Unfortunately, there is no easy solution when it comes to pine beetles. Infected trees should be cut down (before the newly hatched beetles fly out of the trees in the spring/summer) and the wood burned or chipped, while other still healthy trees should be sprayed annually to protect them. Because of the natural boring behavior of the beetle they are protected from topically applied insecticides and systemic insecticides (those injected into the tree or applied as a root drench) have proven ineffective for pine beetle infestations. Healthy trees can be protected before the beetles attack by topically spraying them with a product called Permethrin SFR. The tree should be sprayed from the ground to 15 ft up the trunk to prevent future infestations.
Bifen IT is labeled to control chiggers and will work great for this use when applied to areas where chiggers harbor.
Bifen IT does not kill eggs. Most insecticides will not kill insect eggs because the outer shells of the insect eggs protect them from the insecticides.
Archer IGR can be mixed with Bifen IT to give you the results you are looking for. You would mix 1oz of each product per gallon.
The Bifen IT would be a great option for the control of mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, and hundreds of other insects around the home. We highly recommend if you want the most control out of this pest-populated area, mix Pivot IGR with your first spray of Bifen IT. The Pivot is birth control for the bugs in the area and will make a huge dent in knocking back the activity. By stopping the insects reproduction, you get a much better grip on the problem than just killing the ones that land on a surface treated with an insecticide. You will typically mix 1 ounce of Bifen IT and 4-8 ml of Pivot IGR per gallon of water. Focus on the areas that are most dense in foliage and tend to stay the most moist and shaded. Spray the undersides of leaves of bushes and trees as these are prime breeding areas for mosquitoes, ticks, and other pests. The Bifen will last roughly 30 days outdoors and the Pivot should last up to 5 months. If you feel the Pivot is needed again before the 5 month period you are welcome to spray it again with the Bifen. Both products are completely safe for pets and humans when used according to the label and when kept out of the area until the products have dried.
The product label for Bifen IT states "Do Not reuse or refill this container. Clean the container promptly after emptying it. Triple rinse as follows: Empty the remaining contents into application equipment or a mix tank and drain for 10 seconds after the flow begins to drip. Fill the container
For most applications, you can use 1 oz of Bifen It per gallon of water. For more specific usage instructions, please refer to the Bifen IT product label. The solution can be applied around the perimeter of the home including where the step meets the ground. This can be done using a one-gallon hand pump sprayer.
For the best application of Bifen IT to your lawn, you want to first mow the grass a couple days ahead of application.
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 is mixed at 1oz per gallon of water. Each gallon of finished solution will cover about 1k sq ft.
We have not heard any feedback on Bifen IT becoming gel-like when mixed as directed on the label. Make sure you are shaking the concentrate well before tank mixing, and agitate thoroughly before and during applications to ensure that the mixture has gone into solution. You can also contact the manufacturer Control Solutions for additional support by visiting their website's contact page here.
We recommend getting the little black bug identified so that we can properly advise you on treatment options. You can contact your local cooperative extension office for insect identifications.
