What is the primary purpose of insecticides?

The primary purpose of insecticides is to control or eliminate insect pests. These chemicals are specifically formulated to target harmful insects that can damage crops, spread diseases, and adversely affect the health of plants and ecosystems. Insecticides work by disrupting the biological processes of pests, leading to their death or deterring them from feeding on plants. This helps protect agricultural yields and ensures that crops can grow healthily without the detrimental impact of insect infestations.

In contrast, other options do not align with the primary function of insecticides. Enhancing plant growth, for instance, typically involves the use of fertilizers, which supply essential nutrients to the plants but do not directly deal with pest control. Promoting insect reproduction is counterproductive to the goals of pest management since it would only increase the population of potentially harmful insects. Fertilizing the soil is also outside the scope of what insecticides are designed to do as their purpose revolves solely around the management of insect pests.