Insecticide dusts are a valuable formulation for a variety of insect control applications and are an essential tool in a PMPs comprehensive pest control program.
Selecting the perfect dust to use depends on the target pest, and the type of area being treated, such as a commercial kitchen. Applied correctly, dusts are one of the best tools available to the pest management professional. Here are the 3 types of dust insecticides.
1. Repellent Dusts
Examples of repellent dusts are botanical dusts, like Rockwell’s EcoVia WD Wettable Dust, pyrethrin dusts, and pyrethroid dusts.
The botanical oil actives in a botanical dust are classified as “true repellents”, similar to natural pyrethrin. True repellents work in the vapor phase, so insects that come in the vicinity of them will be repelled by the vapors.
In contrast, synthetic pyrethroid dusts are called “excito-repellents”. The insects have to actually touch them, and then the irritating effect can cause them to behave erratically and potentially repel them. Because repellent dusts are fast-acting, they are ideal for treating stinging insect nests.
They also work well in cracks, crevices, and void areas around the outside of structures to stop invading pests. They are effective on large, hard-bodied or difficult to control pests like scorpions, ticks, and pill bugs. Since EcoVia WD can also be applied as a wettable powder, it can be sprayed on eaves, boat docks, and other areas for spider control.
Once the active ingredient in a repellent dust insecticide volatilizes or degradates, the dust carrier component left behind will continue to provide residual control as a desiccant
2. Non-Repellent Dusts - Desiccants
Examples of non-repellent desiccant dusts would be silicone dioxide, used in Rockwell’s CimeXa Dust Insecticide as amorphous silica, and diatomaceous earth.
Desiccant dusts are:
- Best for use in relatively dry interior areas, including attics.
- Long-lasting since they do not breakdown, and will be effective for years as long as they remain dry.
- Generally slower-acting as they kill insects by dehydrating them essentially removing the moisture in insects
Rockwell’s CimeXa dust kills quickly by destroying the waxy cuticle of crawling insects, resulting in rapid dehydration and death. It typically kills within 12 to 24 hours of exposure, much faster than diatomaceous earth.
CimeXa provides unmatched control of bed bugs, even resistant strains, and is highly effective on a broad spectrum of crawling insect pests including tough indoor spiders like the brown recluse, and stored product pests too.
3. Non-Repellent Dusts - Borates
Borate dusts need to be ingested to kill. Self-grooming insects like cockroaches pick up the dust when they walk through it, and ingest it when grooming. Predator pests like spiders might also ingest the boric acid indirectly through eating a poisoned insect.
Borates are water soluble and can also be sprayed or foamed, but their effectiveness is greatest in dust form. The ideal application for a boric acid dust is in damp areas with organic build-up such as commercial kitchens. When applied to organic build-up, it turns the scum into insect bait. Roaches and flies that feed on the organic build-up will eat the boric acid and die. Boric acid dusts remain active until removed.
BorActin is the leading borate dust on the market. It is a superfine, non-clumping powder that provides superior “dustability” and more easily sticks to insects. It is effective against a wide range of insect pests.
It is important to note that boric acid dusts like BorActin are superior to dusts made of borate salts, as salts are crystalline by nature and don’t stick to insects well.
To learn more about the variety of dust products offered by Rockwell Labs, please visit our website at www.rockwelllabs.com.