It is a formulation of the natural occurring botanical pesticides rotenone and pyrethrum. It is a powerful organic pesticide and works extremely well. Rotenone is not a stable compound and breaks down when exposed to light, heat, oxygen and alkaline water. The breakdown process happens very quickly. It is an primarily an extract from the seeds in the flower head.
Rotenone is an insect stomach and contact poison.
Insects are killed by being deprived of oxygen to the tissue cells. It takes about 2-3 days to kill insects. It is toxic to fish. Pyrethrum can kill insects rapidly at very low concentrations. Generally flying insects are killed quickly.