
Malathion, also known as carbophos, maldison, and mercaptothion, is an organophosphate insecticide with relatively low human toxicity. It is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, a diverse family of chemicals that includes sarin and carbaryl. In agricultural production, it is widely adopted to control diverse types of insects such as aphids, leafhoppers, and Japanese beetles on a variety of food and feed crops such as blueberries, limes, cotton, cherries, garlic, dates, and celery. It also controls broad spectrum of other insects including ants, fleas, fruit flies, hornets, mites, moths, spiders, thrips, ticks, and weevil. Moreover, its residential uses include vegetable gardens, fruit trees, variety of ornamentals, and in public health pest controls programs to control mosquito-borne illness.