Talstar Insecticide: Reviews and Effectiveness Based on Scientific Evidence | 2022 Buyer’s Guide

What is the best Talstar insecticide? This brand offers two different solutions to pest problems. The first one is the Talstar Pro liquid concentrate that can be used almost anywhere: in the garden, around buildings, inside the house, or in the kitchen. It kills dozens of different insect species, ranging from cockroaches, mosquitoes, and bed bugs to ants, fleas, beetles, and ticks. The other option is the Talstar granular insecticide that controls crawling insects and should be applied to the soil. The product has proved to be highly effective against fire ants and is claimed to be able to kill their colony in just 15 minutes.

When dealing with professional-grade insecticides, it’s recommended to buy them at an online retail store specializing in pest control products, like www.domyown.com. They have a staff of professionals and can provide professional consulting in pest control, lawn, gardening product usage after purchase.

Talstar Pro 96 Ounce (3/4 Gallon) Made with 7.9% bifenthrin, it is a highly potent insecticide labeled for over 70 pests. One quart makes up to 96 ready-to-use solutions. The product kills on contact and has a residual of up to 3 months. It can be applied outdoors and indoors, including food-handling areas and ornamentals.	Check the current price
Talstar 35832596186 Xtra Granular Insecticide Designed for the control of crawling insects, the insecticide comes in long-lasting granules. Its formula is based on the combination of bifenthrin and zeta-cypermethrin for quick knockdown. The product can be used only outdoors. It provides long residual in the turf and works great on fire ants.	Check the current price

How Talstar Insecticide Works

This pyrethroid-based product with the active ingredient bifenthrin can be used as insecticide and miticide. It can be applied both indoors and outdoors, including greenhouses and food-handling areas. The solution kills insects on contact and has a long residual activity lasting from a week to up to 21 days. The latter depends on the insect species. For instance, the product provides one month of house fly control, whereas its effect on fleas lasts for up to 3 months. Anyway, Talstar has one of the longest residual times in soil of all pesticides available on the market.

While being potent, Talstar is relatively safe. Since the product is water-based, it does not produce odors. Nor does it contain solvents that could damage plants. The Talstar insecticide is made with 7,9% bifenthrin. This chemical belongs to the pyrethroid chemical class and is considered to be moderately toxic to humans and animals while being highly toxic to fish. Bifenthrin works by affecting the nervous system and causing paralysis in insects. Insecticides based on this ingredient are commonly used as an outdoor barrier treatment.

The Difference Between Liquid and Granular Talstar Insecticides: Indoor & Outdoor Use

You have two options to choose from: liquid and granular Talstar insecticides.

The first option is the Talstar Pro 96 Ounce (3/4 Gallon) Insecticide containing 7.9% bifenthrin. One quart of the concentrate makes more than 90 ready-to-use solutions. You will need a one-gallon sprayer to make applications. This insecticide lasts up to three months and will not break down easily after a rain.

Talstar Pro 96 Ounce (3/4 Gallon): Check the current price

However, if you need a more durable and weather-resistant solution, choose the Talstar 35832596186 Xtra Granular Insecticide. Keep in mind that this product works on a smaller number of insect species because granules can be applied to the soil only. But if your problem is fire ants, the Talstar Xtra Granular Insecticide is exactly what you need.

Designed for outdoor use, these granules can be applied to lawns and areas around residential or commercial buildings. In this regard, the liquid insecticide from Talstar is more versatile: you can spray it inside and outside the house as well as around the perimeter. Moreover, it can be used in food handling areas if applied in accordance with the label.

Another difference lies in the extra ingredient that the granular insecticide has. In addition to bifenthrin, it features zeta-cypermethrin. This ingredient provides a faster knockdown of crawling insects, primarily, fire ants. The manufacturer promises that with this product, you will be able to eliminate fire ant colonies in just 15 minutes. Besides, granules ensure a longer residual in the turf.

Talstar 35832596186 Xtra Granular Insecticide: Check the current price

Talstar Insecticide Effectiveness Based on Scientific Evidence

Talstar Insecticides are produced by FMC Corporation, an agricultural sciences company headquartered in Philadelphia. The company provides innovative solutions in crop protection and professional pest management, offering a wide range of insecticides, termiticides, herbicides, and fungicides. This is a trusted brand, well-known in the U.S. and worldwide. But what do scientists say about its Talstar insecticides?

Based on bifenthrin, Talstar is widely used by both professionals and homeowners. It is considered to be effective in controlling a broad range of pests and is used to deal with the most severe infestations. For example, scientists from the University of Illinois Extension mention the Talstar as a solution for mite control. However, they note that this is a contact insecticide and, therefore, you should cover thoroughly all parts of the treated plants during application.

