Yes, Talstar P can be used inside the home. You will apply in baseboard areas, cracks and crevices, around window and door frames, under appliances and sinks, and potential entry points such as where plumbing or wiring meet the wall.
Both non-repellents and repellent insecticides will eventually eradicate the pests that the products are labeled for. Non-repellents allow more time for the insects to be able to take the product back to their colony and transfer the product among each other. "Repellent" insecticides, such as Talstar P, are not detected until the insect you're treating comes in contact with the product - it will give off a "tingling" sansation or so to the insect but by then it will be too late for the insect. Eventually both types of products will work as long as the right amount of product is being used. Talstar P is a great choice to someone beginning to do their own pest control. Please see our Pest Library for more detailed information about specific pests.
Talstar P is a excellent option for boxelder bugs. Be sure to spray around the perimeter of the home, around windows, doors, etc. where the bugs could get indoors. You should treat in late Summer and Fall once a month until the first frost. This product can also be used indoors around the perimeter of your home. The mixing ratio is 1 fl. oz. per gallon of water.
You can use a hose-end sprayer to apply Talstar P. You shoul use 1 oz per 1000 sq ft, and we recommend using 1-3 gallons of water per 1,000 sq ft. Keep in mind that it is most important to use the correct amount of concentrate and then think of the water as a carrier, so it is better to use a bit more water than to use too little. For example, to treat half your yard, you would use 7.5 oz at a rate no higher than 1 oz per gal of water, but usually it is best to use a rate of 0.3 or 0.5 oz per gal of water with a hose-end sprayer. You can always start with a small area and test using just water to get an idea for how heavily you tend to spray and how fast you walk when spraying.
Our most popular general use product is called Talstar. It is widely used by pest control companies because it is labeled for almost every insect you could have a problem with (including ants, roaches and silverfish) and you can use it outside the home as well as inside, it is odorless and very safe for use around children and pets. It is a liquid concentrate that you mix with water in a one gallon hand pump sprayer. It will last for 60 to 90 days outside in between treatments. It is also labeled for lawn and ornamental use, and can be used on trees, plants, bushes and shrubs for all sorts of ornamental pests including Japanese beetles, mosquitoes, and other leaf eating pests.
For mounding ants in the yard you may also want to consider using a bit such as Extinguish Plus. The bait will kill both the workers and other ants in the colony and sterilize the queens so the mounds won't keep moving and popping up in other places. (by using just a topical spray such as Talstar, only the ants that contact the treated areas are killed but the other ants that remain in the colony usually just move and make a new mound).
When using Talstar P, the mixing ratio is 1 fl. oz. per gallon of water. This will generally treat 1000 sq. ft. For your lawn, you will need to fill up your sprayer at least three times to complete your entire lawn. The pint size of Talstar P would make 16 gallons of solution and treat 16,000 sq ft.
Talstar P (Talstar One) can be dispersed in a hose end applicator. You will mix 1 oz per gallon of water per 1,000 sq ft. Please set your applicator to fit manufacturer settings accordingly.
For outdoor use the Talstar P will be safe for animals of all kinds once dry. For indoor use if you have pet birds, we recommend removing the birds from the home while you treat and for at least 4-6 hours to give plenty of time for the product to dry and air out. Birds are more sensitive to chemicals and smells so keeping them out of the treatment areas for longer than pets like dogs and cats is recommended. If you have any safety concerns regarding its use around your birds please take info on the product to your birds vet for consultation.
Talstar is a great option for mosquito control and can be used in either a mist blower or a sprayer.
We recommend applying Talstar anytime of the day EXCEPT during the middle of the day. The key with mosquitoes is to apply to the underside of the leaves as that is where the adults lay during the day.