Notes by Prof.

Anisa Iftikhar (MPhil Zoology)

Zoological Mania

Topic:
Classification of insecticides
Insecticides
“Substances which are used to kill insects are called insecticides. Insecticides have a wide
application in the field of medicine, agriculture, and industry.”

They have the potential to alter ecosystem components majorly and are toxic to animals as well
as humans. Some insecticides become concentrated as they spread in the food chain.

General Properties of Insecticides:

Properties of an Ideal Insecticide:

1 Biological and chemical control of insects

Notes by Prof. Anisa Iftikhar (MPhil Zoology)

Classification of insecticide

1 Based on chemical composition, it is classified as organic and inorganic.

2 Based on the mode of entry in the insects, it is classified as contact poisons, fumigants
poisons, stomach poisons, and systemic poisons.

3 Based on the mode of action, it is classified as physical poisons, nerve poisons,

respiratory poisons, protoplasmic poisons, general poisons, and chitin inhibitors.

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Notes by Prof. Anisa Iftikhar (MPhil Zoology)

4 Based on toxicity, it is classified into four types:

4.1 Extremely toxic – Colour: red, symbol: skull and poison, oral LD50: 1-50
4.2 Moderately toxic – Colour: blue, symbol: danger, oral LD50: 501 – 5000
4.3 Highly toxic – Colour: yellow, symbol: poison, oral LD50: 51 – 500
4.4 Less toxic – Colour: green, symbol: caution, oral LD50: >5000

5 Based on the stage of specificity, it is classified as ovicides, pupicides, larvicides, and

adulticides.

Classification Based On Mode of Entry

1. Stomach poisons 2. Contact poisons

3. Systemic poisons 4. Fumigant poisons

1. Stomach Poison

Stomach poisons are toxic only if ingested through the mouth and are most useful against those
insects that have biting or chewing mouth parts, by acting on the digestive system of insect such
as caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers. Available in formulations: sprays, dusts, dips or baits.
They are applied as sprays or dusts onto the leaves and stems of plants eaten by the target insects

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Notes by Prof. Anisa Iftikhar (MPhil Zoology)

or applied by mixing in attractants. Stomach poisons have gradually been replaced by synthetic
insecticides, which are less dangerous to humans and other mammals.

Example:
The chief stomach poisons are the arsenicals—e.g., Paris green (copper acetoarsenite), lead
arsenate, and calcium arsenate; and the fluorine compounds, among them sodium fluoride and
cryolite.
Pre-requisites for stomach poison:
 It should not damage the foliage.
 It should insoluble in water.
 It should quickly kill the insects.
 It should be inexpensive.
 It should be distasteful to insects.
 It should be stable.
 It should not break down easily.
 It should have good adhering ability.
2. Contact Poison:
Contact poisons penetrate the skin of the pest and are used against those arthropods, such
as aphids, that pierce the surface of a plant and suck out the juices. Kill the insects by Clogging
spiracles and respiratory system. They are acting as nerve or general tissue poisons, after
entering into blood through cuticle. Highly lipophilic (readily absorbed by lipid present in
epicuticle of insect exoskeleton) easily available in market. They can apply as dusts or sprays
(either on bodies or to the places frequently visited by insects).
The contact insecticides can be divided into two main groups: naturally occurring compounds
and synthetic organic ones.
The naturally occurring contact insecticides include nicotine, developed
from tobacco; pyrethrum, obtained from flowers of Chrysanthemum
cinerariaefolium and Tanacetum coccineum; rotenone, from the roots of Derris species and
related plants; and oils, from petroleum. Though these compounds were originally derived
mainly from plant extracts, the toxic agents of some of them (e.g., pyrethrins) have been
synthesized. Natural insecticides are usually short-lived on plants and cannot provide protection
against prolonged invasions. Except for pyrethrum, they have largely been replaced by newer
synthetic organic insecticides.
Examples :
 Inorganic compounds:
DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane) & BHC (Benzene hexa chloride)

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Notes by Prof. Anisa Iftikhar (MPhil Zoology)

 Organic compounds:
Nicotine sulphate, Anabasine, Neem extract, Dharek extract, Rotenone etc. Derris chinensis,
Tobacco
Pre-requisites for contact poisons:
 It should not be phytotoxic.
 It should not damage citrus inflorescence hence can’t be applied when plants are in
blossoms form.
 It should not toxic to mammals & readily absorbed by skin
 Its wide range should be available in market.

