This glossary is only intended to provide definitions or explanations of terms that are used in the Compendium. It is not intended to define or explain every technical term that is used in association with pesticides or pest control.
A pesticide that is used to kill mites and ticks, or to disrupt their growth or development.
The chemical in a pesticide formulation that kills or otherwise controls a pest or a weed. The remainder of a formulated pesticide is one or more inert ingredients.
A pesticide that is used to kill or inhibit algae.
An active ingredient that is isolated from or produced by a microorganism (e.g. a bacterium or a fungus), or a related chemical that is produced artificially.
A pesticide that prevents an insect or other pest from feeding.
A pesticide that is used to kill or inhibit bacteria in plants or soil. (Chemicals that kill bacteria for medical or veterinary applications are termed “antibacterial agents”; they are classed as pharmaceuticals and so are not included in the Compendium.)
A chemical that occurs naturally in an organism, or an identical substance that has been made artificially.
A naturally-occurring substance that controls pests by a mechanism other than toxicity. Examples include sex pheromones that are used as mating disrupters for insect pests, and plant extracts that are used as attractants to lure insect pests to traps or that are used as insect repellents.
A chemical that deters birds from approaching or feeding on crops or stored products.
A name used by a pesticide manufacturer or supplier for a formulation, and the most prominent name on product labels and in advertisements. Often a registered trade mark.
A chemical that renders an insect infertile and thus prevents it from reproducing. Some insects that mate only once can be controlled or eradicated by releasing huge numbers of sterilised insects.
A relatively short name for a pesticide, approved by either an international body such as ISO (International Organization for Standardization) or by a national body such as ANSI (American National Standards Institute).
A plant growth regulator that causes the leaves or other foliage to drop from a plant, usually to facilitate harvest.
An insecticide that kills insect pests by damaging their cuticle thus causing them to dehydrate, or a herbicide that promotes the drying of living plant tissues, such as unwanted plant tops.
A pesticide that is (or produces) a gas or vapour that is used to kill pests (including weeds) in soil, stored products or buildings.
A pesticide that is used to kill fungi in plants, stored products or soil, or to inhibit their development. (Chemicals that kill fungi for medical or veterinary applications are termed “antifungal agents”; they are classed as pharmaceuticals and so are not included in the Compendium.)
A pesticide that is used to kill plants, or to inhibit their growth or development. Also known as weedkillers.
A chemical that protects crops from injury by herbicides, but does not prevent the herbicide from killing weeds.
A substance that is not an active ingredient and that is included in a formulation for reasons other than pesticidal activity. Functions of inert ingredients include diluting the pesticide, making it safer, making it more effective, making it easier to measure and mix, making it easier to apply, and making it more convenient to handle. Despite being called “inert” and not being toxic to pests, these substances can be biologically or chemically active, and can cause environmental and health problems. In some countries, they are listed on the label.
A chemical that lures insects to a trap, thereby removing them from crops, animals or stored products.
insect growth regulator
An insecticide that works by disrupting the growth or development of an insect.
A pesticide that is used to kill insects, or to disrupt their growth or development.
A chemical that deters an insect from landing on a human or an animal.
A biochemical that occurs in insects and regulates their development. Can be used to control some insects by preventing larvae from developing into adults.
The printed information on the packaging of a pesticide formulation that displays the brand name, provides information about the active ingredient, gives instructions for using the product, and lists additional information as required by the registration authority.
A chemical that deters mammals from approaching or feeding on crops or stored products.
A chemical that interferes with the way that male and female insects locate each other using airborne chemicals (pheromones), thereby preventing them from reproducing.
A pesticide in which the active ingredient is a living pathogen (e.g. a bacterium, a virus or a fungus) that infects a pest and then kills or inhibits it. Microbial pesticides are not included in the Compendium. Pesticidal chemicals from pathogenic microorganisms are called antibiotic pesticides.
A pesticide in which the active ingredient is a biochemical or some other naturally-occurring substance, as opposed to a synthetic pesticide in which the active ingredient has been manufactured. It must not be assumed that natural pesticides are safe or environmentally friendly.
A pesticide that is used to kill nematodes in plants or soil. (Chemicals that kill nematodes for medical or veterinary applications are termed “anthelmintics”; they are classed as pharmaceuticals and so are not included in the Compendium.)
Any organism that a pesticide is not intended to control.
(1) A pesticide that is an organic chemical, meaning that the molecule consists mainly of a carbon skeleton plus other elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus or chlorine. By this definition, nearly all pesticides are organic, while only a few are inorganic, such as copper sulfate, cryolite, lead arsenate, mercurous chloride and phosphine. (2) A pesticide that is claimed to be environmentally friendly. By this definition, very few pesticides are organic. Claims that a pesticide is environmentally friendly should be viewed with scepticism.
Any living thing, including humans, mammals, birds, fishes, insects, snails, plants, fungi, bacteria and viruses.
Formal licensing with a government-approved body of a new pesticide formulation that allows it to be distributed and sold. Registration normally requires data that demonstrates no unreasonable adverse health or environmental effects when applied according to the directions on the label.
A chemical that is used to drive away insects, dogs or other pests.
A pesticide that is used to kill rats, mice and other rodents.
A chemical that when used in combination with a pesticide reduces its effects on non-target organisms. Only herbicide safeners have so far been produced, and these protect crops from injury by herbicides but do not prevent the herbicide from killing weeds.
A phenomenon in which a mixture of 2 chemicals exhibits higher toxicity to a pest than would be expected from their individual toxicities. Can involve either 2 pesticides, or one pesticide plus a substance that is not by itself toxic to the pest, termed a synergist.
A chemical that enhances the toxicity of a pesticide to a pest, but that is not by itself toxic to the pest.
A name that fully defines a chemical compound and is derived using a set of rules. The main rules are those produced by IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) and CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service).
The capacity of a pesticide to harm an organism by other than mechanical means. A measure of the ability of a pesticide to cause acute, delayed or allergic effects in an organism.
A pesticide that is used to kill viruses in plants. (Chemicals that kill viruses for medical or veterinary applications are termed “antiviral agents”; they are classed as pharmaceuticals and so are not included in the Compendium.)