Arnold H. Hara from the University of Hawaii at Manoa says that the Talstar works well for the prevention of myoporum thrip infestation. Both its granular and liquid formulations are effective as a residual barrier treatment in fire ant control. When applied to the plant leaves, the Talstar is highly effective against the lobate lac scale, according to the expert. According to East Carolina University’s researchers, bifenthrin insecticides reduce mosquito populations by more than 50%. In some cases, the Talstar provided a 77.7% mosquito knockdown rate. The efficacy also varies from one plant species to another because of the difference in their leaf cuticles or the ability to retain the insecticide.

That said, field studies show that the Talstar in combination with other insecticides yields better results than this product alone. In a study held at the University of Gujrat, Pakistan, different insecticides were tested to see whether they work against hibiscus mealybug infestation. It turned out that using a mixture of the Talstar with an imidacloprid-based insecticide showed the highest mortality rate: 68% after 24 hours of spray and 95% after 72 hours of spray. Applying the Talstar alone resulted in the lowest mortality rate of 42% against mealybugs after 24 hours of spray. You can mix the Talstar with this 1.47% imidacloprid concentrate from the Compare-N-Save brand.

What Pests Does Talstar Kill? How to Apply to Control Different Pest Species

This product is labeled for 75 pest species, including cockroaches, mosquitoes, bed bugs, ants, termites, fleas, spiders, Japanese Beetles, scorpions, pillbugs, wasps, earwigs, millipedes, and ticks. Now, let’s take a closer look at some of them.

• Ants become a nuisance when present in high numbers. In order to get rid of them, it is important to eliminate the entire colony, otherwise, all your efforts will be futile. Use one ounce of the Talstar per 1,000 sq ft as an insecticide treatment.
• Caterpillars feed on lawn grass, creating circular patches of bare soil or thinning the grass. They cause damage by eating flowers and foliage of the plants, sometimes consuming the entire leaf. Caterpillars can be controlled with just 0.25 ounces of Talstar per 1,000 sq ft.
• Bluegrass weevil, a serious pest species. Many populations of these insects have developed resistance to pyrethroids and, therefore, are more difficult to control. Typically, adult bluegrass weevils are controlled in the spring and in late June or early July. To kill them, apply the Talstar insecticide at a rate of 0.25 to 0.5 ounces per 1,000 sq ft.
• Fleas bite humans and pets, causing severe irritation. High rates of bifenthrin insecticide have proved to be highly effective in flea larvae control.
• Clover mites become a problem in spring and fall, causing distortion and yellowing of the grass. Bermudagrass mites are particularly hard to manage as there are no registered insecticides that would be completely effective against them. Applying Talstar at a rate of 0.5 ounces per 1,000 sq ft will significantly reduce mite populations.

Alternatives to Talstar Insecticide: Talstar vs Demand vs Demon vs Suspend vs Ortho

What alternatives are available on the market? Like the Talstar, the Syngenta 73654 Demand CS Insecticide is also water-based and can be applied both indoors and outdoors. However, it is made with a different active ingredient, lambda-cyhalothrin, and controls half as many species compared to the Talstar. The advantage of this product is the micro-encapsulated technology used for enhanced efficiency. While smaller microcaps release the chemical immediately after application for a fast knockdown, the larger ones release it later, providing long-lasting residual control for up to two months.

Syngenta 73654 Demand CS Insecticide: Check the current price

Another option, the Demon Max Insecticide Pint is made with 25% cypermethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid that acts as a fast-acting neurotoxin. With moderate acute toxicity, this ingredient is recommended by the World Health Organization for the mosquito net treatment. Like the Demand CS, this insecticide controls around 30 pest species. It is particularly good at killing termites and can be applied directly to wood surfaces, cracks, and crevices. To get rid of general pests, spray it around the perimeter of your house or garden.

Demon Max Insecticide Pint: Check the current price

If you are looking for a low toxic insecticide to use around food processing facilities, there is the Bayer 80035225 Polyzone Suspend Pint Insecticide. One of the major advantages of this insecticide is low toxicity. It is formulated with 4.75% deltamethrin. You can safely apply it in bakeries, cafeterias, food processing facilities, greenhouses, hospitals, kitchens, and more. Deltamethrin is moderately toxic if eaten and low-toxic when breathed in. When the insecticide is applied, the particles of the active ingredient distribute uniformly on the surface and remain effective for up to two months.

