Your customers’ lawn or garden is often the first thing their guests notice when they visit. This is why any brown and dying patches caused by pests and insects, such as chinch bugs and termites, will adversely affect the exterior of your customers’ home. If ants and termites have invaded your customers’ home, it is important that they act fast in order to prevent extensive damage.
Also, note that pests and insects like mosquitoes, ants, and ticks can usually put a damper on your customers’ outdoor summer activities. And most bug killers and pesticides in the United States are formulated specifically to target just a handful of pests.
However, as there are several common household insects, such as fire ants, it often gets quite challenging for people to keep up with the many irritating pests in and around their homes.
The good news is that a few pest control options are now available to your customers that allow them to fight bugs, mosquitoes, and ticks, without hiring an expensive pest-control specialist.
What is Bifenthrin?
Bifenthrin is a well-known pyrethroid insecticide, and your customers can use it to control more than 75 different pests by affecting the nervous system of target pests. Bifen is a synthetic pyrethroid, which means that it tends to mimic the qualities of pyrethrum. Pyrethrum is naturally derived from the chrysanthemum plant. This insecticide is effective against various insects and critters. For example, your customers can use Bifen IT for mosquito control in their lawns and backyards.
While Bifen is listed as a restricted-use insecticide in the US, it is permitted to be sold for everyday use, as long as the product sold has a very low concentration of Bifen. FMC Corporation originally discovered and created this chemical.
Ingredients
Bifenthrin is a common insecticide in the US that is also considered a pyrethroid. It’s a synthetic chemical, but it has been formulated to resemble pyrethrins, which are found in chrysanthemum flowers. Pyrethroids, such as Bifenthrin, work by rapidly attacking the insect’s nervous system.
However, note that these chemicals are also very toxic to various aquatic organisms, so your customers should take great care and follow all the instructions on the package concerning where and when to spray.
What Insects does Bifenthrin Kill?
Tick and Mosquito Control
Did you know that Bifen IT is a popular choice for both mosquito and tick control? Your customers can spray their lawns with Bifen IT for tick and mosquito control. Bifenthrin is effective and combats ticks by shutting down the nervous systems, paralyzing these pesky insects, and killing them in a short period of time. It is advisable to mix 0.5 to 2 ounces per gallon. Note that the amount will depend on the density of vegetation.
Mole Cricket Control
Note that the nymphs of mole crickets can cause considerable damage to your customers’ grass, especially during the summer months. While mole cricket nymphs look like adults, they are wingless. And the nymphs are much easier to kill compared to adults. Your customers can begin treatment of the infested area with Bifen IT by the end of April. Timing is very important for mole crickets. This is because, at immature stages, mole crickets do the most damage.
Ant Control
A lot of professional pest control experts, as well as homeowners, prefer to use products containing Bifenthrin for ant control. This is due to its amazing spraying ability. Your customers can douse it over a large area in a short period. And when they are dealing with a big colony of ants, it is certainly an excellent benefit to have. This is because the insecticide wipes them out quickly and efficiently.
Flea Control
Bifen IT is also effective for flea control. Your customers can mix one oz per two to four gallons of water per 1,000 sq.ft of outside surface area in order to kill adult fleas as well as flea larvae.
For Roaches
Note that when used to kill cockroaches, bifenthrin insecticide has a residual staying power. And this means that the insecticide will kill the roaches in an area by quickly overloading their nervous system. And then it will stay for a specific period of time, continuing to work if other roaches appear in the area.
Is Bifenthrin Dangerous to Humans and Pets?
Bifen is quite safe, as long as your customers follow all safety instructions. There are a couple of guidelines they need to keep in mind. First, Bifenthrin is very toxic to various aquatic animals, as well as honey bees.
They should not spray Bifen IT immediately before rain or near the drainage ditches. While Bifenthrin can be a little toxic to some birds and very toxic to fish, it is not harmful to most pets, such as cats, when the product has dried. Also, note that Bifenthrin is safe to use in the yard as it can’t be absorbed by plant foliage.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified Bifenthrin as highly toxic on ingestion. If your customers or their children are exposed to Bifen before they have diluted it, they should contact their local poison control agency.
Where Should Your Customers Use Bifenthrin?
Bifenthrin insecticide is labeled safe for use both outdoors and indoors. Your customers can spray it in food-handling areas as well as spaces where pests and insects hide and breed, like inside crawlspaces and under appliances. They can also spray the insecticide on and around buildings, plants, lawns, and shrubs in order to eliminate the risk of infestations.
Note that because plants cannot absorb Bifen, it is safe to use the product on ornamentals as well as pristine turf. Here are some common areas for use:
- Homes
- Landscapes
- Apartments
- Restaurants
- Business complexes
- Offices
- Warehouses
Final Thoughts
When used properly and safely, Bifenthrin is a powerful tool that can help eliminate pests outside your customers’ homes, around their gardens and lawns, and even in low-traffic areas inside their houses, like the attic or the basement. Compare Bifenthrin to other insecticides and see why exterminators recommend Thermacell.