3. Fumigants
Fumigants are toxic compounds that enter the respiratory system of the insect through
its spiracles, or breathing openings. A fumigant is a chemical substance which is volatile at
ordinary temperature and became gasses above 50℃. It enters into Tracheal system, circulates
with hemolymph & absorbed by body tissues. These are poisonous gasses either derived from
solids or liquids uses to kill stored grain insect pest, borers in trees & wooden structures, worms
found inside the intestine of animals. All fumigants are deadly poisonous.
Examples
They include such chemicals as hydrogen cyanide, naphthalene, nicotine, and methyl
bromide and are used mainly for killing insect pests of stored products or for fumigating nursery
stock. Nicotine, Hydrogen cyanide, Carbon bisulphide, Sulphur dioxide, naphthalene, Methyl
bromide etc.
Pre-requisites for contact poisons:
 It should be volatile enough (Evaporative).
 It should penetrate deeply into store products.
 It should be toxic or repellent to insects & mites
 It should be least toxic to humans.
 It should not be corrosive
 It should not deteriorate seed quality
 It should not leave any toxic residues on food stuff.
4. Systemic Poisons:
Chemicals when applied, are absorbed & translocated to various plant parts in amount lethal to
insects which feed on them .For insects having piercing mouth parts and suck cell sap by
proboscis. Translocation takes place by xylem vessel only (water & nutrients) . These are
harmless to natural enemies. In general they penetrate insects readily and are toxic to a wide
range of species.

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Notes by Prof. Anisa Iftikhar (MPhil Zoology)

Examples:
 Stable systemic:
These chemicals do not metabolize in the system (soil/environment/plant tissue). i.e. Sodium
selenate (Na2SeO4)
 Endolytic systemics:
Insecticides in which toxic compound is present in 98% in its original form, taken by insect
body. i.e. Schradan (Octa methyl tetra amide pyrophosphate)
 Endo metatoxic systemics:
These Insecticides are partly or wholly metabolized into other toxicants inside the plant
themselves.
Divisions of systemics Chemicals:
The main synthetic groups are the chlorinated hydrocarbons, organic phosphates
(organophosphates), and carbamates.

 Chlorinated hydrocarbons

The chlorinated hydrocarbons were developed beginning in the 1940s after the discovery (1939)
of the insecticidal properties of DDT. Other examples of this series are BHC, lindane,
Chlorobenzilate, methoxychlor, and the cyclodienes (which
include aldrin, dieldrin, chlordane, heptachlor, and endrin). Some of these compounds are quite
stable and have a long residual action; they are, therefore, particularly valuable where protection
is required for long periods. Their toxic action is not fully understood, but they are known to
disrupt the nervous system. A number of these insecticides have been banned for
their deleterious effects on the environment.

 Organophosphates

The organophosphates are now the largest and most versatile class of insecticides. Two widely
used compounds in this class are parathion and malathion; others are Diazinon, naled, methyl
parathion, and dichlorvos. They are especially effective against sucking insects such as aphids
and mites, which feed on plant juices. The chemicals’ absorption into the plant is achieved either
by spraying the leaves or by applying solutions impregnated with the chemicals to the soil, so
that intake occurs through the roots. The 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

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Notes by Prof. Anisa Iftikhar (MPhil Zoology)

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

 Carbamates

The carbamates are a group of insecticides that includes such compounds as carbamyl,
methomyl, and carbofuran. They are rapidly detoxified and eliminated from animal tissues. Their
toxicity is thought to arise from a mechanism somewhat similar to that for the organophosphates.

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