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Insecticides are chemical or biological agents formulated to kill or control insect pests that damage crops. By targeting insects that feed on leaves, stems, fruits, or roots, insecticides help maintain plant health, improve yields, and safeguard quality.
 

How Insecticides Work
 

  1. Contact Action : The insecticide kills insects when they come into contact with treated surfaces.

  2. Stomach Action : Insects ingest the chemical when they feed on the plant, disrupting digestion or metabolism.

  3. Systemic Action : The plant absorbs the insecticide and transports it through its tissues. Insects that suck sap ingest a lethal dose.

Types of Insecticides

  • Organochlorines (e.g., endosulfan) – broad-spectrum, long-lasting

  • Organophosphates (e.g., chlorpyrifos) – disrupt insect nervous system

  • Carbamates (e.g., carbaryl) – similar mode to organophosphates, but shorter persistence

  • Neonicotinoids (e.g., imidacloprid) – systemic, effective against sap-sucking pests

  • Biopesticides (e.g., Bacillus thuringiensis) – derived from natural organisms, target-specific
     

Benefits for General Crops

  • Reduced Leaf and Fruit Damage: Keeps foliage intact for photosynthesis.

  • Higher Yields: Fewer pests mean more energy goes into fruit/seed production.

  • Improved Quality: Crops are cleaner, with fewer blemishes or bore holes.

  • Cost Savings: Limits the need for repeated hand-picking or mechanical controls.
     

Insecticide Use in Sugarcane

Sugarcane is attacked by several key pests that can drastically lower sugar content and stalk health:

 

Pest

Damage

Common Insecticide(s)

Sugarcane borer

Tunnels inside stalks → weakens cane, reduces yield

Chlorantraniliprole, Carbofuran

Top borer

Feeds on growing tip → “dead heart” in young canes

Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam

White grub

Feeds on roots → stunted growth, lodging

Fipronil, Chlorpyrifos

Termites

Attacks roots and stubble → plant death

Chlorpyrifos soil drench