The Safety and Efficacy of Bifenthrin to Kill Bed Bugs

by | Mar 28, 2016 | Bed Bug Treatment

bed bug under microscope

What Is Bifenthrin?

When looking for a bug bug remedy, many wonder if bifenthrin and bed bugs is a safe and effective combination. To help shed light on the topic, this blog post offers various opinions related to the safety and efficacy issues.

It is an active ingredient found in Talstar brand name pesticides and in generic bifenthrin pesticides. It tends to be an active ingredient of approximately 7.9% in these types of pesticides. It can be used indoors, including food-handling areas like restaurants and kitchens, around and on building exteriors, and on greenery like lawns, plants, and shrubs.

chemical formula

It is used to control pests such as fire ants, roaches, termites and lawn insects, worms, ants, gnats, caterpillars, maggots, yellow jackets, moths, fleas, flies, beetles, grasshoppers, and ticks. Now bifenthrin and bed bugs are also thought to be an effective combination.

A study by Colorado State University noted some interesting findings of the effect of bifenthrin and bed bugs. It noted that:

“Most of the insecticides normally sold through retail outlets are liquid formulations that have uses restricted to crack and crevice treatments. Few, if any, insecticides sold over-the-counter are formulated and labeled for use in critical sites such as to mattresses or around electrical wiring. All insecticides must be used in strict accordance to label use instructions.”

This would indicate some precaution is needed but that it would appear to be generally safe. Other sites like DoMyOwnPestControl.com noted that bifenthrin is “odorless, non-staining, dries clear and is safe around children and pets when used as directed.”

There are stories where it would seem as though bifenthrin can impact some people who come into contact with it, perhaps due to some type of allergic reaction. As with any pesticide, it is best to take great care and precaution when coming into contact with it. More research is needed to render a conclusive finding.

Will Bifenthrin Kill Bed Bugs?

dead bed bug

  • Bifenthrin is used to treat some types of insect infestations in both internal and external environments like food prep areas, building exteriors, and greenery.
  • Many sites proclaim bifenthrin safe if used in a way that matches the instructions about how to apply it.
  • It is thought to be safe for children and pets as well as areas where food is prepared.
  • However, there do appear to be cases where people have been harmed or made sick by bifenthrin, suggesting that it may not be safe in certain situations.
  • Additional research is needed to determine conclusively if this is a safe combination.
  • A recent study revealed the common bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) had shown significant resistance to some chemical control methods, including chlorfenapyr and bifenthrin. Researchers said that the best way to kill bed bugs isn’t to use a certain chemical product solely. Instead, it’s a combination with additional control measures such as vacuuming, steam or heat treatment, and mattress encasements.

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