What is the difference between an insecticide and a pesticide?

A pesticide is a chemical used to kill fungi, insects, plants, bacteria, mollusks, arachnids, or rodents. An insecticide is specially designed to work on the biochemistry unique to insects exclusively. So, an insecticide is a pesticide, but a pesticide is not always an insecticide. Organic product specialist Stephanie Boone, founder and CEO of BOON Technologies, notes that the EPA doesn’t sanction the use of terms “all natural” or “organic.” Instead, she suggests you read the ingredients. A “clean” label lists the ingredients listed with the amounts instead of just “inert ingredients.”

Where can you use an insecticide?

Insecticides will have have specific instructions detailing where they can be used. They will specify whether they are for indoor or outdoor use. Insecticides are specially designed to target niche areas, such as flower beds or vegetable gardens. Those intended for indoor use may contain chemicals that are less harsh.

How long does an insecticide application last?

The lasting quality of applications varies tremendously. Many insecticides that are designed to keep pests outside homes promise up to a year in protection, with others offering six to twelve weeks. Systemic insecticides for flowers and gardens should provide you with at least a few weeks of protection from insect visitors.

The 8 Best Insecticides of 2023

Commerce Photo Composite — The Spruce / Sabrina Jiang

The best landscaping in the world is no match for hungry pests! Fortunately, you can choose among many. If your yard seems like it is always at war with invading insects, mites, and snails, fear not, because there are numerous products out there to lead you toward victory.

We also spoke to organic product specialist Stephanie Boone, founder and CEO of BOON Technologies, a biopesticide research and development company focused on licensing technology to commercial and consumer markets. She reminds us that the “benefit of using plant based products is ensuring safety for pets, family, and the environment.”

To help navigate the lofty world of insecticides, we rounded up the best available options on the market, both synthetic and organic, to suit just about every area of your landscape. Our top pick in this category is Bionide’s Captain Jack’s DeadBug Brew, which contains the well-researched ingredient spinosad, a natural substance that is low in toxicity for people and mammals (like cats and dogs).

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Bonide Dead Bug Brew at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best For Garden Beds:

BioAdvanced 3-in-1 Insect Disease and Mite Control at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Indoor:

Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Organic:

Natria Neem Oil Spray at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Lawn:

Wondercide Outdoor Pest Control at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Granular:

Bonide Insect Control Systemic Granules at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Professionals:

FMC 3/4 Gal-Multi Use Insecticide at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Powder:

DiatomaceousEarth 10 lbs Food Grade at Amazon

Jump to Review

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQs
Why Trust the Spruce

4.7

Home Depot

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What We Like

No synthetic chemicals
Can be used around children, pets
Can be used around edibles
Easy application

What We Don't Like

Collateral damage to beneficial species

We are big fans of Bionide’s natural pest control line. The manufacturer claims it can kill a wide variety of pests, such as borers, beetles, caterpillars, leaf miners, and many, many more. You can apply DeadBug Brew to about any plant in the landscape, because its main ingredient is spinosad, a natural substance that harmful to insects but not to plants or mammals.

The spray format is easy to use and can be used on vegetables and fruit you plan on consuming. I personally use it to control leaf miners and thrip on squash, tomatoes, and okra. It can also be used for bagworms, mealybugs, and every gardener’s favorite, aphids.

If you want to ensure you are protecting beneficial insects like pollinators, apply with caution as it is a broad-spectrum insecticide.

Price at time of publish: $13

_{Application Type: Spray | Location: Garden, ornamentals, trees | Target Pest: Broad-spectrum | Coverage Area: 1,000 square feet}

BioAdvanced 32 oz. Ready-to-Spray 3-in-1 Insect Disease and Mite Control

Amazon

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What We Like

Well-researched product
Offers mite and fungi control
Rainproof
Controls a wide range of pests

What We Don't Like

Can harm beneficial insects

This garden spray features imidacloprid, an insecticide that has been available in products in the United States since 1994. Imidacloprid is broad-spectrum, meaning it combats a wide variety of insects. Coming in a spray or a concentrate form, both are easy to use and offered at an affordable price point, frequently under $10.

The three-in-one product name refers to a few extra chemicals that fight fungi and even arachnids such as mites, which traditional insecticides do not cover, and common pathogens such as rose black spot, anthracnose, and powdery mildew. Rainproof in minutes, you need fewer applications.

Imidacloprid is not to be used where pets frequent your yard. Also, since this is a broad-spectrum insecticide, it can harm all insects, including butterflies and bees. If you want to preserve pollinators and beneficial bad bug predators, be sure to spray targeted plants with care.

