What is a pesticide?
 Pesticides are chemicals that kill or disrupt pest populations. A pest is an organism (plant, animal, fungus or microbe) that causes some type of damage, or loss, to something we value. Pesticides can be grouped in a number of different ways such as synthetic pesticides, organic pesticides, inorganic pesticides and biorational pesticides.
Synthetic pesticides
Synthetic pesticides like carbaryl (Sevin), fipronil (Termidor) and imidacloprid (Merit, Bayer Advanced) are manufactured in a laboratory and mass-produced 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 World War II. During the last 60 years new synthetic pesticides have become more pest specific, lower toxicity and 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.
Organic pesticides
Organic pesticides like rotenone, nicotine, soaps, and neem oil are products of living organisms. Often they are chemicals that plants use to protect themselves from parasites and pathogens.
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"... Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening contains the tips and techniques needed to produce beautiful flowers, top-quality herbs, and appetizing, wholesome fruits and vegetables." [from Amazon.com]
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Teaming with Microbes: A Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web by Jeff Lowenfels, Wayne Lewis
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