We’ve all seen them: homeowners spray the entire room with insecticide walks over the zone and then zap the cockroach through an invisible force field!
However, despite the advertisements and the fact that these products are usually referred to as barrier sprays, how do these products function?
The simple response is that no!
How Do Crawling Insect Surface Sprays Work?
Crawling insect sprays operate according to the idea that, after spraying a surface, the thin layer of insecticide remains on the surface of the substance.
When insects walk across the surface, they get the insecticide on their legs and body. The insecticide can enter their body directly or due to grooming, and the insect dies.
The death rate depends on the quantity of insecticide they pick up and their sensitivity to insecticide.
But, even when a surface is freshly treated, insects cannot absorb much insecticide, which can take minutes or even hours to kill. It’s, therefore, very likely for homeowners to witness insects reportedly walking across treated surfaces without noticing any effect.
But, if the insect has absorbed sufficient insecticide, they’ll eventually end up dying.
Are Insecticide Surface Spray Repellent?
The majority of surface sprays contain the insecticide type known as the Pyrethroid.
They are insect repellent. However, the degree of repellency depends on the level of insecticides on the surface and the nature of the insects.
Typically, the degree of repellency is the greatest when fresh sprays are applied to the product. This is the feature that is the reason for”force fields” and “force field” adverts and the notion of these sprays creating a magical force field that keeps bugs out of your home.
However, the repellency soon diminishes, and the principal mechanism of action is the killing properties provided when an insect crawls across the surface.
However, the repellency effect could last long for wasps and other spiders and stop them from constructing webs or nests.
What Factors Affect Product Performance?
Physical attributes of the surface The presence of insects on the surfaces depends on the materials’ physical characteristics.
When dealing with “porous” surfaces such as bricks and wood, a portion of the insecticide gets deposited through tiny holes on the exterior of the materials. This prevents it from coming into contact with insects.
This causes the treatment to be less effective or shorter in time. However, all insecticides applied to “non-porous” materials, such as sealed tiles, are accessible to contact with insects. In the end, the efficiency of such surfaces is greatly enhanced.
Chemical properties of surfaces – some materials react with pesticides, breaking them down and reducing the action time.
Brick and concrete surfaces, which are alkaline in nature, can break down insecticides in various ways, which means that treatments won’t last for as long. The effects of a painted surface can reduce the effectiveness of treatments.
Weather conditions – sunshine (UV) and rain can reduce the effectiveness of insecticides. Ultraviolet rays from sunlight break down insecticides. While certain insecticides are more resistant than others, any treatment exposed to the sun will offer a shorter time to protect. Specific treatments exposed to rain will have the potential to be cleaned away.
Time: In terms of weather and surface, how much insecticide remains on the surface will decrease as time passes. The longer since treatment is completed, it will take longer for an insect to stay on a surface to absorb a fatal dose.
After a certain time of treatment, the insect won’t absorb sufficient insecticide to cause any harm, and the treatment will not be effective anymore.
The length of protection will vary based on the item, but typically, the product will last for 3-6 months in areas with shade (such as indoors or under eaves); however, up to a month could be more common in regions exposed to rain.
The good thing is that most insects don’t tend to build nests exposed to the sun or rain; therefore, that “lack of performance” may not affect the overall quality of protection.
How To Increase the Performance of a Crawling Insect Surface Spray?
Spread the spray over a large, satisfying space. When spraying the exterior of the home, it is recommended to spray one meter up the wall and one meter away from the wall. This will favor a large treatment area, so insects who walk over the area will be exposed to more.
For even coverage, make sure that you apply the correct quantity of product (as directed on the label) and ensure even coverage (with no gaps)
Shake the product before and during use. If the insecticide isn’t evenly distributed inside the container, you’ll not receive an equal dosage when released. Certain kinds of products need to be shaken more than others, as they are more concentrated, and the chemical “settles out” quicker.
Reapply as often as necessary.
For most homes, an indoor and outdoor treatment once every time is sufficient to keep pests at bay. However, for floors within the home that are cleaned often, areas that are exposed outdoors, or surfaces that are prone to attack, such as concrete, more frequent application is required to keep a pest-free home.
