Insecticides play an important role in the way food is grown and prepared these days. Insects, rodents and bacteria are capable of destroying the crop and contaminating the rations people consume. As a solution to control this problem, insecticides were manufactured. These products can be natural or chemical based. There are various types of insecticides that you can use depending on the nature of the problem.
Inorganic Insecticides
These are either man-made or based on synthetic formulas like carbamates or pyrethroids. These are made from heavy metals and arsenic compounds such as boric acid and silica gel. Inorganic types of insecticides are highly effective but use them carefully and read the applying conditions properly. There are several types of inorganic insecticides.
- Systematic Insecticides are put in the soil and allowed to be absorbed by plant roots. These insecticides move up to the leaves, branches, fruits and twigs of the plant and protect it from being chewed upon by insects. Bactericides and larvicides are also a form of systematic insecticides that help in eradicating bacteria and larvae that destroys plants.
- Contact Insecticides are the common sprays that can be used at home to eradicate insects and mosquitoes. Some of these products are also used to disinfect the home and environment and deodorise the place. These insecticides are available in the market in the form of sprays, coils, liquid vaporisers and repellents.
- Ingested Insecticides are used to kill rats, rodents and cockroaches. Rodenticide is also a form of ingested insecticide. It is sort of a poison that is effective in killing rats. It is used as poisonous bait and fed to rats to get rid of them.
- Herbicides are yet another kind of pesticides that are used to kill infected plants. It is specifically used to destroy parts of the plant that the insects feed on or the sections of the plant where infection has spread. Fungicides are also from the same family of herbicides; they are used to kill weeds and fungi that are responsible for destroying the agricultural yield.
Organic Insecticides
These are made from plant oils and fatty acids that are derived from plants or animals. They are eco friendly and cause no harm to crops. The types of insecticides in this category are:
- Insecticidal Soap is made of detergent or ivory liquid and can be sprayed on plants to protect it from being eaten by insects. It is non-toxic and should not be sprayed in the Sunlight.
- Nicotine can be mixed in water and sprayed on plants directly.
- Plain Water should be sprayed regularly on plants to ensure insects don’t feed on them.
Knowing the types of insecticides that are available at your disposal helps you make an informed choice. Use synthetic products with care to ensure safety of your environment and surroundings.
