Five Common Pest Control Chemicals… But First, Read the Label!

09 Jun.,2025

 

Five Common Pest Control Chemicals… But First, Read the Label!

Pest control is an important procedure for crop maintenance. Picking the right pesticide based on your line of work and what you are spraying can take time. We will guide you on how to read consumer product labels and identify the five most common chemicals found in pesticides.

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Behind every pesticide, there is an “active ingredient,” which is the solution producing the repelling effect. Before the chemical is sold, it needs to be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) based on toxicity levels. How pesticides cause the repelling effect to its target is attributed to a mode of action. For example, most people know that insecticides repel insects, but every chemical compound works in different ways for several situations. We always recommend to first read the label in order to inform yourself. Th​​is will help you save time and also money. It is important to look at a few things when choosing the correct pesticide:

EPA registration number

This number is the most important part of information for tracking pesticide products. It means that the EPA has approved the product, and has determined it can be used with minimal or low risk as long as you follow the directions on the label. The registration number is not a stamp, a guarantee, or approval, but it is normally found on the front panel of the pesticide label. If a non-approved chemical is out in the market severe health effects could occur.

In September , the EPA failed approving the safety of Sulfoxaflor, a systemic insecticide poisonous to insects when is rooted in plant’s tissues. The lack of information on this case study brought a suit from the environmental group Earthjustice against the EPA once the chemical was approved and sold under the trade names Transform and Closer. Commercial beekeeping trade groups warned the manufacturer Dow Agro Sciences was creating a risk to bees populations. As a result a U.S. federal court revoked approval of Sulfoxaflor due to the limited data on the chemical’s effects on bees.

Therefore, there are risk assessments that evaluate the toxicity of pesticides:

-Harm to humans, plants, wildlife species, and endangered species.

-Human health risks from short-term to long-term effects, like the development of cancer and reproductive system orders.

-Potential environmental contamination of surface water or ground water, from discharge, and spray drift.  

Safety information

The EPA also evaluates and approves the language that appears on pesticide labels. To ensure safe use, labels should provide instructions for pesticide use and storage, as well as a mandatory number to call for help or more information.

Signal Word

Check for signal words, which refer to the toxicity level of the product to humans and animals. The signal word Danger, indicates the product is corrosive and requires particular care. Warning, is an intermediate level, and can be more harmful than a “Caution” sign. Lastly, the word Caution, appears on products that are least harmful. Pay close attention to directions and warnings. Always double check to follow the correct procedure whenever using the product. Rely on the instructions that are meant to help maximize benefits, and lower risk. This will save you time to understand how and when to use it. Do not forget to check how long to wait before picking crops. Any chemical applied may last longer, requiring you to wait before picking. While the active ingredient in chemicals exist for the sole purpose of preventing or controlling pests, not all products work the same in every situation. Therefore, labels tell specific functionality of the product, and how it should be applied.

Precautionary Statements

When it comes to following instructions, some products require wearing protective clothing like gloves or goggles. Oftentimes the label will recommend to keep away from children or animals. Once the container is completely empty, there are more instructions for proper disposal.

Storage and Disposal

According to the EPA (), pesticides and insecticides labels say, “wrap in paper and place in trash.” If the main goal is to protect our crops, reasonably so we want to protect their environment with proper disposal of pesticides. Improper disposal can lead to a possible chemical reaction causing an explosion or fire. Double check, some pesticides include small foldout booklets included with the label information. Overall, pesticides require more care than people think because of the specific demands before, during, and after using them.

Additionally, keep products in their original containers. When throwing away the original bottle you are losing necessary information for the pesticide use, storage, or disposal. In some instances, products indicate to mix pesticides in a different container. Try to use all of the mixture. If you are able to, label the new container with the mixture as it will help you avoid harm in the future.

Five Most Common Pest Control Chemicals

After reading specific instructions and directions of proper use, most people miss reading the “active ingredients.” Without knowing the function of these chemicals, it is hard to know what pesticide is best suites for the goal you are trying to achieve. Let’s take a look at the five most common pest control chemicals found in pesticides:

1. Abamectin:  Most used as an insecticide and anthelmintic for agricultural and residential areas to control pests like mites, leaf miners, pear psylla, cockroaches, and fire ants. It has low toxicity to mammals, and degrades quickly in soil.

