Contenido

Los insecticidas pueden clasificarse de diversas maneras según su estructura química, origen, modo o sitio de acción, vía de ingreso al organismo, comportamiento en el ambiente o en la planta, y estado de desarrollo afectado. Cada uno de estos criterios refleja una dimensión distinta del control químico y ayuda a comprender tanto la eficacia biológica como las implicancias toxicológicas y ambientales del compuesto.

According to its chemical structure

This classification groups insecticides by their molecular composition, which largely determines their mechanism of action, toxicity and environmental persistence. The main groups are:

This chemical classification is the basis on which most international regulations are organized, since it allows inferring toxicity, environmental degradation and potential cross-resistance.

According to its origin

The origin conditions the persistence, selectivity and regulatory framework of each compound.

According to its mode or site of action

The mode of action describes the general physiological process affected, while the site or mechanism of action refers to the specific molecular target.

The Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) classifies compounds into numbered groups according to this criterion, allowing effective chemical rotation strategies to be designed to avoid resistance.

In functional terms, most insecticides act on the nervous system, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, sodium channel modulators or nicotinic receptor agonists. Others interfere with chitin synthesis or shedding hormones, affecting growth and metamorphosis. There are also insecticides that alter mitochondrial respiration or destroy the intestinal epithelium of insects, such as Bacillus thuringiensis toxins.

The following table summarizes the main mode of action groups recognized by IRAC (Edition 5.1, 2024), together with their physiological targets and representative examples. [9]​.

According to its route of entry into the insect's body

Insecticides can penetrate through different physiological routes:

In practice, these pathways are usually combined, generating a multiple action of contact and ingestion.

Depending on the stage of development affected

This classification is used in applied entomology and vector control programs to adjust treatment to the life cycle of the target insect.

Modern insecticides are evaluated according to a set of criteria that combine biological efficacy, selectivity and environmental sustainability. These principles guide the design of new molecules, international regulation and integrated pest management strategies. [10]​.

Together, these criteria define the contemporary standard for chemical control: more specific, less persistent compounds with lower ecological impact, capable of maintaining effectiveness without compromising the sustainability of ecosystems or human safety.

Insecticides are used in various productive and health sectors. Its function ranges from the protection of agricultural crops to the control of disease vectors in humans and animals. The main areas of application are the following:

Human exposure to insecticides can produce acute or chronic effects, depending on the type of compound, the dose and the route of entry (cutaneous, inhalation or digestive).

Acute effects include skin and eye irritation, headaches, nausea and neuromuscular alterations, particularly associated with the use of organophosphates and carbamates, which act by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.

Chronic effects are related to prolonged exposure to low doses and may include neurological dysfunctions, endocrine disruption, genotoxicity, or potential carcinogenicity, depending on the compound and exposure conditions.

The most vulnerable groups are agricultural workers, children and pregnant people, for whom the use of personal protective equipment and occupational safety regulations is promoted. [11]​.

El uso extensivo de insecticidas ha evidenciado consecuencias ecológicas relevantes, desde la contaminación de suelos y aguas hasta la pérdida de biodiversidad. Los principales efectos ambientales se agrupan en tres niveles:.

Effects on non-target species

Some insecticides affect species other than those they are intended to control. Birds, fish, amphibians and pollinators can suffer direct or indirect poisoning by consuming contaminated prey or coming into contact with chemical residues. Aerial drift and secondary deposition amplify these effects in adjacent ecosystems.[12]​.

Contamination and bioaccumulation

Persistent insecticides can be transported by runoff or percolation, contaminating water bodies and aquifers. In the aquatic environment, these compounds are incorporated into the food chain, generating bioaccumulation in organisms and biomagnification at higher trophic levels.

The DDT case marked a historic milestone in environmental toxicology by demonstrating the persistence and effects of organic contaminants in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Its global ban under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants constitutes a critical regulatory precedent. [13]​.

Impact on biodiversity

The massive application of insecticides has contributed to the decline of pollinating insects and insectivorous birds. In the case of bees, sublethal exposures to neonicotinoids can alter foraging behavior and orientation, reducing colony success.

The widespread loss of flying insects also has an impact on the food chain, affecting populations of birds and other dependent predators. [14]​.

Contemporary management strategies seek to reduce dependence on chemical control and promote sustainable practices.[15]​ Major alternatives include:.

These practices make up the modern approach to pest control: minimizing the use of broad-spectrum insecticides, conserving natural enemies, and prioritizing environmental sustainability.[21]​.

