1.0 Introduction
Insecticides are agents, or preparation for destroying insects and related animals by disruption of vital processes through chemical action. To be more precise, insecticides are materials used for the metigation, control or elimination of insects or animals that are detrimental to human health and economy.
Recent discoveries of new synthetic insecticides led to major advances in insecticide technology. Coupled with development in aerosol biophysics, highly active chemicals can now be effectively applied to target species to give maximum control of insect peste. Armed with these techniques man is able to subdue and control pest of agricultural, veterinary and public health importance.
Research scientist have developed a range of insecticides formulations, each specifically designed to combat insect pest affecting man's health, livestock or economy with maximum safety and efficiency.
Chemically, insecticides may be of organic or inorganic origin. Also they possess different methods of action and could be classified according to these different methods of action such as stomach poisoning, contact poisoning, residual poisoning, system poisoning, fumigants, repellants or attractants. Contact poison insecticides, being the one of most interest, kill following external bodily contact.
The design of an aerosol insecticide should depend on the nature of the target organism. it is possible to design a “general insect” killing aerosol but such product are by their very nature a compromise, and are thus inferior to products specially formulated for use against specific targets. Certain formulations which are extremely effective against flying insects may give poor control of crewing insects and, conversely, crawling insect killing aerosols may have little action against flying insect. Aerosol insecticides used against flying insect are specifically formulated to induce immediate paralysis and knockdown of flies, mosquitoes and wasp ect. Knockdown follows from the paralytic action of an insecticide christened on insect muscles responsible for flight. These insecticides may be applied as a spray if liquid or in suspension, as a dust or as a gas.
The qualities and performance of aerosol insecticides are largely dependent on the properties of its constitutuents and the ratio of these constitutuents in the final products. Records shows that insecticides were used as long as 1000 B.C. However, they were more often useless than useful since they were based on legend and superstition rather than on scientific knowledge. The essential property of early insecticides was a disagreeable or dour rather than the toxic or poisonous nature.
Aerosol insecticides from available local raw materials must meet the present need for a high standard of performance so as to cater satisfactorily for the needs of the society. Besides, the insecticides produced should conform to be amendments in the federal insecticide, fungicides and Rodenticide Act of 1972 and that of the federal environmental protection Agency Act of 1994. The overview of the conformity to the Acts is that the insecticides produced should be effective and environmental friendly.
The purpose of this work is to seek alternative local inputs for the development, formulation and production of aerosol insecticide, as well as testing of the complete aerosol insecticide that will effectively complete with other aerosol insecticides made from imported raw materials or synthetic raw materials.
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