What does an insecticide do?

An insecticide is specifically a substance designed to kill insects, which makes this choice the most accurate description of its primary function. Insecticides can target various life stages of insects, including eggs, larvae, and adults, but the core purpose of an insecticide is its lethal action against insects.

While some forms of pest control may inadvertently affect immature life stages of insects or potentially help manage secondary pests like fungi or weedy plants, such actions are not the primary objective of an insecticide. The term "insecticide" literally means "insect killer," emphasizing its role in directly reducing insect populations through various modes of action, such as toxicity, repellency, or interference with insect development.