TOXICOLOGY AND MODE OF ACTION - Agrochemical and Pesticide Safety - page 128

however, only a few microbial pesticides registered for use at this time, and
their success has been limited. The best known example is the bacterium,
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which has been used with some effectiveness for
the control of certain caterpillars, flies, mosquitoes, worms, and borers.

B. CLASSIFICATION OF PESTICIDES

The names of pesticides are often confusing. We often see what appears
to be the same product referred to by a number of different names. Likewise,
different products may have similar names.

In the formulated product, there is usually a specific component of a prod-
uct that has pesticide activity. That component is the active ingredient; a par-
ticular product may contain more than one active ingredient.

It is important to read the label. Different products containing the same
active ingredient(s) are not necessarily labeled for the same uses, and different
formulation may have different toxicities.

Active ingredients are given chemical names which are directly related to
their chemical composition. This chemical name is frequently a long name,
difficult to pronounce, and difficult to use. It will normally appear on the
label, often in parentheses.

Generally, active ingredients are also assigned common names which ap-
pear on the label, frequently on the same line with and just before the chemical
name. A given chemical or common name always refers to a particular active
ingredient, regardless of the manufacturer or formulator.

Manufacturers generally give one or more specific names to each formula-
tion of a particular active ingredient; these names are referred to as trade names
or brand name. It is the trade name which appears in large letters at the top of
the label. Occasionally, the trade name is the same as the common name.

Several examples of pesticide nomenclature are given below:

1. Chemical Name: Isopropylamine salt of N-(phosphonomethyl) gly-

cine
Common Name: Glyphosate isopropylammonium
Family Name: Organophosphate
Trade Name: Accord , Pondmaster , Ranger , Roundup , etc.

2. Chemical Name: 6-chloro-N 2 -ethyl-N 4 -isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-
diamine
Common Name: Atrazine
Family Name: Triazine
Trade Names: AAtrex , Atrazine , Flotrazine , etc.