Malathion is an insecticide in the chemical family known as organophosphates. It is used outdoors to control a wide variety of insects in agricultural settings and around peoples homes. Malathion has also been used in public health mosquito control and fruit fly eradication programs. Malathion may also be found in some special shampoos for treating lice.
Malathion interferes with the nervous system by blocking an enzyme that normally acts as an off switch by ending the signal. Without the enzyme, the nerve keeps firing and eventually, the nervous system fails. Malathion is used both in agricultural and residential settings.
Malathion is part of an integrated overall strategy to control mosquitoes. In particular, malathion is an adulticide, used to kill adult mosquitoes. Most malathion mosquito adulticide applications (about 90%) are made by ground application (fogging equipment mounted on trucks). However, in situations of heavy mosquito presence across large geographic areas, aerial application is an important method of application.
Malathion is produced by the addition of dimethyl dithiophosphoric acid to diethyl maleate or diethyl fumarate. The compound is chiral but is used as a racemate. Malathion in low doses (0.5% preparations) is used as a treatment for head lice on humans.
Malathion is a pesticide that is used to kill insects on agricultural crops, on stored products, on golf courses, in home gardens, and in outdoor sites where trees and shrubs are grown at home. It is also used to kill mosquitoes and Mediterranean fruit flies (medflies) in large outdoor areas. Additionally, malathion is used to kill fleas on pets.
In summary, malathion is an insecticide used to control a wide variety of insects in agricultural and residential settings, as well as in public health mosquito control and fruit fly eradication programs. It is also used to treat head lice on humans and fleas on pets.
