Which class of insecticides acts on the central nervous system of insects?

The class of insecticides that acts on the central nervous system of insects is nicotinoids. These insecticides mimic the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the nervous system. This binding disrupts normal nerve signal transmission, leading to paralysis and ultimately the death of the insect. Their effectiveness is primarily due to their ability to specifically target insect receptors, making them relatively safer for non-target organisms, including humans and pets, compared to some other insecticide classes.

Other classes, such as cyclodienes, pyrethroids, and organophosphates, also affect the nervous system but do so through different mechanisms. Cyclodienes interfere with the function of the GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptors, resulting in overstimulation of the nervous system. Pyrethroids disrupt the normal functioning of sodium channels in nerve cells, which leads to prolonged nerve impulses. Organophosphates inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, causing an accumulation of acetylcholine at the synapses, which leads to excessive stimulation of the nervous system. While all these classes are neurotoxic, nicotinoids' specific action on nicotinic receptors sets them apart as a distinct method