Carbaryl is a carbamate insecticide used to control a broad spectrum of chewing and sucking insects on fruits, vegetables and ornamentals. It acts by inhibiting insect cholinesterase, paralyzing and killing the pests. One of the oldest carbamates in agricultural use, it has been widely applied in orchards, gardens and public-health programmes. Like all pesticides, it must be applied according to label directions, with pre-harvest intervals observed so that residues in harvested food stay within legal maximum limits. Home gardeners once used it widely, but many have shifted to lower-risk alternatives as guidance has evolved.