Characteristics of pyrethroids for insect pest control in agriculture

Pyrethroid insecticides are characterised by high knockdown and lethal activity, a wide spectrum, good residual activity, together with repellent and antifeeding activity. With these characteristics, pyrethroid insecticides have become widely used for plant protection. Their major use has been for the control of bollworms and leafworms in cotton but they have also achieved widespread use for controlling various species of lepidopterous pests in fruits and vegetables, aphids in cereals, and many other minor outlets. Although the early synthetic pyrethroids suffered from a lack of activity against mites and soil pests, later additions, such as fenpropathrin, have combined high acaricidal activity with insecticidal activity and further pyrethroids are being introduced for use in soil. The extent of pyrethroid use has increased progressively since the first of the ‘photostable’ pyrethroids was registered. In 1986, the market share of pyrethroids reached 25 % of the total insecticide market for plant protection; this figure can be increased in the future.