Diazinon is a cholinesterase inhibitor, a non-systemic insecticide and acaricide with contact, stomach and respiratory action used in crop protection against chewing and sucking insects, in forestry, locust control, seed treatment, mushroom cultivation, animal health and public health. Controls lice, mites, fleas, cockroaches, bedbugs and ants. Formulation types include granules, wettable powders, emulsifiable concentrates, dusting powders, capsule suspensions, aerosols and coating agents.

It can be used on its own or in combination with other insecticides and the synergist piperonal butoxide that enhances the activity of an insecticide and assists in overcoming metabolic (detoxification) resistance.