Deltamethrin vs Bifenthrin Insecticides

Deltamethrin vs Bifenthrin

In the insecticide world, there are two main products: those containing deltamethrin and those with bifenthrin. Both of these ingredients are effective at killing pests, but which one is better? This blog post will compare and contrast these two ingredients to help you decide which one is right for you.

Bifenthrin vs Deltamethrin Table

There are a few reasons you might want to compare deltamethrin and bifenthrin. Maybe you’re unsure which one is right for your needs, or perhaps you’re curious about how they stack up against each other. No matter what your reason, we hope this table will help you make an informed decision!

Delta Dust

Bifen I/T

Active ingredient Deltamethrin 0.05%

Active ingredient is Bifenthrin 7.9%

Have Odor

Odorless

Powder Form

Liquid Form

Not Exactly Kills on Contact

Kills On contact (Yes)

1 lb. could covers about 2,000 sq.ft.

1 lb. could covers about 2,200 sq.ft.

Kills Ants, Bed Bugs, Boxelder Bugs, Cockroaches, Crickets, Fleas, Firebrats, Silverfish, Termites & more

Target pests: over 75 different pests

DeltaDust is a 100% waterproof dust

 Long-lasting residual for up to 5 years

Why Compare?
These chemicals work well at killing insects but have unique advantages and disadvantages. We will compare and contrast deltamethrin and bifenthrin so that you can decide which one is right for your needs!

Deltamethrin-based products such as Suspend SC, Talstar Pro, and Archer IGR offer long residual life. Bifenthrin-based products such as Ortho Bug-B-Gon, Bifen IT, and Temprid SC provide a broad spectrum of pest control.

The main difference between Deltamethrin and Bifenthrin is that deltamethrin is more effective against flying insects. At the same time, bifenthrin is more effective against crawling insects. Deltamethrin is a neurotoxin, while bifenthrin is not.

The other advantage of using a Bifenthrin-based product such as Bifen IT is that it does not have much odor. This is compared to a Deltamethrin-based product such as Suspend SC, which does have a slight odor.

Target Pest
Suppose you are looking to treat mainly crawling pests, such as spiders, Mosquitoes, Cockroaches, Ticks, Fleas, plugs, Chinch Bugs, Earwigs, Millipedes, and Termites. In that case, a bifenthrin-based product will be your best bet.

If you are looking to treat pests that are mostly flying, like Ants, Bedbugs, Cockroaches, Fleas, Silverfish, Scorpions, Sowbugs, Millipedes, and others, then a deltamethrin-based product will be your best bet.

For Use In
Bifenthrin is used in and around homes, apartments, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, office buildings, warehouses, and other commercial and institutional buildings. It can be used both indoors and outdoors.

Deltamethrin is used in and around agricultural buildings such as barns, stables, hog pens, and poultry houses; in and around residential facilities such as homes, apartments, and mobile homes; greenhouses; on lawns, turf, trees, and ornamentals. It can be used both indoors and outdoors.

Coverage
Bifenthrin-based products can be used to control pests in buildings and structures. You should use 0.33 to 1 fluid oz per gallon of water when spraying the product. You will need 1 gallon of finished solution to cover 1,000 square feet when using a hand pump sprayer.

On the other hand, Deltamethrin-based products such as Suspend SC can be used for indoor and outdoor applications. When applying the product, you’ll need to use about 2-3 grams of DeltaDust per square yard (or 0.5 lbs per 1000 square feet).

How to Use
Bifenthrin-based products must be mixed with water and applied with a sprayer. You should shake the product well before mixing and apply it in a fine mist.

Deltamethrin-based products can also be mixed with water, but they can also be used as dust or bait. When using as bait, apply the product to cracks and crevices. If used as dust, apply the product to areas where pests are active or likely to travel.

How Does Deltamethrin Work

Deltamethrin is a pyrethroid, a synthetic chemical, and the natural pesticide pyrethrin effects. It’s a broad-spectrum pesticide used both inside and outdoors. It kills target insects through injection or direct contact by disturbing the average production and performance of signals within the insect’s nerve system.

Deltamethrin Safety
It is a mildly toxic chemical and should not be applied directly to water. Caution must also be taken while spraying outdoors because it is highly toxic to kill pests, bugs, and insects.

Our Observation
From our observation, we think that a bifenthrin-based product is better when you want to treat mostly crawling insects. On the other hand, a deltamethrin-based product is better when you want to treat mainly flying insects. However, both products are effective against a range of pests.

Bifenthrin is better if you want a product with little to no odor. However, deltamethrin is just as effective if you don’t mind a slight odor. In terms of coverage, bifenthrin-based products will cover a larger area than deltamethrin-based products.

Conclusion
We hope this table has helped you compare and contrast deltamethrin and bifenthrin! If you still have questions about which product is right for you, don’t hesitate to contact your local cooperative extension office or certified pesticide applicator.

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