2.  Cyfluthrin: Insecticide and also common household pesticide, cyfluthrin is highly toxic to insects, aquatic organisms, and bees and is less toxic to humans. Once cyfluthrin is applied on insects, it binds to their nerve cells. By causing over-stimulation of the nervous system, common activities like feeding or motion are affected leading insects to die.

3. Fipronil: A white powder that works as an insecticide and causes a disruption to insects’ central nervous system. It also has a non-detecting ingredient, meaning insects will not feel or sense the chemical once they move into the treated area. This insecticide is commonly used to control beetles, cockroaches, ticks, termites, weevils, and other insects. In fact, there are more than 50 registered products with fipronil.

4.  Permethrin: An insecticide that belongs to the pyrethroid family. It is a synthetic chemical that is used in numerous ways and areas to control insects, from public health mosquito control programs and food crops. It is commonly used for subterranean termites, bees, beetles, cockroaches, and crickets. Additionally, it works as an insecticide and medication to treat scabies and lice.

5. Bifenthrin: An insecticide mainly used to kill insects, such as fire ants, by affecting in their nervous system. In fact this chemical has low toxicity to birds, but it is highly toxic to fish and bees.

After becoming more aware to the most common chemicals, basic tips on how to read their labels, and how they relate to your work the process of pest control will become easier. Getting familiar with pesticides will always take time and patience, but as a long as you use the right equipment with the best pesticide, you will see better results. If you have questions about pesticides or have any concerns please contact your local provider or call National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at 1-800-858- for more information.

Professional DIY Pest Control Equipment

Professional Pesticide Application Equipment

Pest control equipment are designed to make the application of chemicals for pest control easier, more convenient and less labor-intensive. The right equipment can also make things safer for applicators and the overall environment. If you’re not a professional, you should only act under the guidance of properly laid out instructions, preferably from pest control experts like us.

Solutions Pest & Lawn carries a full stock of tested, durable, professional pest control and lawn care equipment which are easy to use. Our warehouse contains wholesale pest control supplies and equipment developed by leading manufacturers such as Solo, B&G, MistAway, Curtis DynaFog among others.

Browse this section to find professional-grade hand-pump sprayers, power sprayers, backpack sprayers, dusters, animal traps, safety equipment, bee suits, and everything else you need to get the job done right. We aim to provide pesticide and herbicide equipment and other types of professional-grade supplies at the lowest prices you can find on the market.

Recommendations

There are many factors to decide on when picking out what pest control equipment you need. While what you choose may vary depending on the type of problem you have, where you have the problem, and what method of treatment product is the best solution, here we will break down the most basic necessary items needed when conducting general pest control around your home or commercial property. 

Solutions 1 Gallon Poly Sprayer

Whether you are using an insecticide product, a fungicide or a herbicide, you need to store and mix the product in a proper container and disperse the mixture efficiently. Our pump sprayer comes with a gallon tank which make it easy to pour in, agitate and mix the solution and also comes with a convenient adjustable wand so you can customize the way you want the product sprayed out. This sprayer is built to last a long time.

Hose End Sprayer

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When spraying around your lawn and garden for weeds, pests or fungi, a hose end sprayer is ideal. There's no need to lug around heavy amount of mixed product in a tank, nor do you need to pre mix solutions. This saves time and makes applying product hassle free. Hose end sprayers are also better when it comes to reach as they are great for spraying upwards on tall foliage and exterior part of your home structure.

Handheld Pesticide Duster

Dust pesticides are one of the best methods of indoor pest control as the product is able to safely reach where insects are hiding in cracks and crevices and voids.  However, if you're using the dust applicator tip that comes with the dusting container, you may have a frustrating time. That's why a handheld pesticide duster is a must-have so you can conveniently disperse the dust in a precise manner where you need it. 

Homeowner Chemical Safety Kit

Safety first! Before mixing or handling any chemicals, it is a must to protect your eyes, ears and breathing passages with PPE. This safety kit comes with all that you need (goggles, gloves, face mask) to be able to safely conduct chemical treatment applications.

