Yes, Demon Max would be a good option for cicada killer wasps. The mixing rate is 1.3 fl oz per gallon of water. You will apply directly to the soil where the wasps are nesting.
Cicada Killer wasps thrive in disturbed environments, such as landscaped yards and places where bare soil is exposed. You can discourage the wasps from nesting in your yard by cutting your grass on the highest setting and by adding a thick layer of mulch to flower beds during the Cicada Killer Wasp season. These wasps do not like over saturated lawns either, so over watering during their season will help prevent them. Unfortunately, there is no fool proof way to prevent cicada killer wasps.For prevention you can try to use a granular insecticide such as Talstar PL Granules in the couple of weeks before this pest is known to emerge. For current infestations, you can also use Delta Dust in each individual burrow.
We also like to let our customers know that the Cicada Killer wasps are beneficial insects that provide free pest control for a couple months each year. Cicada killer wasps paralyze and provision their burrows with other insects to feed their young. The beneficial Cicada killer wasps, while large and intimidating to see, are mostly harmless and there have been very few reports of anyone getting stung by just being near them. In most cases where a sting was reported, the wasps were being held or molested in some way. Cicada Killer Wasp stings are also reported to be almost painless.
Demon Max will kill ticks when used as directed on the product label. It is pet safe also when used as directed on the label. Pets should be out of the area during treatment until dry. Please refer to our guide here on the best advice on treating for ticks.
Any of these insecticides would be a good choice for perimeter control of crawling pests. You would not need to mix insecticids as these all have similar active ingredients, and using too much may cause pests to avoid the area rather than coming into contact with the application. An advantage to using either Demand CS or Temprid SC is that these are both water-based, rather than oil-based insecticides. They will have much less odor and can be used safely indoors as crack and crevice and/or spot treatments.
Please see our General Pest Prevention Guide for more information.
For Termite Treatments, you will need to apply products much differently. Please view our Termite Pest Guide for more information about how to Identify, Inspect, Treat, and Prevent Termite Infestations.
Yes, Demon Max is labeled for fire ants. Per the product label you would want to use the Drench Method (Ant Mounds, Fire Ants): Apply 1-2 gal of 0.1% Demon Max emulsion to each mound area by sprinkling the mound until it is wet. Treat a 2 ft diameter circle around the mound. For mounds larger than 12 inches, the higher volume and wider treatment diameter (up to 4 ft) may be needed. For best results, apply in cool weather, such as in early morning or late evening hours, but not in the heat of the day. We also recommend you take a minute to look over our guide on How to Control Fire Ants.
No, Demon Max is not labeled for use on animals for flea or other insect control. We do carry Martins Permethrin 10% that can be mixed at 8 ozs. in 12.5 gals. of water for a flea dip on dogs.
Demon Max can be used on hibiscus and other flowering plants. You should apply in the early morning or in the evening (not in the heat of the day) to avoid any accidental burning of foliage.
Demon Max is not labeled for use on or around any edible vegetation.
For effective control, you should reapply Demon WP or Demon Max (they each contain the same active ingredient- WP will dry with a white film to surfaces treated) every 4 weeks through the carpenter bee season. Usually carpenter bees come twice a year, once in the spring and then again in early fall. Please take a few moments to review our treatment article on How to Get Rid of Carpenter Bees for a successful program.
Demon Max should not be mixed with Talstar and Cy-Kick CS. Each product should be used alone with water. Mixing insecticides like this could cause the products to be less effective. Cy-Kick CS will give you the longest residual as it is microencapsulated.
Demon Max will kill most species of cockroaches, including German cockroaches. Please take a look at our Roach Control Guide for more information on doing a complete roach treatment.
The treated areas should be cleaned prior to application of Demon Max. It is recommended that you treat indoor cracks and crevices including the baseboards, behind the refrigerator etc. We do NOT recommend applying to the counter tops or prep surface areas with the product. Those areas should be cleaned with regular household products not insecticides. We recommend that you clean out cabinets and drawers and apply a professional roach bait gel to the crevices. For more information on treating roaches, please click on the links below.
Demon Max is not labeled for bed bugs. We normally recommend using one of our Bed Bug Kits to ensure that you have everything you need for a complete treatment. Please take a moment to look over our Bed Bug Guide for more information.
Demon Max would bond to the soil for up to 5 years. While it is labeled to be used in a trench application for termite control, it is not a recommended product to treat and/or prevent termites. Demon Max will only kill termites that contact treated areas, it is not able to be transferred throughout the colony to eradicate an entire colony. Taurus SC or Termidor SC are the products of choice for subterranean termite treatment. They will bond to the soil for up to 10 years and are able to be transferred throughout the colony by the affected termites to eradicate the entire colony.
Demon will last up to 30 days on outside surfaces depending on the rain and sun exposure but is not actually labeled for grasshoppers.
Talstar P would be a good choice for grasshopper control and will last up to 30 days as well. You should start applications before the grasshoppers have a chance to hatch for best control. You should thoroughly spray your lawn and water in the application with about a .25 in of water to help the product get past the thatch layer and into the soil where grass hoppers actually develop. If you already have grasshoppers you can use Talstar P at the highest usage rate of 1 oz of product per 1 gallon of water for the quickest knockdown. Use sufficient amounts of water to help the product get to the soil layers.
Demon Max is a great product to control a broad spectrum of insects including earwigs. We usually do not recommend an oil based product such as Demon Max for indoor use due to temporary staining and odor that it leaves. For indoors, I would recommend using an water based product labeled for earwigs such as Suspend SC, which has virtually no odor or staining. Apply as a coarse, low pressure spot or crack and crevice spray to areas that these pests normally inhabit. Pay particular attention to dark corners of rooms and closets; floor drains; cracks and crevices in walls; along and behind baseboards; beneath and behind sinks, stoves, refrigerators, and cabinets; around plumbing and other utility installations; doors, windows and in attics and crawl spaces. Applications may be made to floor surfaces along baseboards and around air ducts. Let surfaces dry before allowing children or pets to contact surfaces.
If you need anymore information on treating for earwigs, you can read over our guide on How to Get Rid of Earwigs .