For the most part, I prefer to avoid pesticides in and around my home. I lean toward natural remedies whenever possible. I want to prevent exposing my family to toxic chemicals or disturbing the natural ecosystem of my yard.
But there comes a time for massive action.
I live in Southeast Texas and we have recently experienced an overwhelming Greenhouse Millipede infestation in this area. They are crawling on the exterior walls of homes and finding their way inside.
I contacted the Big Thicket National Preserve seeking guidance on how to best control them but ultimately, I decided to take matters into my own hands.
My solution of choice? Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer Yard Spray.
There are a ton of yard insecticides on the market. It can be overwhelming trying to decide which brand to use. Ultimately, for me, it came down to what I determined was the least toxic but most effective solution.
What does Spectracide Triazicide kill? SPECTRACIDE® TRIAZICIDE®INSECT KILLER FOR LAWNS & LANDSCAPES CONCENTRATE is a ready-to-spray formula that kills over 260 insects including centipedes, crickets, fleas, mosquitoes, deer ticks, grubs, and many other insects. It kills on contact and provides up the 3 months of residual control killing insects both above and below ground.
Impressive. But insecticides can be harmful to your lawn, pets, and family. Before spraying this stuff on my lawn, I did a lot of research into its ingredients, use, and safety concerns.
What Is The Active Ingredient In Spectracide Triazicide?
The formula’s active ingredient is 0.08% Gamma-Cyhalothrin which provides broad-spectrum control of a wide range of insects. It is used in agricultural as well as residential pest control prevention.
As with any insecticide, care should be taken with the use of this product. The Safety Data Sheet can be downloaded from the Spectracide website.
Here are a few key points to note regarding the safety and use of
Spectracide Triazicide Yard Spray.
In 2003, the New York Department of Health conducted a study on the potential toxicity of Spectracide Traizicide using laboratory rats.
They found that the formula was “not very toxic” when testing acute exposure to skin, respiratory system, and mouth. Additionally, they noted minimal eye irritation in testing conducted on rabbits (source).
Still, common sense and good judgment should be applied when using any chemical insecticide. Below are the specific warnings and alerts that I have found in my research that you should keep in mind when using this product.
Ingestion
The formula is harmful if swallowed. The company’s literature advises contacting Poison Control or a physician if ingestion occurs.
Skin Contact
Spectracide Triazicide Yard Spray requires thorough washing of hands or any exposed areas after use if you come into direct contact. Personally, I think this is good practice regardless as the mist from the spray may be so minute that you might not realize you have it one you. Which brings us to the next warning:
Respiratory Inhalation
While tests conducted on laboratory rats may not have shown toxicity related to acute exposure, consideration of the long-term effects of using an insecticide like this should be taken into account. The Safety Data Sheet lists no special first aid measures for inhalation.
The University of Missouri has a detailed article written by representatives from their Department of Agriculture and Department of Agronomy on the general precautions and concerns of working with pesticides.
These authors recommend that in the case of inhalation, the person be moved to fresh air. If they show any signs of distress, contact 911 (source).
Is Spectracide Triazicide Safe To Use Around Pets And Kids?
This was the first priority I had in making sure I was comfortable with its use. What I found was that, according to the product label, pets and children should not be allowed back onto the lawn until the spray has dried.
Being obsessive, I kept everyone off the lawn for two days. That’s probably excessive but I thought it best to err on the side of caution.
When To Apply Spectracide Triazicide
Ideally, you want to spray the formula prior to insects getting out of control. Other than that, the instructions clearly state not to apply during rain. It’s also best to apply when you are not expecting rain for a couple of days.
How To Use Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer Concentrate
This ready-to-use formula connects directly to your garden hose and mixes the concentrated formula automatically as it is sprayed. It is important to shake the bottle well prior to use.
There is a yellow stop-tab that prevents use until it is removed. It is easy to disengage by pulling directly out.
You begin spraying by pulling back on the white level switch. It’s designed so that when holding the bottle by the handle, your thumb can easily engage or disengage the switch.
From there, it’s just a matter of moving the sprayer back and forth across the lawn. The mixture dispenses in a flat fan pattern so it’s easy to keep it directly on the target area as you work your way through the yard.
Prevent Hose From Being Dragged Through Treaded Area
The company recommends starting at a far end or corner of the yard and working backward so that you do not cross over the treated area as you work.
One challenge I found with this was that my hose kept getting left in the treated area as I worked backward. I had to remember to pull it with me as I worked to prevent dragging it across the treated area. Otherwise, it’s a pretty simple and intuitive process.
I found the best approach to this is to hold the sprayer in one hand and grip the hose with the other. This way, you can pull the hose along and jerk it out of the target area as you move.
Video: How To Apply Spectracide Triazicide To Your Lawn
This company video outlines the basics of use.
Does Spectracide Triazicide Have A Smell?
You can smell the spray in the air as you are treating the area. I won’t say that it is particularly pungent or offensive, but I did notice it.
If you are sensitive to smells or respiratory irritants it may be wise to use a respirator but I found no requirements for personal protective equipment during residential application. I researched the company website as well as organizational and educational websites.
Spectracide Triazicide Product Label Download
You can download the product label for the ready-to-spray concentrate at this link. The label provides directions for use, precautions, and instructions on storage and disposal.
The link will download a PDF file to your computer or phone directly from the Spectracide website.
Spectracide Customer Support
If you have questions, you can call the company’s customer support line at 800-917-5438 or use the Contact Page on their website.
Where Can I Buy Spectracide Triazicide Ready-To-Spray Concentrate?
The product is available on Amazon and have it shipped to you. That’s where I purchased it. You can click here to get the latest pricing. It’s very inexpensive so it’s listed as an Add-On, meaning it will ship free when you order other qualifying products totaling $25.
I took advantage of the free shipping by also ordering insect granules for the yard because I wanted to do a one-two punch to get insects under control and keep them at bay.
Here’s the company’s video on how to apply the granules if you want to double up on your insect control.
You can also likely purchase this at Walmart or your local hardware store, just about anywhere that carries insect control products.
Does Spectracide Triazacide Really Work?
Spectracide Triazacide is highly effective as a quick-results broad-spectrum insecticide. With the ability to kill and control over 260 insects in your yard, the ready-to-spray concentrate is a simple do-it-yourself solution to insect control.
The morning following application, I awoke to find hundreds, possibly thousands, of curled up dead millipedes all over my yard. Spectracide Triazicide put a clear and decisive cease to the infestation that we were experiencing.
Conclusion
From time to time, situations warrant bringing out the big guns to get insects under control. Spectracide Traizidine proved to be an effective and easy-to-use product for my millipede infestation.
So long as you take appropriate precautions, this may be just what you need to get control of an insect outbreak in your yard.
Ultimately, however, it’s important to remember that there is a complex web of interdependent critters in your yard.
True, long-term pest control requires an understanding of the intricacies of these relationships and careful control of pest-attracting insects without endangering non-invasive ones.
Read the complete article on how to reduce pests using the Integrated Pest Management approach.
Pest-Related Articles You May Be Interested In:
7 Things You Must Understand To Control Mosquitoes Inside & Out
Why Do Snakes Keep Coming In My Garage?
As a homeowner, I am constantly experimenting with making the structure of my house more energy-efficient, eliminating pests, and taking on DIY home improvement projects. Over the past two decades, my family has rehabbed houses and contracted new home builds and I’ve learned a lot along the way. I share my hard-learned lessons so that you can save time and money by not repeating my mistakes.
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