Best Applications for Pyrethroid Insecticides

When To Use Which Pyrethroid Insecticide

• Alpha-Cypermethrin (second generation): Cypermethrin is a mixture of eight different isomers, with varying insecticidal effectiveness. Alpha-Cypermethrin contains only the two most active isomers of Cypermethrin, making it more potent at lower doses. Less repellent than Cypermethrin. Alpha-Cypermethrin is twice as strong and lasts longer than Cypermethrin.
• Beta-Cyfluthrin (third generation): Best for flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and moths. Long residual effect (up to 3 months) with moderate repellency. Faster acting, more potent, more efficient, and longer lasting that Cyfluthrin. Cyfluthrin is composed of 8 different isomers, but not all are equally active. Beta-Cyfluthrin contains only the 4 most potent isomers from the original Cyfluthrin mixture. Less repellent that Cyfluthrin.
• Bifenthrin (second generation): Ideal for termites, ants, fleas, ticks, spiders, roaches, stinging insects (wasps, hornets), lawn pests (grubs), and other outdoor pests. Long residual effect (up to 6 months) with high repellency.
• Cyfluthrin (third generation): Best for flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and moths. Moderate residual effect (up to 2 months) with high repellency. Cyfluthrin is composed of 8 different isomers, but not all are equally active.
• Cypermethrin (second generation): Provides quick knockdown for mosquitoes, flies, and gnats. Also effective against moths, hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets. Residual lasts up to 4 weeks with moderate repellency.
• Deltamethrin (second generation): Suitable for indoor and outdoor use against bed bugs, mosquitoes, ants, roaches, fleas, spiders, and ticks. Long residual effect (up to 3 months) with lower repellency.
• Esfenvalerate (third generation): Broad-spectrum control for crawling and flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, ants, roaches, spiders, moths, fleas, and ticks. Residual effect lasts up to 8 weeks with moderate repellency.
• Etofenprox (fourth generation): Effective against mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, ants, roaches, flies, moths, and spiders. Moderate knockdown with extended residual effect (up to 8 weeks) and low repellency.
• Gamma-Cyhalothrin (third generation): Excellent for mosquitoes, flies, wasps, hornets, and fleas. Strong knockdown with long residual effect (up to 3 months) and moderate repellency. More potent than Lambda-Cyhalothrin.
• Lambda-Cyhalothrin (third generation): Best for mosquito control in disease-prone areas and also effective against flies, ants, roaches, and fleas. Long residual effect (up to 3 months) with high repellency.
• Permethrin (second generation): Effective against mosquitoes, roaches, fleas, ticks, ants, spiders, and bed bugs. Moderate residual effect (up to 6 weeks) with high repellency.
• Prallethrin (fourth generation): Ideal for flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, gnats, hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets. Rapid knockdown with low residual effect and minimal repellency.
• Pyrethrin: Provides quick knockdown with short residual effect (up to 2 days). Highly repellent, commonly used in sensitive areas like food establishments and for pests like ants, roaches, and fleas. Degrades rapidly in sunlight.

The Insecticide Resistance Action Committee classifies insecticides by their mode of action. Rotating between insecticide classes helps prevent insecticide resistance.