What kind of soap is formulated to be used as an insecticide and requires thorough coverage of infested plants?

Insecticidal soaps are specifically formulated to combat pests by disrupting their cellular membranes, leading to dehydration and death. These soaps work effectively against soft-bodied insects like aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. The effectiveness of insecticidal soaps hinges on thorough coverage; the product must make contact with the pests to achieve the desired results. This necessitates applying the soap to all surfaces of the infested plants, including the undersides of leaves where pests often reside.

Horticultural oils, while also useful in pest management, function differently by suffocating insects rather than acting through contact poisoning. Hydraulic sprayers are simply tools used to apply products and do not refer to a specific formulation. General insecticides may encompass a broad range of chemicals, but they are not exclusively soap-based and might not require the same level of coverage as insecticidal soaps do to be effective. This specificity of coverage requirement is a key factor that distinguishes insecticidal soaps from the other options.