Bifen IT - Questions & Answers

Bifen IT is applied at the rate of 1 oz. per gallon of water for mosquitoes.  Keep in mind that it is not a contact kill.  How long it takes to see results will depend on a number of factors such as the severity of the infestation you are dealing with.  It can take anywhere from several hours to even a couple of days.  You do have the option to mix Bifen with a product like ExciteR for a quicker knockdown.  

 

Both Bifen IT and Bifen XTS are both labeled for the insects your are targeting and they can both be broadcast across your lawn as well. The biggest difference between the two is that Bifen IT is water based and Bifen XTS is oil based and has more of the active ingredient in the solution. 

Bifen IT will kill any gnats that come into contact with a treated area.  You may want to look over our article on Getting Rid of Gnats for more information.  

Bifen IT will not affect your trenching treatment done with Termidor SC.  Bifen I/T is considered a repellent.  When treating for ants, you can spray the lawn, trees and shrubs, along with 3 foot up the side of your home, 3 feet out into the soil all the way around the perimeter foundation of your home, around doors and windows and around the eaves and soffits of your home monthly.

Bifen IT would be a good choice for grasshopper control. You should start applications before the grasshoppers have a chance to hatch for best control. You should thoroughly spray your lawn and water in the application with about a .25 in of water to help the product get past the thatch layer and into the soil where grass hoppers actually develop. If you already have grasshoppers you can use it at the highest usage rate of 1 oz of product per 1 gallon of water for the quickest knockdown. Use sufficient amounts of water to help the product get to the soil layers. It is safe to be used on anything non-edible in the yard and will not harm trees, bushes or flowers.

Yes, Bifen IT can be used to control carpenter bees. Here is a link to our carpenter bee prevention guide as well: https://www.domyown.com/carpenter-bee-prevention-guide-a-502.html

Yes, Bifen IT is labeled for flies. For more information on fly control, please take a few moments to review our treatment article for further pro tips on control of this pest. Please let us know if you need anything else.

If your vegetables were sprayed Bifen IT, we do recommend to discard them. You should not consume anyting that treated area for one full growing season.

When applying Bifen IT outdoors for a variety of insects you are absolutely able to apply it as a broadcast spray. You will need 1 fl oz of product diluted into 1 gallon of water for every 1,000 sq ft of space you need to treat. When you are treating for mosquitoes the key is to apply it to all shrubs, trees, and other foliage around the house or patio where you are trying to provide relief. It should be directed not only on top of the leaves and plants but on the underside of the leaves as well which is where the mosquitoes hang out. This product can also be applied to your lawn, exterior of your home for barrier insect control and indoors to control current infestations. Make applications every 30 days for optimum control. 

 

Please take a few moments to review our treatment article on How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes for more information on a successful program.

Bifen IT is safe for plants if used as directed.

Bifen IT can be sprayed 3 feet up the side of the house, and 3 feet into the soil all the way around the perimteter foundation of the home.  When treating for fleas, you will need to apply under decks, under trees, in places where leaves or other yard debris accumulates or areas where dense shrubbery exists. There is little need to spray open, sunny areas, dry and dusty areas or hard surfaces such as patios or driveways as fleas will not be able to develop in those areas.  When treating for noseeums, you want to focus on treating those same areas, along with the understands of tree canopies, interior of shrubs and bushes, and damp areas in your lawn.

Bifen IT can be applied quarterly to interior cracks and crevices and monthly to listed exterior areas at 1 fl oz per gallon per 1,000 sq ft.

Bifen IT is not labeled for use in drains. Roaches can be seen coming out of drains because more than likely they were looking for a water source. For the best roach control, we recommend using a Roach Control Kit. Please view our How to Get Rid of Roaches article for other tips and information. 

Bifen IT can be applied monthly (30 days) outside the home and every 3 months (90 days) inside around the cracks and crevices.

Yes, Bifen IT will not harm, inhibit, or promote any kind of growth in turf grass.

When applying Bifen IT for mole crickets you should use 1oz per gallon of water. Per the product label:

Mole Cricket adults: Since the preferred grass areas are subject to constant invasion in early spring by the active adult stage, it can be difficult to maintain control of adult mole crickets. It is ideal to treat the areas as late in the day as possible and water immediately after application with up to 0.5 inches of water. To ensure maximum contact when soil is dry, it is necessary to irrigate prior to treatment to bring the adult mole crickets closer to the soil surface. To obtain optimal control of potential nymphal populations, the grass areas preferred by adult mole crickets should be treated immediately prior to the peak hatch stage. 

Mole Cricket nymphs: Treat grass areas that are preferred by adult mole crickets in the spring just before peak egg hatch. Young nymphs are more vulnerable to insecticidal treatment at this stage because they are close to the soil surface where the insecticide is most concentrated and thereby providing the most efficient control. For larger more damaging nymphal stages later in the year, it may be necessary to use higher application rates more frequently. It is ideal to treat the areas as late in the day as possible and water immediately after application with up to 0.5 inches of water. To ensure maximum contact when soil is dry, it is necessary to irrigate prior to treatment to bring the adult mole crickets closer to the soil surface.

You can use a temporary marking dye such as Turf Mark Blue with the Bifen I/T or any insecticide you plan to use for tick control. Bifen would be a great choice, and in the areas of the property you suspect the highest populations of ticks, you can mix in an IGR such as Archer IGR to help stop their reproductive cycle and reduce the amount of future generations you would be contending with in the yard. We also have a handy Tick Control Guide which you can review for tips to get the most out of your treatment, including how to videos and step by step instructions and recommendations. 

No, Bifen I/T is not labeled to be used in a fogger. You can use it in a handheld or backpack sprayer or a mist blower such as the Solo 451 or an Stihl engine powered device.

There is no specific or ideal time of the day for spraying Bifen IT.  Some people opt to spray outdoors in the early morning, when there is a lessor amount of insect activity.  You can refer to the product label for complete application instructions, and use as directed.