User Guide

Solutions 1 Gallon Poly Sprayer

Mixing the Solutions 1 Gallon Poly Sprayer is easily. Simply dilute the product you are using with water in the sprayer tank, referring to the product label for specific amounts. Agitate the sprayer to ensure the water and product is well mixed and then pressurize the sprayer with a few pumps of the handle. After that, you are ready to spray. Simply depress the spray button found on the wand. Be sure to set your spray tip to the desired setting which can either be a cone jet as well as a pin stream spray. 

Hose End Sprayer

Hose end sprayers conveniently do not require any pre-mixing. Simply fill the reservoir to the required level to produce the desired amount of spray and then attach the sprayer to a garden hose securely. Once the sprayer is filled and secured to the end of your garden hose, turn on the water pressure, point the sprayer were you would like to spray, and push the thumb switch to the ON position. The sprayer will mix the product with water as you spray.

Handheld Pesticide Duster

Remove the metal cap from the reservoir and begin filling the duster with your chosen insecticide dust, making sure not to fill it too much. Direct the delivery spout where you intend to treat, such as inside cracks or crevices, under kitchen appliances, along baseboards at the edge of carpeting, or in wall voids. Squeeze the reservoir to apply small puffs of dust.

Homeowner Chemical Safety Kit

The homeowner safety kit comes with gloves, protective goggles, and a dust particle mask. Place these items on before carrying out any chemical mixing or application to protect yourself from potential accidents.

Inspection and Maintenance

If you want your equipment to last for the long haul, regular maintenance and inspection of parts is important. To make sure you don’t miss anything, take a structured approach of developing your equipment management program. Our general suggestions below are a basic way to examine and address issues in the fundamental parts of our pest control spraying equipment.

Solutions 1 Gallon Poly Sprayer

Clean your spraying tank periodically to clear out any chemical buildup and debris. Depending on the types of chemicals and formulations of the pesticide products, they can potentially clog lines and make it difficult for your tank to function properly. Most pumps will sustain serious damage if they run dry.

Hose End Sprayer

Due to the simple construction of the Chapin 20 Gallon Hose End Sprayer very little maintenance is required. Take care to ensure that you empty the reservoir with each use, and rinse the unit out before leaving it in an open area to dry. Store the unit in a cool, dry place between uses.

Handheld Pesticide Duster

Visually inspect your duster to ensure that it is working properly. Occasionally dusters will clog and that's why it comes with a ball bearing to place in the duster to break up dust to fix clogging issues. When not in use, store the duster in a cool, dry place.

Homeowner Chemical Safety Kit

When it comes to the gloves in the kit, check to ensure there are no rips, tears, or other damage that could allow chemicals to pass through and make contact with your skin. For eye protection, make sure there is no damage and ensure any straps or fasteners are in good condition. In the case of respirators or masks, inspect filters, if any, and replace if needed.

Parts

Solutions 1 Gallon Poly Sprayer

Handheld Pump Sprayers consist of the pump, the reservoir, the hose, the wand, and the spray tip. The pump is what pressurizes the sprayer to efficiently spray the mixed product. The reservoir houses the mixed pesticide product. The hose is what transfers the mixed solution in the tank to the spraying wand for application and the spraying tip (which is adjustable) is what focuses the spray. The tip can be adjusted to different settings such as a pin stream, cone-shaped or fan spray.

Hose End Sprayer

The Chapin 20 Gallon Hose End Sprayer consists of the reservoir, the fitting, the fingertip on/off control, and the nozzle. The reservoir holds the pesticide concentrate. The fitting is what attaches to a garden hose. The on/off control is a switch flipped to allow water to be mixed with the pesticide before spraying out and finally, the nozzle is where the spray solutions come out.

Handheld Pesticide Duster

It has an internal spring system that allows the applicator to apply dust while holding the duster at any angle, a reservoir for dust, 6.5-inch long delivery spout, and a plastic end cap that covers the delivery spot to prevent dust waste and leakage.

Homeowner Chemical Safety Kit

The homeowner safety kit comes with gloves, protective goggles, and a dust particle mask.

Part Replacement

In addition to our offerings of pest control equipment and wholesale pest control supplies, we offer hard-to-find equipment parts and accessories to replace older equipment parts that have been worn down. Why hurt your budget by buying an entirely new piece of equipment when you can simply replace broken down parts and get it up and running again? Solutions carries these parts to save you time and money so you can get the most out of the equipment you purchase from us.

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Key Takeaways