Suspend SC Insecticide - Questions & Answers

While Suspend SC offers a long lasting residual to keep killing insects even after it has dried it is not an immediate knockdown product. Suspend SC will take a few hours to kill spiders even if they are sprayed directly with the product. If you need something with an immediate knockdown you will need to use an aerosol pyrethrin spray such as 565 Plus XLO or Microcare.

Suspend SC is considered to be better for outdoors than cypermethrin because it will last much longer than cypermethrin does outdoors.  Cypermethrin does have a stronger initial knockdown, but will break down much quicker in UV light and heat than Suspend.  Typically Cypermethrin will only give about 30 days of protection whereas Suspend SC can give 60 to 90 days before needing to be re-applied.

All insecticides have different times they will last outside which is mainly dependant on where you live, climate, how hot or how much rain you have, etc.   Suspend typically will last for 60 days but can be applied more often or less often depending on where you live.  Termidor is typically applied every 3 to 4 months around the perimeter for best results.

Suspend SC can be used to help eliminate flea beetles and it is labeled for use on most lawns. We do recommend that you speak to your local cooperative extension offices master gardener to be sure that Suspend Sc will not damage Dichondra Lawns. (Suspend SC is known to be gentle on lawns but some species of lawn can be very sensitive to chemicals)

Unfortunately, any cucumbers that have been sprayed with Suspend SC must be discarded. We do carry several products that can be used on edible vegetation. Fertilome Liquid Carbaryl Spray is one product that we carry and it is labeled for use on cucumbers for cucumber beetles.

Suspend SC is not labeled for any type of mange mites and may not give you with the results you are looking for, nor is is labeled for use on furniture where people would sit.  In fact, for the few mites Suspend SC is labeled for the product label makes a point to tell you that it is for suppression only.  In almost all mange infestations, you should treat the infected animal with products given to you by your veterinarian.  All of the animals bedding should be washed with Borax (read the product label and be sure it is labeled for use on laundry) and dried or discarded all together to avoid re-infestation.  If the animal has been sleeping or resting on your couch or other furniture, you should thoroughly vacuum and perhaps even steam clean the furniture.  Some people find relief by using diatomaceous earth under and around furniture, under furniture cushions and in the tucks, seams, folds, cracks and crevices of the furniture.

The rule of thumb when applying insecticides outdoors: You need 24 hours before and after the application with no rain. You could probably get away with just having 24 hours after spraying as long as the surface you are spraying is dry at the time of the application. If the area is still wet, Suspend SC will not be able to adhere to the surface and will wash away. If it rains right after the application, you will again have a situation where the product could be washed away.

Suspend SC and Demon WP are both synthetic pyrethroid products and both offer great control of the pests you mentioned. Demon WP will last a bit longer outdoors and since it is a wettable powder it also stays on the surface of porous areas such as concrete or wood which creates a greater opportunity for insects to come into contact with it. The downside to this is that Demon WP will leave behind a white powdery residue that is especially noticeable on dark surfaces. Both Demon WP and Suspend SC can be used indoors for silverfish control but because of the white powdery residue that Demon WP can leave behind it may be best to stick with Suspend SC for this use. You can also use Dekko Silverfish Paks to help control the silverfish in hidden areas indoors. Silverfish simply eat through the pack and ingest the poison inside. Place in closets, drawers, bookcases, basements, garages and other dark hidden places. Each pack lasts up to 4 months.

Suspend SC cannot be used on any animals. Permethrin SFR is a concentrate that can be used on dogs (do not use on cats) for flea and tick control. According to the Permethrin SFR product label you will mix ¼ fl. oz. of concentrate to 1 pt. water and use 1-2 fl. oz. of dilution to spray on each animal. Spot treat back, face, legs tail and ears. If you would like to "dip" the dogs you will use ¼ fl. oz. to 1¼ gallons water and thoroughly wet the dog to the skin with sponge or rag. Let drip dry. We also have a ready to use product called Petcor Flea/Tick spray which requires no measuring or mixing.

Suspend SC is a professional product that is used by professionals everyday.

Suspend SC will remain effective even if treated areas are exposed to rain or other moisture conditions. It is important to make sure the surfaces that you are applying Suspend to are dry at the time of the application to insure the product actually adheres to the surface.