Contenido

Los insecticidas pueden clasificarse de diversas maneras según su estructura química, origen, modo o sitio de acción, vía de ingreso al organismo, comportamiento en el ambiente o en la planta, y estado de desarrollo afectado. Cada uno de estos criterios refleja una dimensión distinta del control químico y ayuda a comprender tanto la eficacia biológica como las implicancias toxicológicas y ambientales del compuesto.

According to its chemical structure

This classification groups insecticides by their molecular composition, which largely determines their mechanism of action, toxicity and environmental persistence. The main groups are:

This chemical classification is the basis on which most international regulations are organized, since it allows inferring toxicity, environmental degradation and potential cross-resistance.

According to its origin

The origin conditions the persistence, selectivity and regulatory framework of each compound.

According to its mode or site of action

The mode of action describes the general physiological process affected, while the site or mechanism of action refers to the specific molecular target.

The Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) classifies compounds into numbered groups according to this criterion, allowing effective chemical rotation strategies to be designed to avoid resistance.

In functional terms, most insecticides act on the nervous system, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, sodium channel modulators or nicotinic receptor agonists. Others interfere with chitin synthesis or shedding hormones, affecting growth and metamorphosis. There are also insecticides that alter mitochondrial respiration or destroy the intestinal epithelium of insects, such as Bacillus thuringiensis toxins.

The following table summarizes the main mode of action groups recognized by IRAC (Edition 5.1, 2024), together with their physiological targets and representative examples. [9]​.

According to its route of entry into the insect's body

Insecticides can penetrate through different physiological routes:

In practice, these pathways are usually combined, generating a multiple action of contact and ingestion.

Depending on the stage of development affected

This classification is used in applied entomology and vector control programs to adjust treatment to the life cycle of the target insect.

Modern insecticides are evaluated according to a set of criteria that combine biological efficacy, selectivity and environmental sustainability. These principles guide the design of new molecules, international regulation and integrated pest management strategies. [10]​.

Together, these criteria define the contemporary standard for chemical control: more specific, less persistent compounds with lower ecological impact, capable of maintaining effectiveness without compromising the sustainability of ecosystems or human safety.

Insecticides are used in various productive and health sectors. Its function ranges from the protection of agricultural crops to the control of disease vectors in humans and animals. The main areas of application are the following:

Human exposure to insecticides can produce acute or chronic effects, depending on the type of compound, the dose and the route of entry (cutaneous, inhalation or digestive).

Acute effects include skin and eye irritation, headaches, nausea and neuromuscular alterations, particularly associated with the use of organophosphates and carbamates, which act by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.

Chronic effects are related to prolonged exposure to low doses and may include neurological dysfunctions, endocrine disruption, genotoxicity, or potential carcinogenicity, depending on the compound and exposure conditions.

The most vulnerable groups are agricultural workers, children and pregnant people, for whom the use of personal protective equipment and occupational safety regulations is promoted. [11]​.

El uso extensivo de insecticidas ha evidenciado consecuencias ecológicas relevantes, desde la contaminación de suelos y aguas hasta la pérdida de biodiversidad. Los principales efectos ambientales se agrupan en tres niveles:.

Effects on non-target species

Some insecticides affect species other than those they are intended to control. Birds, fish, amphibians and pollinators can suffer direct or indirect poisoning by consuming contaminated prey or coming into contact with chemical residues. Aerial drift and secondary deposition amplify these effects in adjacent ecosystems.[12]​.

Contamination and bioaccumulation

Persistent insecticides can be transported by runoff or percolation, contaminating water bodies and aquifers. In the aquatic environment, these compounds are incorporated into the food chain, generating bioaccumulation in organisms and biomagnification at higher trophic levels.

The DDT case marked a historic milestone in environmental toxicology by demonstrating the persistence and effects of organic contaminants in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Its global ban under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants constitutes a critical regulatory precedent. [13]​.

Impact on biodiversity

The massive application of insecticides has contributed to the decline of pollinating insects and insectivorous birds. In the case of bees, sublethal exposures to neonicotinoids can alter foraging behavior and orientation, reducing colony success.

The widespread loss of flying insects also has an impact on the food chain, affecting populations of birds and other dependent predators. [14]​.

Contemporary management strategies seek to reduce dependence on chemical control and promote sustainable practices.[15]​ Major alternatives include:.

These practices make up the modern approach to pest control: minimizing the use of broad-spectrum insecticides, conserving natural enemies, and prioritizing environmental sustainability.[21]​.