Price at time of publish: $8

_{Application Type: Spray | Location: Yard | Target Pest: Broad-spectrum, over 30 pests | Coverage Area: 5,000 square feet (about the area of a basketball court).}

Amazon

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What We Like

Easy to use
Can be used indoors and outdoors
Inexpensive

What We Don't Like

Not to be used around pets

The year-round warm temperatures of your home make it an insect paradise. To ensure that insects do not make your home their next vacation destination, Ortho Home Defense insect killer offers protection on the indoor and outdoor front. Acting first as a perimeter barrier, it can be applied within 12-inch strips around the home.

On the inside, use the handy wand applicator to apply a 4-inch barrier underneath cabinets, along baseboards, and behind appliances. Once in place, control lasts up to twelve months. We noted the wand as a highlight. It was easy to angle and apply the product, feeling like a wizard while helping to rid the home of cockroaches and ants.

Price at time of publish: $18

_{Application Type: Spray with wand | Location: Indoors and outdoors | Target Pest: Household pests including ants, roaches, flies | Coverage Area: 20,000 square feet | Concentrate or Ready to Use? Ready to use}

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Courtesy of Walmart

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What We Like

No synthetic chemicals
Can be used around children, pets
Multiple uses
Can use indoors and outdoors

What We Don't Like

Requires accuracy and timing

Neem oil has been used for centuries for everything from personal care to rust control. Coming from the neem tree, it does not get more natural than neem oil. It also happens to be incredibly affordable.

This pesticide works well on insects, but it also moonlights as an excellent fungicide. I use Natira Neem oil to treat outbreaks of rust fungi on my edible figs and blooming plumerias each year. If you want to treat a fungal outbreak, the same rules of application apply, making sure you cover the fungi entirely. It is not a silver bullet, but it does offer multi-purpose protection for both indoor and outdoor plants.

Price at time of publish: $13

_{Application Type: Spray | Location: Indoors and outdoors | Target Pests: Most insects, Mites, fungi | Coverage Area: 1,000 square feet | Concentrate or Ready to Use? Ready to use}

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Like

Offers greater distance coverage
No re-entry period necessary
Effective against mosquitoes

What We Don't Like

Works best with a backpack sprayer
May need several applications

For those who are not gardeners but still want to enjoy their backyards pest-free, this cedar-oil-based treatment and staple of natural pest control for pets can be applied directly to the lawn, with no wait time for re-entry. The 32-ounce concentrate covers up to 21,000 square feet, making it a breeze to hit the entire backyard at once.

If mosquitoes are keeping you indoors, this product also keeps those at bay. You should apply several times on a schedule to ensure summer-long control. No need to wait to get back outdoors, as this product can be used while pets and people are in the yard.

Price at time of publish: $75

_{Application Type: Spray | Location: Lawn | Target Pests: Roaches, ants, spiders, mosquitoes, ticks, fleas | Coverage Area: 21,000 square feet | Concentrate or Ready to Use?: Concentrate}

Amazon

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What We Like

Offers greater distance coverage
No spraying necessary
Easy to use
Effective against most pests

What We Don't Like

Not for use on edibles
May need several applications

If spraying chemicals is something you are hoping to avoid, granular formulas offer equal control and are simple to use. Once applied, the granules are watered into the soil, where they are slowly absorbed by plants, offering protection against any insect wanting a snack. These systemic granules contain imidacloprid, which can kill many varieties of insects. The formula can be used in flower beds, around trees, and on the lawn, if they are in areas children and pets are unlikely to discover them.

These granules are not meant to be used on edibles and cannot be applied in vegetable gardens or around fruit trees. The granules last up to eight weeks (about two months), and we recommend that you apply them multiple times throughout the growing season.

Price at time of publish: $27

_{Application Type: Granular | Location: Lawn, flower beds, around trees | Target Pest: Lawn, flower beds, Around trees | Coverage Area: 20,000 square feet | Concentrate or Ready to Use? Ready to use}

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FMC Talstar Pro 3/4 Gal-Multi Use Insecticide

Amazon

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What We Like

Easy to use
Offers months of control
No odor
Effective against many pests

What We Don't Like

Can only purchase in bulk

Talstar is the insecticide of choice for pest control professionals. It contains bifenthrin, which is effective against a wide range of home-invading and garden-feeding insects. Easy to mix with water, it has no noticeable odor, dries quickly, and offers months of protection.

Typically applied as a barrier spray around homes, this can also be used directly on plants such as ornamental shrubs and trees. It should not be used on edibles, and pets and children should be kept out of the area until it is dry.

Since you are buying the professionals' choice, Talstar is currently only available in bulk quantities.

