It was originally developed by Ciba-Geigy and introduced in 1952.[2] It was used as an acaricide against mites on citrus trees, including deciduous fruit trees.[3] It has been detected as a residue on tomatoes found in Japanese markets in 2005.[4] It is a non-systemic pesticide that works through contact and as a neurotoxin: it disrupts the functioning of the nervous system.