Pest Control

[Quantum673]

Not sure how many of you use an exterminator for insect control in and around the house. Or those of you that do it yourself. I have always done it myself and when we moved to Tennessee it became even more important. We have struggled with some insects but nothing stupid until this past Fall. Fuggin Stink Bugs and Asian Beetles. Used the Home Defense a couple times and still had issues.

Started doing some searching and came across a company called Pestie. Took a look and for $140ish a year they send a kit. Kit includes a reusable heavy duty bag a wand attachment for the bag and 4 packs of chemicals. Each one is dated for when you should use. Simply dump the chemicals in the bag, fill with water, and hook up the wand. The wand is rechargeable sprayer. And spray around the house and inside along the base trim. Was enough chemicals for me to do the outside of cabin and barn as well as inside cabin and living quarters.

Within days we started seeing dead stink bugs and beetles everywhere. I have been truly impressed. I was never an expert on chemicals and what works for what. Never really got into researching it either so this is perfect for us.

 

["J"]

Wonder what they’re using in it?

 

[Dustinb80]

I just sprayed with home defense for ants. About this time every year, always good results

 

["J"]

Stink bugs and Asian Beatles are a whole different level of annoyance….

 

[Quantum673]

Wonder what they’re using in it?

I did not save the ingredients from the first treatment. I have all the others so I can check. When you order you put in your area so they send stuff for your area. Or so they say. It would be interesting to compare to others in other areas.

 

[Quantum673]

I was very skeptical when I ordered and treated the first time. Pet and family safe once dried. Also must be used within 24hrs of mixing.

Next treatment is in May. Will be interesting to see if results remain similar.

Also no spider webs on our porches or in the cabin.

 

[giles]

Just the cabin or barn too?

 

[Quantum673]

Both Dave: living quarters in barn, entire exterior of barn, inside cabin, and exterior of cabin.

 

[giles]

Copy, im interested because I pay $150 every quarter. That is entire house, entire barn, and the camper. We have had great success so far but it sure is spendy.

 

[Jackalope]

Copy, im interested because I pay $150 every quarter. That is entire house, entire barn, and the camper. We have had great success so far but it sure is spendy.

Sweet Jesus thats expensive.

Jon's way in convenient but if you guys are going to DIY you can use a pesticide called Onslaught both indoors and outdoors and it'll cost you $71 to make 33 gallons. Microencapsulated so it lasts 90 days and is safe to apply both indoor and outdoor and in food handling areas. Kills a host of insects including stink bugs, spiders, fleas, wasps, yellow jackets etc. Mix 0.5 oz to a gallon and spray.

Onslaught Insecticide

Onslaught Insecticide

www.domyown.com

Here is the datasheet showing everything it kills.

https://www.domyown.com/msds/Onslaught-Label.pdf

 

[bowhunter1023]

I've become a DIY guy over the past few years because of how expensive the professional treatments have become. I'll need to add some Onslaught to my list. For those dealing with ants and wanting an effective termite treatment, I sprayed Taurus last weekend to attempt to deal with the tiny black pavement ants that invade our house every spring. I've tried a host of baits and Home Defense Max with very little effect on the overall issue. I'm blown away at how effective it's been with one treatment. My wife noticed without me saying anything about the application. Yesterday, out of the blue, she commented on not having seen any ants lately, to which I replied: "I nuked 'em".

I highly recommend this if you have an ant problem.

Taurus SC Termiticide

Taurus SC Termiticide

www.domyown.com

 

[bowhunter1023]

FYI, Onslaught was $59 on Amazon. Got some for our asian bettle issue, and I'll treat the barn with it. I would also recommend https://diypestcontrol.com/ as a source when shopping for this stuff. They are almost always competitive with Amazon, and the one Joe shared.

 

["J"]

We’ve been using onslaught mjk since we’ve lived here. Works ok for what we’ve dealt with so far.
Stink bugs are relentless. They’re replacing the cockroach for what will survive a nuclear apocalypse.

