A
"synthetic pyrethroid" refers to a human-made chemical compound that is used to kill insects. It is designed to imitate the natural insecticide found in chrysanthemum flowers, known as pyrethrin. These
synthetic pyrethroids are used in insecticides and pest control products to effectively eliminate pests in homes, gardens, or agricultural fields.
Full definition
Up to a half of all sheep farmers in Britain are thought to have switched to dipping their animals
in synthetic pyrethroids in the past two years.
They were spraying brown locust nymphs (Locustana pardalina) with different amounts of deltamethrin,
a synthetic pyrethroid, to see how the death rate of poisoned insects was affected by the weather.
Synthetic pyrethroids are chemically similar to the toxin pyrethrum, which is found in the flowers of a species of African chrysanthemum.
Both are potent anti-flea chemicals, but
synthetic pyrethroids are designed to be more powerful and long - lasting than naturally occurring pyrethrins.
Deltamethrin,
a synthetic pyrethroid, is one of the safest insecticides out there with minimal effects on both humans and pets.
Flea control products containing this insecticide (natural pyrethrins,
synthetic pyrethroids, allethrin, resmethrin, and permethrin) are labeled «non-toxic.»
Better Safe Than Sorry Unlike chemical pesticides, natural pyrethrins,
synthetic pyrethroid and citrus products do not accumulate in the body and therefore can be used repeatedly.
The second active ingredient is Permethrin,
a synthetic pyrethroid, which gives residual control of fleas.