Bifen IT - Questions & Answers

Bifent IT is usually watered in after a mole cricket application so the rain most likely just aided you in your control efforts as the immature mole crickets are just under the soil. Info from the Bifen IT product label :To ensure control of sub  surface pests including  least 0.25 inches of water

Spring tails can be tough to eliminate because they reproduce very quickly. In almost every case where people have spring tails they also have a moisture problem such as a leaking or sweating pipe, poor ventilation in their crawl space, lots of wet mulch right up next to their house, etc. You must locate and correct the moisture problem to get rid of the spring tails, insecticides alone will not do the job. We do carry Bifen L/P granules and Bifen IT liquid, both of which can help you to reduce the numbers of springtails.

We would recommend using Bifen IT. It is a wonderful general pesticide that can be used indoors and outdoors. It dries clear as well. Indoors, you will spray along the baseboards and cracks and crevices. Outdoors, Bifen IT can be broadcast across the lawn, sprayed on trees (non edibles), flowers, shrubs, etc. This product is not labeled to be used on any type of edibles. You will mix 1 fl. oz. per gallon of water. Bifen IT has a residual of up to 90 days indoors and 30 days outdoors. Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

Bifen IT is labeled for outside only application for fleas.  You will also need to mix in an IGR to break down the reproductive cycle. Bifen kills the adults that come in contact with it, but then you still have the immature fleas growing and then reproducing. It is a constant battle without the IGR. We recommend Nyguard as it will last up to 7 months.   Nyguard Plus would be a great choice for indoor flea control. For the most effective control, vacuum before treating and then everyday for the next two weeks, being sure to change the bag or empty the cannister immediately after vacuuming.  A second treatment should be applied after 14 days.

Bifen IT is not a contact kill product, it is a residual product that can take a few days to start killing the insects that you are treating for.  After you apply it to your lawn, it is important to avoid mowing and watering for at least three days. This gives the product time to do what its designed for. They still may move but will eventually die.

Indoors, Bifen IT is only labeled to be used as a crack and crevice to baseboards, corners, storage areas, closets, around water pipes, doors and windows, behind and under refrigerators, cabinets, sinks, furnaces, stoves, the underside of shelves, drawers and similar areas. Bifen IT is great for outdoor control of Noseeums.

Along with vacuuming the carpeted areas daily, using a product called Microcare will provide you with a fast knockdown and kill flying insects which will give you immediate relief.

You can read our article on how to treat Noseeums here.

We do not recommend outside of the product label. The manufacturer states to use no more than 1 oz per 1 gallon of water. This product is a residual based product. The residual outdoors is 30 days indoors 90 days. Even if you were to use 4oz, you would still need to reapply per the product label of 30 to 90 days.

When doing a soil barrier treatment for termites, it is important to treat directly against the structure on all sides of the house as close as possible. Against the foundation of the home,  dig a 6 x 6 trench around the entire perimeter. Where carports and concrete patios are existing, you will drill 18-24 inch holes 2-3 inches off the foundation wall 10-12 inches apart. This will ensure the soil under that concrete slab is protecting the actual house foundation. Please read our on How To Perform A Termite Treatment Article for more detailed instructions and recommendations.

While Bifen IT is labeled for termites and will last up to 5 years in the soil, we would recommend using Termidor SC or Dominion 2L for termite soil barrier treatments. Termidor SC bonds to the soil after 24 hours and will last 10 years and Dominion 2L will last for 7 years. 

Yes you can mix Talstar with most weed and feeds successfully for the most part. Most weed and feeds will have a small section on doing a test "tank mix" so you can test to make sure the products will blend together without issue. We do recommend doing a test tank mix to be sure the products will mix together without separating.

You should dethatch first and then treat with Bifen IT for increased effectiveness. You should water in the product after application to reach the areas they feed. 

