Ten Facts About Pesticides You Probably Didn’t Know

Pesticides are highly specialized tools, classified by the pests they target and formulated to disrupt specific biological processes at precise life stages. Here is what commercial and residential property owners should understand about how they work and how they are regulated.

Key Takeaways:

• Not all pesticides work the same way—many are engineered to target a single organism or life stage, such as eggs or larvae, rather than pests broadly
• Some of the most effective eco-friendly options are derived from everyday ingredients like canola oil and baking soda, offering lower-impact alternatives for certain applications
• For colony-based insects like ants and termites, fast-acting treatments are counterproductive—delayed toxins that workers carry back to the nest are required to reach and eliminate the queen
• Certified pest technicians must complete rigorous training and accumulate extensive field experience before they are legally permitted to apply pesticides commercially in any US state
• Attempting pesticide application without proper licensing exposes property owners and managers to serious legal, health, and environmental liability

Types Of Specialized Pesticides And How They Work

1. Organophosphate Pesticides Were Used to Develop Nerve Agents During World War II

Although they were never used, these compounds formed the basis of the first nerve agents. These work by disrupting key neurotransmitters in insects and humans, causing paralysis and death.

2. Baking Soda And Canola Oil Are Used In Biopesticides

Baking soda and canola oil are included in making some biopesticides, a type of pesticide derived from certain plants, animals, minerals or bacteria.

3. Molluscicides Contain Desiccants That Extract Moisture from Living Tissue of Slugs and Snails

Pesticides intended to kill slugs and snails only are called molluscicides and contain desiccants that extract moisture from the living tissue of water-dependent animals.

4. Ovicides Kill Mite and Insect Eggs

Ovicides are unique pesticides that kill the embryos within eggs laid by mites and insects.

5. Insect Growth Regulators Stop Insects From Maturing Normally

Insect growth regulators are a type of pesticide that disrupts life stages from pupa to adult so that the insect is unable to mature normally.

6. Hydramethylnon Is an Effective, Slow-Acting Pesticide Used to Inhibit the Cell Metabolism of Ants and Termites

Using a delayed-action toxin like hydramethylnon is necessary to control social insects because they eventually return to the nest and poison other members of the colony.

7. There Are Currently 300 Products Belonging to Seven Chemical Classes That Are Registered for Use in Bed Bug Control

According to the EPA, there are currently 300 products across seven chemical classes registered for use in bed bug control. Pyrethroids and pyrethrins are the most commonly used insecticides for bed bug control and eradication.

8. All 50 States Mandate Experience and Training Requirements Before an Individual Is Qualified to Apply Pesticides

In New York state, certified pest technicians must have at least 40 hours of field experience under the supervision of a qualified pesticide applicator before they can legally use controlled pesticides.

9. Larvicides and Adulticides Are Used to Control Mosquito Larvae and Adult Mosquitoes

Pesticides used to control mosquito larvae and adult mosquitoes are called larvicides and adulticides.

10. The Most Commonly Used Insecticide Is Malathion

The most commonly used insecticide is malathion, an organophosphate pesticide frequently included in state and federal mosquito control programs.

For more information about pesticides, pest infestation, or integrated pest management, contact Assured Environments. One of our professional pest technicians will be ready to help you with any of your pest control needs!