Stomach poisons (ingestion) poisons- effective for biting and chewing pests. Examples include
Carbaryl, Malathion
d) Translaminar- effective for boring, mining and sap sucking pests. Examples include Abamectin,
Amitraz, Emamectin benzoate, Chlorfenapyr, Fenthion, Flubendiamide
e) Systemic- effective against boring, mining and sap sucking pests. Examples include Cartap,
Cyromazine, Dimethoate, Fenamiphos, Acetamiprid, Imidacloprid, Methomyl, Spinosad,
Thiamethoxam
4. According to specific target
✓ These are classed as:
a) Ovicides- examples include Indoxacarb, Spinosad, Beta-cyfluthrin, Acephate
b) Pupicides- examples include Deltamethrin, Chlorpyrifos
c) Larvicides- examples include Abamectin, Emamectin benzoate, Cartap, Chlorantraniliprole,
Flubendiamide
d) Adulticides- examples include Dichlorvos, Acetamiprid, Dimethoate, Diazinon
5. According to toxicity
✓ These show how toxic the chemicals are to the use and are classified as:
a) Less toxic (green)- these are harmful if swallowed and need to be treated with caution. Rubber gloves
and long sleeved overalls should be worn when using them.
b) Highly toxic (amber)- these are poisons and more toxic than green ones. Rubber gloves and long
sleeved overalls should be worn when using them.
c) Moderately dangerous (red)- these are dangerous poisons. Ingestion, inhalation and skin contact has to
be avoided by wearing rubber gloves, boots, respirator and overalls
d) Extremely poisonous (purple)- these are extremely dangerous poisons. Ingestion, inhalation and skin
contact has to be avoided by wearing rubber gloves, boots, respirator and waterproof overalls
6. According to chemical composition
✓ These include
a) Inorganic insecticides- these are made up of mineral-based chemicals. Examples include Aluminium
phosphide, Copper oxychloride, Boric acid, Sulphur
b) Organic Insecticides- These come from animals and plants. Examples include organochlorines,
Organophosphates, Carbamate etc.
NB: READ THE LABELS BEFORE USING THE INSECTICIDES TO AVOID COMPLICATIONS!!!
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