Bifen IT is labeled for fire ant control and will help help eliminate fire ants when used as directed on the Bifen It product label: fire ant control is optimized by combining broadcast applications that will control foraging workers and newly mated fly-in queens with mound drenches that will control existing colonies. If the soil is not moist, then it is important to irrigate before application or use a high volume application. Apply broadcast treatments at 0.5 to 1 fluid oz. per 1,000 square feet. Use enough finished volume to penetrate thatch or sod. Treat mounds by applying 1 oz Bifen IT per mound in 1 to 2 gallons water by sprinkling the mound until it is wet and treat 3 feet out around the mound. Use the higher volume for mounds larger than 12”. Treat mounds with sufficient force to break their apex and allow the insecticide solution to flow into the ant tunnels. For best results, apply in cool weather (65 - 80˚F) or in early morning or late evening hours.

You can also use the backpack mist blower to apply Bifen for fleas. You still want to stick to the perimeters of your yard and around your home. Mix at 1 oz per gallon of water. You may also want to consider mixing in Nyguard IGR to help break down the reproductive cycle. Be sure to visit our Flea Guide for more helpful tips on Flea control. 

Per the product label, the soil around a well can be treated with Bifen IT. You can treat up to three feet away from the well.

With Bifen IT, the label states that when you are treating for yellow jackets, spray the nest opening in the ground, bushes, and in cracks and crevices where the insects may nest. Saturate the openings and contact as many insects as possible. Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

Bifen IT is highly toxic to bees. You can reduce the risk to your bees by keeping applications away from areas where the bees are actively foraging and at times when the bees are not active in general. You may also consider using Mavrik Perimeter insecticide for outdoor pests, which is non-repellent and non-toxic to honeybees after it is dried. You will want to read the product label to see if this fits your needs.

Demand G granules will control clover mites, but our most popular product for clover mites has always been bifenthrin products like the Bifen IT.  Demand G Granules would be a good one, two punch for your yard, but spraying Bifen on the house 2 feet up and 2 feet out and underneath siding will do a better job than anything keeping clover mites away.  Unfortunately these pests seem to come back every year once the moisture comes and the weather gets warm. 

The 96 oz of Bifen IT will make 96 to 192 gallons giving you a coverage of 4 acres. But, please keep in mind that the Bifen alone will not eradicate fleas. You will also need to mix in an IGR to break down the reproductive cycle. Bifen kills the adults that come in contact with it, but then you still have the immature fleas growing and then reproducing. It is a constant battle without the IGR. We recommend Nyguard as an additive to the Bifen and it will last up to 7 months.

Bifen IT will not harm your trees. It is very gentle on trees, shrubs, lawns and ornamentals. Mosquitoes tend to harbor on the undersides of the leaves. Be sure to mix 1 oz per gallon of water per 1,000 sq ft and treat monthly. We also suggest adding an insect growth regulator (IGR) such as Pivot 10 to impede the insects reproductive cycle.

Mosquito Control Article

It is typically recommended to dispose of anything edible that could have been sprayed during a treatment with Bifen IT.

Bifen I/T is one of our most popular products for mosquito control.  Bifen XTS is basically the same product, just in a higher concentration, and oil-based instead of water-based. Either sprayer or mister application would be effective with either product as long as the application is thorough.  Oil-based products such as Bifen XTS can stain some surfaces.  This is not usually a concern in most areas outside, but you should use caution when treating around the siding of a home.  Most oil-based products such as Bifen XTS do have a "chemical" odor but it is not especially strong.

Do not spray any bifenthrin product in a way that would contact the pond with direct spray, drift, or runoff.

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, so if there are any areas of standing water where you are treating, those should be treated as well with Altosid Pro-G Mosquito Larvicide if you prefer not to use BTI Mosquito Dunks.

Bifen IT is safe for ornamentals and for turf grasses, when used at the label rates.  Apply at 1 oz per 1,000 sqft for most insects with a minimum of .5 gallons per 1,000 sqft.