Onslaught FastCap vs Talstar P
The main difference between Onslaught FastCap and Talstar P is that Onslaught FastCap contains a microencapsulated formula that provides fast knockdown and residual control for up to 12 months against a wide variety of pests. Talstar P contains bifenthrin as the active ingredient and offers up to 3 months of residual control.
Onslaught FastCap vs Talstar
Onslaught FastCap | Talstar P |
 |  |
Active Ingredient Esfenvalerate 6.4% | Active Ingredient Bifenthrin 7.9% |
Demand Cs Controls Over 30 Insect Pests | Kills Over 75 Insects In The Household |
Pet Safe After Dry | Pet safe Yes (Safe when Dry) |
Controlling Insects Indoors & Outdoors | Can be used in Indoors & Outdoors |
0.5 - 1.0 Oz. Per Gallon Of Water | 0.5 - 1 Oz. Per Gallon Of Water Per 1,000 Sq. Ft. |
Quick Kill And Residual Control | Low Odor, No Staining & No Plant Burn |
Product Is Best For Use As An Indoor Broadcast Treatment | It Is Labeled For Food-handling Areas Such As Kitchens Or Food Processing Plants. |
The Synergized Formula Combines A Microcapped Residual Insecticide | Compatible With Herbicides, Fungicides, Insecticides And Liquid Fertilizers. |
Ants, Bed Bugs, Carpenter Ants, Cockroaches, Face Flies, Fleas, Mosquitoes, Red Flour Beetles, Rice Weevils, Saw-tooth Grain Beetles, Scorpions, Ticks, Wasps, Yellow Jackets | It kills Stink Bugs, Bed Bugs, Scorpions, Spiders, Mosquitoes, Cockroaches, Ticks, Fleas, Pillbugs, Chinch Bugs, Earwigs, Millipedes, Dichondra Flea Beetles, Spittlebugs and others |
Active Ingredients
Onslaught FastCap contains esfenvalerate (6.4%), prallethrin (1.6%), and piperonyl butoxide (8%). Esfenvalerate is a synthetic pyrethroid that works as a contact and residual pesticide.
Prallethrin gives fast knockdown of pests, while piperonyl butoxide boosts the effectiveness of esfenvalerate. Talstar P active ingredient is bifenthrin (7.9%), another pyrethroid insecticide that disrupts insects’ nervous systems.
Target Pests
The microencapsulated formula of Onslaught FastCap allows it to control a wide range of pests, including spiders, scorpions, ants, bed bugs, fleas, cockroaches, flies, mosquitoes, and more when used both indoors and outdoors.
Talstar P also controls ants, spiders, roaches, fleas, and ticks but is labeled for use against over 75 different insects in total, making it effective against various pest problems.
Mode of Action
The active ingredients in Onslaught FastCap work by binding to nerve receptor sites in insects, causing hyperexcitation of the nervous system, tremors, paralysis, and death.
Talstar P works similarly, with the bifenthrin ingredient overstimulating pests’ nervous systems to the point of collapse. Both act as quick knockdown neurotoxicants but also provide lasting residual activity.
Residual Activity
A key difference between these two insecticides is the length of residual effect. The microcapsules in Onslaught FastCap release the active ingredients over time, allowing it to provide residual control against pests for up to 12 months after application.
Talstar P’s bifenthrin ingredient effectively provides shorter-term residual activity, maintaining pest control for up to 3 months.
Where To Use
Onslaught FastCap is approved for use both indoors and outdoors, in food and non-food areas, as a surface spray, crack and crevice treatment, spot treatment, and through power sprayers. It can be applied in and around residential, commercial, and agricultural buildings.
Talstar P can also be used for indoor and outdoor applications but is not approved for use in vegetable gardens or areas where food is handled and processed. It requires mixing with water and application with spray equipment.
Pet Safety
When used as directed, Onslaught FastCap is labeled as safe for use around pets and companion animals once dried.
Similarly, Talstar P is considered safe for pets when applied according to the label instructions and allowed time to dry thoroughly before pet re-entry. Owners should keep pets away during treatment until the insecticides dry.
Packaging Sizes
Onslaught FastCap comes in smaller 1-pint bottles designed for smaller jobs, larger 1-gallon jugs, and 30-gallon drums for commercial applications.
Talstar P is packaged in a variety of sizes, including quart, pint, gallon, and 3⁄4 gallon containers to suit different use cases. The smaller sizes are intended for home pest control.
Odor & Residue
Details on odor and residue are not included in Onslaught FastCap’s description and labeling. Talstar P is described as having little to no odor and leaving no visible residue or discoloration after application, making it a good option for indoor use. It does not cause plant leaf burn or discoloration.
Coverage Area
One pint of Onslaught FastCap can cover an estimated 16,000 to 32,000 square feet when mixed according to label directions.
Talstar P’s bifenthrin concentration of 0.06% means that 0.5 to 1 fluid ounce per gallon of water covers approximately 1,000 square feet. This makes Onslaught FastCap a more concentrated and longer-lasting formula per unit.
Our Observation
Based on the data, Onslaught FastCap appears to be the better choice if you need rapid knockdown and lasting residual activity for up to 12 months against common indoor and outdoor pests.
Its microencapsulated formula provides effective control. Talstar P may be preferred for handling a wide variety of pest problems (75+ insects) and comes in small sizes ideal for home use.
However, given its stronger residual period, we recommend Onslaught FastCap as the best overall option for managing pests in and around the home when used as directed.
James E. Butkovich, Pest control maven with a knack for eco-friendly & Chemical solutions. Blogger with a mission to make homes pest-free, one post at a time.
