Tetrachlorvinphos is a selective organophosphate insecticide and acaracide with contact and stomach action. It is rapidly broken down in soil and sunlight. Tetrachlorvinphos is used in the control of insect pests in fruit, cotton, maize, rice, tobacco and vegetables. In farm hygiene it is used to control flies in and around high-density animal breeding areas and in animal health as an ectoparasiticide, alone or in combination with pyrethroids on cattle to control ticks and flies. It is used in a wide variety of formulations that include emulsifiable concentrates, suspension concentrates and wettable powders.

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.