Talstar P Professional Insecticide - Questions & Answers

There are not any insecticides on the market that will last for 6 months outdoors. What actually happens is the exterminator will spray a product and wipe out all of the insects nearby and it can take many months for the pests to build back up to an intolerable level. If you have been happy with the treatment the pest control operator has been using you can ask them what product they have been using. Most PCO's will also write the name of the product or the active ingredient on your bill as most states require this. We carry just about any product your PCO would have used. Our most popular general use insecticide among professionals and homeowners is Talstar P. It is widely used by pest control companies because it is labeled for almost every insect you could have a problem with and you can use it outside the home as well as inside, it is odorless and very safe for use around children and pets.  It is a liquid concentrate that you mix with water in a one gallon hand pump sprayer.  It will last for 60 to 90 days outside in between treatments.  It is also labeled for lawn and ornamental use, and can be used on trees, plants, bushes and shrubs for all sorts of ornamental pests including Japanese beetles, mosquitoes, and other leaf eating pests. Talstar is also available in a granule formula called Talstar PL if you prefer to use granules.

As long as you are using the Talstar P at the proper dilution rate in the tank, the metering rate would just be dependent on how quickly you are walking during application.  Unfortunatley, we do not carry Stihl blowers so we cannot give you an exact answer.  However, we can thell you that with our Solo 451 blower, we suggest a metereing rate of 2 (from a range of 1-4) for a normal pace during application.  For most applications, you will mix 0.5-1 oz per gallon per 1,000 sq ft. 

According to the Talstar P product label "all pesticide handlers must wear a respiratory protection device when working in a non-ventilated space." Respiratory devices are not required for well ventilated spaces or outdoor applications. The Talstar P product label also says "all applicators should wear longsleeved shirt and long pants, socks, shoes and chemical-resistant gloves."

Dursban was banned by the EPA around 2000-2001 because of concerns for the health of humans and wildlife. When products such as Dursban are misused or over-used by people this is often the outcome. The pest control industry has produced other products that are as effective as Dursban, but they do not have the same health risks. Talstar P, Suspend SC, Cy-kick CS are a few of the most commonly used pest control products today.

Of course you can do your own pest control!  We have sold product to hundreds of thousands of people who want to save money and treat their pest problems themselves.  Bifenthrin is an excellend active ingredient that is not only good for ants, but just about any insect problem you may have.  Typically you would treat around the home every 2 to 3 months depending on climate and part of the country you live in.  Our most popular product containing bifenthrin is Talstar One. 

We would recommend our most popular insecticide, Talstar.  It is a very safe product to use around children and pets and is widely used by professional companies every day in thousands of homes across the country.  It is odorless, can be used indoors and outdoors and it is labeled for over 80 different insects.  You would apply it using a one gallon hand pump sprayer. 

Talstar is not labeled to be used on vegetables or anything edible.  Most pest control products are not labeled for this use.  Talstar is safe for use around pets when used according to the label.  You should always keep children and pets away from the area while you are treating, and then once the treatment is dry it is perfectly safe to allow pets to re-enter the area.  We do have a product called Malathion 57% which is labeled to apply to vegetable gardens.

Unfortunately the state of Connecticut has limited most of the products out there on the market these days that can be shipped into the state without having a license to purchase them. Pest Xpert Home Barrier would be one option of a comparable insecticide spray to Talstar that could be used in CT.  An all natural option that works similarly is Essentria IC3 and can cover a wide range of pests and usage areas like the Talstar as well. 

Talstar is not labeled for cankerworms.  The most widely recommended product to use for cankerworms is Bacillus thuringiensis, or B.t.  A product like Monterey B.t. Insecticide may be a better option for you.  There is a great article here on the treatment and prevention of cankerworms. 
 

Talstar P is labeled to be used in poultry houses and chicken pens so it should not harm your chickens or ducks. You must make sure that they are out of the area while you apply the Talstar P, and then they can return to the area as soon as it is dry.