Historically, repellents have included smoke, plants hung in dwellings or rubbed on the skin as the fresh plant or its brews, oils, pitches, tars, and various earths applied to the body. Before a more edified approach to insect olfaction and behavior was developed, it was assumed that if a substance was repugnant to humans it would likewise be repellent to annoying insects.

In recent history, the repellents have been dimethyl phthalate, Indalone(r), Rutgers 612(r), dibutyl phthalate, various MGK(r) repellents, benzyl benzoate, the military clothing repellent (N-butyl acetanilide), dimethyl carbate (Dimelone(r)) and diethyl toluamide (DEET, Delphene(r)) (Figure 25). Of these, only DEET has survived, and is used worldwide for biting flies and mosquitos. Most of the others have lost their registrations and are no longer available.

Inorganic insecticides are those that do not contain carbon. Usually they are white crystals in their natural state, resembling the salts. They are stable chemicals, do not evaporate, and are usually water soluble.

Sulfur, mentioned in the introduction, is very likely the oldest known, effective insecticide. Sulfur and sulfur candles were burned by our great-grandparents for every conceivable purpose, from bedbug fumigation to the cleansing of a house just removed from quarantine of smallpox. Today, sulfur is a highly useful material in integrated pest management programs where target pests specificity is important. Sulfur dusts are especially toxic to mites of every variety, such as chiggers and spider mites, and to thrips and newly-hatched scale insects. Sulfur dusts and sprays are also fungicidal, particularly against powdery mildews.

Several other inorganic compounds have been used as insecticides: mercury, boron, thallium, arsenic, antimony, selenium, and fluoride. Arsenicals have included the copper arsenate, Paris green, lead arsenate, and calcium arsenate. The arsenicals uncouple oxidative phosphorylation, inhibit certain enzymes that contain sulfhydryl (-SH) groups, and coagulate protein by causing the shape or configuration of proteins to change.

The inorganic fluorides were sodium fluoride, barium fluosilicate, sodium silicofluoride, and cryolite (Kryocide(r)). Cryolite has returned in recent years as a relatively safe fruit and vegetable insecticide, used in integrated pest management programs. The fluoride ion inhibits many enzymes that contain iron, calcium, and magnesium. Several of these enzymes are involved in energy production in cells, as in the case of phosphatases and phosphorylases.

Boric acid, used against cockroaches and other crawling household pests in the 1930's and ‘40's, has also returned. As a salt, it is non-volatile and will remain effective so long as it is kept dry and in adequate concentration. Consequently, it has the longest residual activity of any insecticide used for crawling household insects, and is quite useful in the control of all cockroach species when placed in wall voids and other protected, difficult-to-reach sites. It acts as a stomach poison and insect cuticle wax absorber.

Sodium borate (disodium octaborate tetrahydrate) (Tim-Bor(r), Bora-Care(r)) resembles boric acid in its action. This water-soluble salt is used to treat lumber and other wood products to control decay fungi, termites, and other wood infesting pests.

The last group of inorganics is the silica gels or silica aerogels--light, white, fluffy, silicate dusts used for household insect control. The silica aerogels kill insects by absorbing waxes from the insect cuticle, permitting the continuous loss of water from the insect body, causing the insects to become disiccated and die from dehydration. These include Dri-Die(r), Drianone(r), and Silikil Microcel(r). Drianone(r) is fortified with pyrethrum and synergists to enhance its effectiveness.

http://ipmworld.umn.edu/chapters/ware.htm  Source of this quote

Don't need a canon to kill a mosquito