Chemical Control

The use of chemical substances that are toxic (poisonous) to the pests involved in the
damage of human resources and bring economic loses.

Importance of Chemical Control:

To check the importance of chemical control we have to see its advantages and
disadvantages

Advantages of Chemical Pest Control

Effectiveness
Chemicals exterminate any pest that hasn’t adapted to the deadly substance inside the agent.
They eradicate fast and with an efficiency of up to 100%. Most are very easy to apply and can get
in the way of pests that hide in small crevices and other hidings.

Quickness
Some chemicals for pest control kill slowly because of the active ingredient. However, most
pesticides are designed to exterminate the vermin in less than 3-4 days, which is much faster
compared to organic methods of pest control such as importation or augmentation.(to
increase)Contrary to biological pest control methods, the chemical substances may target a specific
area with high precision. On the other hand, if you release pest-destroying animals, there is no
control over their behaviour – they may spread wherever they want.

Easy application
This one helps the customers a lot in their efforts towards DIY pest control with ready-to-
use products. Most pesticides sold on the market are packed inside bottles, designed for easy use
and application.
They are readily available and spraying them on your crops takes few minutes and a little more
time before that to read the instructions, which is something we highly recommend before using
pesticides of any type.

Improving productivity
Pesticides become more and more effective in time but sometimes at the cost of being
more toxic and unsustainable. Efforts of scientists are made towards researching pesticides that
cause lower pollution and side effects on human health. However, it’s difficult to achieve that
because animal species evolve against the chemicals and more poison is required to exterminate
pests that are resistant to the old forms of pesticides.
Sports facilities maintenance
Sports facilities such as pitches and football terrains are endangered by pests too. If the
turf is not maintained properly, it will be destroyed and the field will become unusable.
Pesticides are used even there for the exterminate pests such as white grub worms, chinch bugs,
bluegrass weevils, ants and more.
Disadvantages of Chemical Pest Control

Promote evolution
We already mentioned this but it’s never useless to explain it further. The use of
chemical pesticides stimulates the pest to develop resistance to the chemicals used in the
pesticides. The resistance is based on alterations in the genetics of the vermin and every
future generation becomes increasingly pesticide-proofed. This works very well among
rodents which produce several litters per year.

Resurgence (non-precise targeting)

Resurgence happens when the use of pesticides affects the environment and disrupt
the organic pest control. The most tremendous side effects of all are when significant
animal species such as bees get killed by collateral damage after spraying with chemical
pesticides.
Another side effect of resurgence is when pest-destroying animals such as parasitoid
 wasps are killed and they pray, mostly other pest insects, no longer have a natural enemy
and start to multiply so quickly that completely overwhelm entire agriculture.

Persistent Organic Pollutants

POP, known as persistent organic pollutants, are extremely dangerous to the non-target
organism but also affect the health of people by causing cancer, infertility or problems to the
endocrine system.

Impact of Chemical Pesticides on the Environment

• Surface water contamination

• Ground water contamination
• Soil contamination
• Effects on plants
• Effects on animals
• Direct impact on humans

Classification of insecticides

Classification Based On Mode of Entry

1. Stomach poisons 2. Contact poisons

3. Systemic poisons 4. Fumigant poisons

Stomach Poison

Applied against chewing insect pest by acting on the digestive system of insect.
These Applied on leaves and other parts of plants. Available in formulations: sprays, dusts,
dips or baits.
Example

Inorganic compounds:
Lead arsenate, Paris green, Sodium flouride, Sodium cryolite, Borax etc. •
Organic compounds:
Organo chlorines, Organophosphates, Carbamates, Synthetic pyrethroids etc.
Pre-requisites for stomach poison:
a. It should not damage the foliage b. It should insoluble in water c. It should quickly kill
the insects d. It should be inexpensive e. It should be distasteful to insects f. It should be
stable g. It should not break down easily h. It should have good adhering ability
Contact Poison
Kill the insects by Clogging spiracles and respiratory system. Acting as nerve or
general tissue poisons, after entering into blood through cuticle. Highly lipophilic (readily
absorbed by lipid present in epicuticle of insect exoskeleton) easily available in market.
Applied as dusts or sprays (either on bodies or to the places frequently visited by insects).
Effect the sensory organs.
Examples
Inorganic compounds:
DDT & BHC (Benzene hexa chloride)
Organic compounds:
Nicotine sulphate, Anabasine, Neem extract, Dharek extract, Rotenone etc.Derris
chinensis, Tobacco
Pre-requisites for contact poisons:
a. It should not be phytotoxic. b. It should not damage citrus inflorescence hence can’t be
applied when plants are in blossoms form. c. It should not toxic to mammals & readily
absorbed by skin d. Its wide range should be available in market.

Fumigants
A fumigant is a chemical substance which is volatile at ordinary temperature and
became gasses above 50℃. It enter in Tracheal system, circulates with hemolymph &
absorbed by body tissues. These are poisonous gasses either derived from solids or liquids
uses to kill stored grain insect pest, borers in trees & wooden structures, worms found
inside the intestine of animals. All fumigants are deadly poisonous.
 Examples
Nicotine, Hydrogen cyanide, Carbon bisulphide, Sulphur dioxide, naphthalene,
Methyl bromide etc.
Pre-requisites for Fumigants:
a. It should be volatile enough (Evaporative). b. It should penetrated deeply into store products.
c. It should be toxic or repellent to insects & mites d. It should be least toxic to humans. e. It
should not be corrosive f. It should not deteriorate seed quality g. It should not leave any toxic
residues on food stuff.
Systemic Poisons •
Chemicals when applied, are absorbed & translocated to various plant parts in amount
lethal to insects which feed on them .For insects having piercing mouth parts and suck cell
sap by proboscis. Translocation takes place by xylem vessel only (water & nutrients) .
These are harmless to natural enemies.
Examples
Stable systemic:
These chemicals do not metabolize in the system (soil/environment/plant tissue). i.e.
Sodium selenate (Na2SeO4)
Endolytic systemics:
Insecticides in which toxic compound is present in 98% in its original form, taken
by insect body. i.e. Schradan (Octa methyl tetra amide pyrophosphate)
Endo metatoxic systemics:
These Insecticides are partly or wholly metabolized into other toxicants inside the
plant themselves.