 

[Jackalope]

Jesse. For the Taurus SC, it's Fipronil. The same thing in most dog and cat flea collars and topical flea treatments. Do with that what you may for an off-label use It does a good job at pest control but its effectiveness is short-lived in sunny, wet areas, and hard surfaces like brick and concrete due to chemical breakdown. You'll like the Onslaught as it's microencapsulated. A thin shell of various thicknesses is around it so that as the shell breaks down the active ingredient is released at different intervals. They claim 90 days but I do ot every 60.

For the Fipronil products such as the generic Taurus SC and flagship brand Termidor) It's the best damn subterranean termite eradication chemical that exists. I recommend that everyone do the trench and fill method around their house. Basically, dig a small trench around the foundation and flood the trench with the mixture to let it soak into the ground like a curtain. I forgot the trench size but it's only like 5 inches wide by 5 inches deep. I prefer Termidor just because if I'm going to do it I'm going to use the best. The fipronil bonds with the soil and is non-repellent, if a subterranean termite so much as crawls through that dirt in the next two decades hrs dead.

 

[Quantum673]

Lots of Great info guys. Learning a lot.

 

[Quantum673]

Did some more digging last night. I am nowhere as familiar with insecticides as a lot of you guys. I am starting to process the info though.

Do any of you guys rotate your chemicals to ensure maximum efficacy? I was digging deeper into Pestie to find what chemicals they use. I still need to pull out the mixes they sent me to compare as well. One thing they talk about is that they alternate chemicals for the same insects to maximize efficacy and to eliminate any resistance being built up in the insects. I am not sure it is necessary but is interesting.

I will pull out the stuff they sent today and start round a deeper dive. Another thing I love about TOO. Always lots of people that have more knowledge and experience to share. It really gets me thinking. Maybe sometimes too much but I will take it.

 

[Jackalope]

Did some more digging last night. I am nowhere as familiar with insecticides as a lot of you guys. I am starting to process the info though.

Do any of you guys rotate your chemicals to ensure maximum efficacy? I was digging deeper into Pestie to find what chemicals they use. I still need to pull out the mixes they sent me to compare as well. One thing they talk about is that they alternate chemicals for the same insects to maximize efficacy and to eliminate any resistance being built up in the insects. I am not sure it is necessary but is interesting.

I will pull out the stuff they sent today and start round a deeper dive. Another thing I love about TOO. Always lots of people that have more knowledge and experience to share. It really gets me thinking. Maybe sometimes too much but I will take it.

I do every couple of years or so. Basically, when I run out I try something new. Before Onslaught, I used Suspend Polyzone. I'll be honest though I haven't seen an example of where anything became resistant. I would think it would take a decade or more for that to happen.

I am aware that fleas in this area have become resistant to Frontline animal treatments (fipronil). A few years ago we got fleas in the house and I didn't understand why because I'd treated the cat, so I double-dosed the sucker, and a week later he still had them. Since Frontline has been around for 30 years, in many areas the fleas are now immune to it. I used Fenvastar Ecocap indoors with an insect growth regulator combined with vacuuming 3-4 times a day until they were gone, still took about a month though due to their lifecycycle

For mosquitos I use Bifen IT and add an IGR in a Stihl mist blower. Knocks them down pretty good.

Another thing to consider. With these miceoencapsulated long lasting pesticides they don't give the initial umpf that others do because they're built for longevity. If you need a quick knockdown and control of an insect, mix in a permethrin or Bifen pesticide with it. If you have a target pest with a lifecycle like mosquitoes, fleas etc mix in an Insect Growth Regulator (igr)

 

[switchhitter]

Great information
I have always just used the big box store chemicals and they have been ok . But I am going change that, I ordered onslaught and termidor.

 

[Quantum673]

I agree Joe that it would take a while to see any real resistance. I did pull down the box and every treatment is a different combination. All blends are also micro encapsulated for extended release.

 

[Quantum673]

Now. I will order Onslaught and Termidor to add to the arsenal for in between and future applications. Should get us bug free.