What is a pesticide formulation primarily composed of?

A pesticide formulation is primarily composed of both active ingredients and inert ingredients. The active ingredients are the substances responsible for the pesticide's effectiveness in controlling pests, while inert ingredients serve various purposes, such as enhancing the product's stability, effectiveness, handling, or application characteristics. The combination of both types of ingredients is essential for creating a product that not only provides effective pest control but is also safe and user-friendly when applied according to instructions.

While active ingredients are crucial for the efficacy of the pesticide, they alone would not result in a practical formulation for real-world use. Similarly, inert ingredients alone do not provide any pest control but are essential for the overall performance of the pesticide. Therefore, recognizing that both active and inert ingredients are necessary components of a pesticide formulation is key to understanding how pesticides are designed and function.