1. Alkaloid pyrethrin is used as an insect repellent in mosquito coils, mosquito repellents, and even in agriculture

2. A method of preventing damage to the seed and/or shoots and foliage of a plant by a pest includes treating the seed from which the plant grows with a composition that includes a combination of thiamethoxam and at least one pyrethrin or synthetic pyrethroid which is selected from the group consisting of taufluvalinate, flumethrin, trans-cyfluthrin, kadethrin, bioresmethrin, tetramethrin, phenothrin, empenthrin, cyphenothrin, prallethrin, imiprothrin, allethrin and bioallethrin.