Bayer 80035225 Polyzone Suspend Pint Insecticide: Check the current price

If you are looking for an alternative bifenthrin-based insecticide, try the Ortho 4600810 Home Defense Max Insect Barrier. This product contains only .05% bifenthrin and is much less concentrated than the Talstar. However, in case you are not a fan of diluting insecticides, you will like the Ortho Home Defense. The product comes with an extended reach wand that allows you to comfortably spray without bending. This insecticide controls more than 180 pests and can be safely used indoors, including kitchens.

Ortho 4600810 Home Defense Max Insect Barrier: Check the current price

Hazards to Humans & Pets. How to Use

Although the Talstar insecticide is moderately toxic to humans, it can harm you, your family members, or pets if not used according to the label directions. Do not inhale spray mist or swallow its particles. Avoid contact with the eyes and skin. Before making applications, put on a long-sleeved shirt, socks, and long pants.

Wearing a mask, eyewear, and gloves is a must. Dilute then product in accordance with label directions. If you have inhaled the insecticide, go outside to get fresh air. If you have swallowed it, sip a glass of water or call the poison control center. If you get the insecticide in your eyes, hold them open and rinse gently with water for about 15 minutes. Remove clothing, mask, and protective gloves after handling the product and wash them.

The Talstar insecticides cannot be used for broadcast applications to the building interior. Inside the house, use the solution as a spot treatment at a ratio of up to 1 ounce per gallon of water. Treat cracks, crevices, and other areas where insects hide, such as attics, doors, windows, baseboards, around water pipes, behind and under kitchen appliances. It cannot be applied in nurseries, on a golf course turf, or through an irrigation system. Store the product in a cool and dry place, out of reach of children and pets.

Expert Opinion: John Sanderson, Associate Professor, Cornell University’s Department of Entomology

John Sanderson, Associate Professor, Cornell University’s Department of Entomology

John Sanderson is Associate Professor at the Department of Entomology of Cornell University. His research focuses on the problem of insects’ resistance to pesticides and the development of integrated pest management tactics. In 2016, Sanderson won the Award for Excellence in IPM, New York State Integrated Pest Management Program.

“Cross-resistance is an important concept to understand. It is a resistance mechanism to one pesticide that provides resistance to other pesticides with similar modes of action. It allows pests to survive exposure to pesticides that they have never experienced. The example might be whiteflies that are resistant to Talstar. They may also show resistance to other kinds of pyrethroids very quickly. Multiple resistance is the worst situation and is something we should avoid. This is the situation where the pest has one or more resistance mechanisms that provide resistance to pesticides from different chemical classes and with different modes of action”.

“And an example here is aphid populations that have esterases that can detoxify the toxins in Orthene, Talstar, and nicotine — three pesticides with a completely different mode of action… If the primary control tactic is to rely on pesticides, then resistance can only be delayed, not avoided. There is no magic pesticide or application method that prevents resistance. Biological control and long-term rotation of more than one insecticide with different modes of action are the things that have been documented as common aspects of effective resistance management programs”.

Talstar Insecticide Reviews

YouTuber Buck’s Garage has reviewed the Talstar insecticide, testing it in wasps and carpenter bees. And here are the results.

“I had an enormous wasp problem, I mean hundreds. They were just everywhere. I used the Talstar product. I sprayed the house probably two weeks ago the first time, one ounce per gallon. It knocked down quite a bit of the wasps I had. Four days later, I still had some wasps. I did two ounces per gallon like it says to treat termites. But since I had such an infestation, I figured I needed to go a little bit stronger. And this was just on the outside of the house that I did two ounces per gallon”.

“Anyway, it has been about two weeks now and I barely have any wasps. But what I do find every morning is dead wasps on the driveway. This stuff works really well. Most of my issues with wasps and carpenter bees are coming from my neighbor’s house over there. Nobody lives there for 12 years and the deck is full of the carpenter bee holes. He did have termites also, which I had to spray because I do not want termites coming to my house. I sprayed his whole place and killed his carpenter bees. So now I do not have any carpenter bees anymore. It has been doing quite a good job, I am very impressed with it”.

Another YouTuber, X King, has used the Talstar Pro for more than three weeks. In a review, he provided the pros and cons of this product. He had a heavy mosquito infestation in the yard but now it is not bad at all. He was bitten once but, frankly speaking, no insecticide would kill every mosquito in the area. Spiders disappeared as well. Before application, there were huge spiders and spider webs coming from the limbs.

“I bought a one-gallon sprayer that works pretty well, I like it so far. And I sprayed all the way back here. This would be like mosquito heaven, especially when it was warm outside. It is not going to prevent all mosquitoes but it is gonna help to calm it down. So yeah, this stuff works pretty well, I like it!” he said.

Best Talstar Insecticides and Alternatives