The Suspend SC brochure does indeed mention using the product in the areas specified. What it doesn't mention is how you can use the product on those areas. In our previously answered questions we do say that Suspend SC can be used as a spot treatment only on carpets and that it can be used on mattresses. According to the Suspend SC product label "For control of carpet beetles, fleas and ticks indoors, apply as a coarse, low pressure crack and crevice or spot treatment to problem areas and infested habitats. Do not treat entire floor, carpet or floor coverings. Do not apply as a space spray. Application to furniture should be restricted to areas where prolonged contact by humans will not occur. Care should be taken to limit spot treatment to pet beds and infested floor coverings." The wording on the Suspend Sc product label specifically prohibits treating entire carpets or floor coverings. The label also limits you to 'crack and crevice' or 'spot' treatments. We and the applicator using Suspend SC are bound by law to follow the product label attached to the product. Suspend SC  can be used on carpets and mattresses but you cannot spray the product over the entire area, you must limit you application to cracks and crevices and spot treatments only. You can find this information on the Suspend SC product label on page 2, last paragraph.

You should only spray when it is not raining. In order for the product to work properly the product needs to have time to dry on the sprayed surface. If it is sprayed onto a wet surface it cannot adhere and may simply be washed away.

While we do carry products for mealybugs, our expertise leans more towards structural pests and turf pests. We recommend that you contact your local cooperative extension office or a horticulturist that specializes in cacti and succulents for advice on which product would work best in your situation. If you cannot find the recommended product on our site please let us know, we will be happy to see if we can get it for you.

Suspend SC is not the best choice for indoor flea control because you can not broadcast spray it over carpeted areas. We recommend using Ultracide for indoor fleas. Ultracide is a very effective flea control aerosol that provides immediate kill of adult fleas and prevents formation of new adults from eggs or larvae. Ultracide is a very safe and effective flea control product that is used widely by professional companies such as Terminix and Orkin in homes with children and pets all the time.  You should only apply Ultracide to carpeted areas and upholstered areas.  Do not apply on top of couches and chairs where people rest their arms, fleas do not breed in these areas. You would want to spray around the foot of the furniture, and underneath couch cushions.  You should have children and pets in another room while you are treating.  After treatment, allow 30 minutes to dry and then it is perfectly safe for children and pets to re-enter the room. Vacuum immediately before the treatment and every other day for the next 14 days. A second treatment may be needed after 14 days for heavy infestations.

When kept in optimum conditions (out of direct sunlight and away from extreme temperatures), a bottle of Suspend SC can last up to five years. We always recommend that you use the products within three years of the date of purchase to be sure you are using effective products.

Yes, Suspend SC is labeled for carpet beetle control and it will eliminate carpet beetles that come into contact with treated areas. It is very important that the source of the infestation (where the damaging larva is harboring) is discovered and eliminated, not just the visible adult insects you see wandering around. Until you find out what that is and deal with it you will continue to get more of the carpet beetles emerging from hiding. Carpet beetles may be as likely to feed on grain based food materials as they are on animal byproducts. Pet foods stored in forgotten places, baking goods left too long in the cupboard, rodent baits tossed in the attic - all of these are quite susceptible to carpet beetle feeding. Plus, you also have the typical carpet beetle diets of dead insects (wasp nests in the attic, dead insects in window sills), feathers (bird nests, dead birds), hair (dead rodents, wool products, trophy mounts), and other things made from animal byproducts. Once the source of the infestation is removed or cleaned, using Suspend SC will help get rid of the annoying adult beetles. You can spray once a month until all of the beetles are gone.

You will use 0.25oz - 1.50oz of Suspend SC per gallon of water depending on what you are treating and where you are treating. Please take a few moments to read through the Suspend SC product label to find the correct rate for your needs.

Apply Suspend SC outdoors on all door frames, window frames, areas where utilities (cables, pipes, wires) enter into the structure, a band of soil 6 to 10 feet adjacent to the structure, also to a height of 2 to 3 feet on the foundation where pests may be active or may find entrance. As the stink bugs crawl over the treated area, they will receive a lethal does of the insecticide and usually die within a few hours. You should treat every month starting in August and ending in November for best results. Stinkbugs are usually not a problem for most people until fall when they start looking for a nice warm place to spend the winter.

Cynoff EC and Suspend SC are both great products and both would do a great job for your needs. Cynoff EC contains the active ingredient cypermethrin which is known to be one of the most effective active ingredients for spider control, but Cynoff EC also has a very limited product label. Suspend SC on the other hand has a much broader label and is one of our best sellers for general pest control.