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Pesticides
- Use biorational-type pesticides whenever possible -
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Summary: Pesticides can be categorized as synthetic, organic, inorganic and/or biorational. The first three indicate the source of the active ingredient while the term biorational means that the product is less toxic and has minimal impact on the environment.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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Pesticide types
 Pesticides are chemicals that kill pests or disrupt pest populations. A pest is an organism (plant, animal, fungus or microbe) that causes some type of damage to something we value. Furthermore, pesticides can be grouped in a number of different ways such as synthetic, organic, inorganic and biorational pesticides.
Synthetic pesticides like carbaryl (Sevin), fipronil (Termidor) and imidacloprid (Merit, Bayer Advanced) are manufactured in a laboratory and marketed by a chemical company. Synthetic pesticides are generally grouped into similar chemical classes such as organochlorines, organophosphates, pyrethroids, or carbamates.
Synthetic pesticides have been widely used since the end of World War II. During the last 60 years new synthetic pesticides have become more pest specific, exhibit lower toxicity and are less environmentally damaging. While synthetic pesticides have, without doubt, contributed to an abundant and cheap food and fiber supply they present a certain amount of risk to human and environmental health.
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Organic pesticides like rotenone, pyrethrum, nicotine, and neem oil are products of living organisms. Often they are chemicals that plants use to protect themselves from parasites and pathogens.
Nicotine, for example, is produced by plants in the genus Nicotiana as a powerful herbivore (plant-feeding) deterrent. Nicotine is also a potent insecticide and is highly toxic to mammals. In small doses, delivered by smoking dried tobacco leaves, nicotine is a stimulant.
The main point to remember about organic pesticides is that they are not necessarily low toxicity and environmentally safer than synthetic pesticides, but most are.
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Inorganic pesticides like borates, silicates and sulfur, are minerals that are mined from the earth and ground into a fine powder. Some work as poisons and some work by physically interfering with the pest. Older "inorganics" included such highly toxic compounds as arsenic, copper, lead and tin salts. Current inorganic pesticides are relatively low in toxicity and have low environmental impact. Borate insecticides, for example Bora Care and Timbor, in particular, have many uses in structural pest management (see Bora Care Insecticide and Timbor Insecticide).
Biorational pesticides are those synthetic, organic, or inorganic pesticides that are both low toxicity and exhibit a very low impact on the environment. They also have minimal impact on species for which they are not intended (called non-target species). Biorational pesticides include oils, insecticidal soaps, microbials (such as Bacillus thurengienesis and entomopathogenic nematodes), botanical (plant-based) and insect growth regulators. Biorational pesticides should therefore be your first choice whenever a pesticide is needed (see What are Natural Insecticides?).
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Mission: To provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information for solving common insect and mite problems around your home, business and landscape using least-toxic methods.
Jack DeAngelis, Ph.D.
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