Chemically synthesized pesticides constitute the vast majority of modern pesticides, with approximately 300 varieties in common use. They are artificially synthesized from petrochemical raw materials and cover a full range of applications, including insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides.
Chemically Synthesized Insecticides
Organochlorines: Represented by substances like DDT and HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane), these were among the first synthetic organic pesticides to be used on a large scale. Due to their persistence in the environment and high residual toxicity, they have now been banned in most countries worldwide.
Organophosphates: This category includes common agents such as chlorpyrifos, phoxim, dichlorvos, dimethoate, and glyphosate. They function by inhibiting the activity of the enzyme cholinesterase in pests and represent one of the most widely used classes of insecticides.
Carbamates: Representative examples include carbaryl, isoprocarb, carbofuran, and aldicarb. Their mechanism of action is similar to that of organophosphates, though most varieties tend to have lower toxicity.
Pyrethroids: These are synthetic compounds modeled after the chemical structure of natural pyrethrins. Examples include cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, and bifenthrin. They are characterized by high efficacy and low toxicity, and are widely used in both agriculture and public health pest control.
Novel Heterocyclic Insecticides: This group includes modern, mainstream compounds such as neonicotinoids (e.g., imidacloprid, thiacloprid), as well as chlorantraniliprole and cyclaniliprole. These agents exhibit high selectivity for target pests while being safer for non-target organisms.
