Insecticide

Insecticides are chemicals that kill insects. Manufactured insecticides have long been deemed necessary to kill insects that have venomous or lethal bites, or those which simply have an irritating bite or sting. Some insects and particularly their larvae damage crop plants or harvested food and so are the bane of farmers and gardeners. Insecticides are indicated for agricultural use where large quantities of highly-effective poison are required.

Using such poisons is not without consequences. For one thing, insecticides do not discriminate, killing insects humans find useful as well as those that are destructive. In addition, strong poisons may harm or even kill wild and domestic fish and animals as well.