PT Phantom II Pressurized Insecticide - Questions & Answers

You could use either Phantom or Talstar P in an area for roach control, but you would not want to spray both of these products in the same area. As a general rule for roach control, we recommend that you Spray Low and Bait High. Phantom would be preferred over Talstar for roach control because it is a non-repellent spray, meaning it has a slower kill on the individual insect so that you get some transfer effect back to other roaches which are hiding out of sight. We always recommend using a residual spray, IGR (such as the Gentrol Point Source), and a roach bait gel for the best results. We have more tips on these applications in our online Roach Treatment Guide. Please let us know if you have other questions anytime.

You can certainly use Phantom in the aerosol or the concentrate form indoors for carpenter ants. Both the Phantom Aerosol and the concentrate are labeled to be used directly on baseboards as well as in cracks and crevices around the home where they would be trailing and around window and doorframes and around potention entry points.  Surface applications would be considered open areas of floors/carpets in a broadcast fashion, and you cannot use the Phantom in either form in that manner. 

Phantom II Aerosol will start working immediately on the roaches that come into contact with any treated surfaces. It is not likely that you would see roach activity increase during treatment, but keep in mind that it is not a contact kill type of product, so they will not die as soon as they touch it. It will start to work on their system and they will start getting weaker and dying within a few hours of contact. The Vendetta Plus also contains a growth regulator (IGR) which will further help to control the population.  However, please keep in mind that roaches are difficult to control, so it will likely take more than 5 days to see full results.  Moderate roach infestations can take a few weeks to get rid of, and severe infestations can take several months even when using all of the products needed (insecticide, IGR, roach bait), and sanitation is up to par.

You can spray the bottom of the baseboards with Phantom but do try to aim for the cracks at the bottom of the baseboards where the ants are emerging. Most homes are pretty well ventilated but if yours is not then you should indeed open a window for a few minutes while you are applying the product. We appreciate the compliment on our website!

There are several species of ants that make their own food and will not take any type of bait at all. You may be dealing with one of these ant species. In cases like this you are limited to using a spray, dust or foam of some sort to gain control. When the products are used as recommended on the product label they are usually limited to cracks and crevices and voids and are not spread through the home. Phantom Aerosol would be a good choice for ant control indoors. Phantom is a non-repellent insecticide that has a delayed reaction which allows ants time to get back to the colony and spread the product. In essence, the ants will not be able to tell that the product is in place and they will pick it up on the fine hairs all over their body and inadvertently carry it back to the colony where over a course of a few days it will knock out the entire colony. Phantom works really well because you don't have to worry about whether the ants will all take the bait, they just need to walk over the treated areas. Phantom should be applied around baseboards, door frames, window frames and places where utilities (cables, pipes and wires) enter through the wall as these are the most likely places for the ants to enter/exit.

Once Phantom has dried, you can put all your food back into the cabinets. It is not required that you wipe the shelves down, but it will not remove the pesticide if you do. Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

You are not alone in this Bed Bug Battle. We do not recommend spraying the toys with Bedlam. When it comes to furniture and mattresses, you really want to apply to seams and folds.We recommend using Nuvan Strips. You can put the items like toys into plastic bins or tightly sealed trash bags. You want to leave them sealed for 1-2 weeks. Nuvan Strips kill by vapors that emerge slowly over time and control pests exposed to the vapors. Bed bugs can enter pretty much anywhere, even nail heads. They can enter inside of legos. Yes, you do want to spray the play room. In fact, it is highly recommended to re treat once every two weeks. Keep treating until you have gone 30 days without any evidence of bed bugs. We would also recommend to read our article How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs. You will read that it really takes more than one product to eradicate Bed Bugs. Please visit our bed bug kits which do include Bedlam. Please let us know if you have any more questions.