Bifen IT Vs Tempo SC Insecticide
Two insecticides have become prominent in the battle for a bug-free dominion: Bifen IT and Tempo SC. But which of these champions should you enlist in your anti-insect brigade? Dive in as we dissect both contenders’ prowess, efficiency, and safety to help you make an informed decision.
Bifen Vs Tempo Table
This table outlines the key differences between Bifen IT and Tempo SC insecticide.
Tempo SC | Bifen It |
 |  |
Active Ingredient Beta Cyfluthrin 11.8% | Active Ingredient Bifenthrin 7.9% |
Fast-acting, pre-binning, residual treatment for stored grains | It Is A Fast-acting Termiticide That Can Kill Termites Within 24 Hours. |
Pet safe If Used As Directed On Label | It Is Odorless, Non-staining, And Dries Clear |
8 Ml (0.27 Fl Oz) Per Gal Water | Mixing Ratio 0.33 Oz./gallon Of Water |
Tempo SC is low usage rates and lasts up to 3 months | Long-lasting Residual Effect For Up To 3 Months |
Effectively controls a broad spectrum of indoor, outdoor, and turf and ornamental pests. | Once Bifen It Bonds To The Surface, It Does Not Break Down Easily With Rain. |
It kills Ants (excluding Pharaoh and Harvester Ants), Carpet Beetles, Flies, Cockroaches, Crickets, Millipedes, Pillbugs, Silverfish, Spiders, Japanese Beetles, Hornets, Yellowjackets and others | It kills Spiders, Mosquitoes, Cockroaches, Ticks, Fleas, Pillbugs, Chinch Bugs, Earwigs, Millipedes and Termites |
Active Ingredient
The active ingredient is important to consider because it is what actually kills the pests. The active ingredient in Bifen IT is bifenthrin, while the active ingredient in Tempo SC is beta-cyfluthrin. The beta-cyfluthrin and bifenthrin are synthetic pyrethroids.
Pyrethroids are man-made chemicals that are similar to the natural pesticides found in pyrethrum, which are extracted from chrysanthemum flowers. Pyrethroids are some of the most common active ingredients in insecticides today.
Target Pest
The target pest is the specific type of insect the product is designed to kill. Bifen IT kills over 75 types of pests, including ants, aphids, armyworms, bagworms, banks grass mites, centipedes, crickets, cutworms, diaprepes root weevil larva, earwigs, elm leaf beetles, eurropean red mite, fall webworms, imported fire ants, Japanese beetle larva, lace bugs, leaf-feeding caterpillars, leafhoppers, mealybugs, millipedes, pillbugs, sod webworms, sowbugs larvae, and others.
Tempo SC insecticide is designed to kill many different types of pests, including ants, aphids, armyworms, budworms, cadelle beetle, crickets, cutworms, darkling beetles, deathwatch beetle, fleas, flies, June beetles, mealybugs, millipedes mosquitoes, moths, pillbugs, scorpions, silverfish, sowbugs, spiders, spittlebugs, striped beetles, ticks, wasps, yellow jackets and others.
Pet Safe
Both Bifen IT and Tempo SC Insecticide are considered safe for pets when used as directed. You can allow pets or children to re-enter the area once the product has dried.
Where To Use
Both Bifen IT and Tempo SC insecticides can be used indoors and outdoors. You can also use them to treat cracks and crevices for various found indoors near baseboards, in wall voids around plumbing, closets, doors, windows, and other areas. Those can be used outdoors on turfs, sports fields, lawns, flowerbeds, barn yards, perimeters, homes, commercial buildings, and others.
When To Use
Bifen IT should be applied on days when the wind is calm, and it’s not going to rain. You can also use Tempo SC Ultra to get rid of pests either indoors or outdoors. The best time to deal with pests is usually in Spring through Fall.
Mixing Ratio
Another important factor to consider is the mixing ratio. The amount of Bifen IT you use will vary depending on where you are using it and what type of pest you are trying to get rid of. You can use between .18 ounces and 1 ounce per 1,000 square feet.
On the other hand, To treat 1,000 square feet, mix 0.27 to 0.54 fluid ounces of Tempo SC Ultra with one gallon of water. Please refer to the label for more specific application rates.3
Killing Method
Another thing to think about is how the insecticide actually kills the pests. Bifen IT takes a while to kill insects. It will take two to four hours for them to die after the first application.
Tempo SC Ultra kills insects, but it does not work right away. The insect has to eat a lot of the poison to die. It will die between 1 hour and 24 hours after coming in contact with the treated areas.
Our Observation
The main difference between Bifen IT and Tempo SC Insecticides is the active ingredient, target pest, and killing method. Bifen IT contains bifenthrin while Tempo SC contains beta-cyfluthrin. They are synthetic pyrethroids that are man-made chemicals similar to the natural pesticides in pyrethrum.
Based on the information above, it seems that both Bifen IT and Tempo SC insecticides are effective at killing various pests. However, Bifen IT may be a better choice for those looking for an insecticide with a quick kill time. Tempo SC Ultra may be a better choice for those looking for an insecticide safe for pets and children.
It is always important to read the label carefully and follow the directions when using any pesticide. Be sure to choose the right product for your needs and always apply it according to the label directions.
