What is a synthetic insecticide that mimics pyrethrin?

The correct choice, which identifies a synthetic insecticide that mimics pyrethrin, is pyrethroid. Pyrethroids are chemically modified versions of pyrethrins, which are naturally occurring insecticides derived from chrysanthemums. They retain the properties that make pyrethrins effective in controlling a wide range of pests, including their rapid knockdown effect and low toxicity to humans and mammals.

Pyrethroids have been designed to enhance persistence and effectiveness, resulting in a longer residual activity in the environment compared to their natural counterparts. This makes them widely used in agricultural, residential, and commercial pest management.

In contrast, the other options represent different classes of insecticides with distinct modes of action and chemical structures. For example, organophosphates and carbamates inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, disrupting normal nervous system function, while chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as DDT, have a different mechanism of action involving interference with nerve impulses. None of these options mimic pyrethrin in the same way that pyrethroids do.