Price at time of publish: $55

_{Application Type: Spray | Location: Around home, ornamentals, trees | Target Pest: Broad-spectrum | Coverage Area: 20,000 square feet}

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Like

Easy to use
Protects for several days
Can be used around pets, kids
Effective indoors, outdoors

What We Don't Like

Works the best when dry
Dust can blow away

Diatomaceous earth is composed of diatoms (plankton) fossils and has myriad uses, including paints, toothpastes, and water filters. It also happens to make a great multi-pest control.

While hard for the eye to detect, the diatoms have sharp edges that prevent insects from being able to walk over them, stopping them in their tracks. When applied around the perimeter of a home or the garden, it offers control from ground dwelling insects like beetles and roaches.

Diatomaceous earth is one of the few products out there that may be effective against snails. Since snails are mollusks, insecticides are not designed for their control, and there are few safe options on the market.

We note that if you reside in one of the wetter states, diatomaceous earth turns to sludge when moistened. It is best to apply on days where rain is not in the forecast.

Price at time of publish: $25

_{Application Type: Powder | Location: Indoors or outdoors | Target Pest: Ground-dwelling insects, arachnids, and snails | Coverage Area: 10 lbs, about 5,000 ft. | Concentrate or Ready to Use? Ready to use}

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Type

Insecticides are sold in typically four different formats: sprays, concentrates, powders, and granules.

Sprays have the benefit of being ready to use and require no extra mixing. As a result, their price point is a little bit higher and you receive less at the time of purchase. For small plants or indoor use, this is ideal.

Concentrates give you the most for your dollar, with you having to do the math and make the dilutions. If you have the equipment to spray, such as a pump or backpack sprayer, this can be a cost-effective method.

Powders, such as diatomaceous earth, are applied during dry periods, usually around perimeters or around garden beds. Once wet, they lose some of their effectiveness.

Granules are simple to apply, usually just shaken directly from the canister, and can be used both indoors and outdoors, depending on instructions. Sometimes these need to be watered in to ensure absorption by the plant roots.

Targeted Insects

Many common pests, such as aphids, are becoming more resistant to several insecticides that have been on the market for many years. Finding the best insecticide for your targeted pest requires some research. If you are dealing with multiple kinds of insect pests, employing one of these is most effective.

Coverage Area

Many insecticides are designed for specific locations throughout the yard and say on their packages whether they are intended for lawn or for flowerbed use. Sprays are best for small areas, where maybe a few plants are infested, whereas granules can easily be spread over larger areas.

Longevity

When dealing with insecticides, especially those carrying toxic chemicals, longevity is important. Many of the original insecticides that were commonly used are no longer available for sale, so perhaps even those that the EPA allows for home use today shouldn’t persist in the environment for long periods. It is also important to read labels carefully, as factors such as rain can influence how long insecticides work and last in your landscape.

FAQ

What is the difference between an insecticide and a pesticide?

A pesticide is a chemical used to kill fungi, insects, plants, bacteria, mollusks, arachnids, or rodents. An insecticide is specially designed to work on the biochemistry unique to insects exclusively. So, an insecticide is a pesticide, but a pesticide is not always an insecticide. Organic product specialist Stephanie Boone, founder and CEO of BOON Technologies, notes that the EPA doesn’t sanction the use of terms “all natural” or “organic.” Instead, she suggests you read the ingredients. A “clean” label lists the ingredients listed with the amounts instead of just “inert ingredients.”
Where can you use an insecticide?

Insecticides will have have specific instructions detailing where they can be used. They will specify whether they are for indoor or outdoor use. Insecticides are specially designed to target niche areas, such as flower beds or vegetable gardens. Those intended for indoor use may contain chemicals that are less harsh.
How long does an insecticide application last?

The lasting quality of applications varies tremendously. Many insecticides that are designed to keep pests outside homes promise up to a year in protection, with others offering six to twelve weeks. Systemic insecticides for flowers and gardens should provide you with at least a few weeks of protection from insect visitors.

This article was written by Amanda Rose Newton, a freelance writer and garden reviewer for The Spruce. As an entomologist, she delighted in personally testing out the products above in order to provide advice to those with different needs, yards, and values when it comes to pest control.

To make this list, Newton tested each product over the course of three weeks, both around the home and in the garden. She also considered the difficulty in application, dilution, and tested longevity. As an avid home gardener, many of the recommended products are her own personal favorites. She also talked with Stephanie Boone, founder and CEO of BOON Technologies, a biopesticide research and development company focused on licensing technology to commercial and consumer markets.

The 7 Best Organic Pesticides of 2023