How does the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classify chemical adult mosquito repellents?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies chemical adult mosquito repellents as insecticides because they are specifically designed to target insects, including mosquitoes, to prevent them from landing on or biting humans and animals. Insecticides are substances that are used to kill or control insects, which aligns with the primary function of these repellents.

Other classifications such as herbicides and fungicides pertain to the control of plant weeds and fungi, respectively, and do not relate to mosquitoes or other insects. Pesticides is a broader category that encompasses all substances used to kill pests, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. However, in the context of chemical repellents specifically targeting adult mosquitoes, the most accurate classification is insecticides, as they function to deter and prevent insect activity rather than merely killing them on contact.