Feb 5, 2012 – The Role of IGR’s
QUESTION:
A plant manager mentioned to me that another pest control company ULD's his other warehouse with just Gentrol. Have you ever heard of such a thing? Unless they are using oil and Gentrol there would really be no sense to use Gentrol alone as it seems it would take too much and offer no pest control. Does this sound correct?
ANSWER:
Gentrol really does have Labeling for a great many pests, as well as for either fogging or surface application. So, this use of Gentrol as a space spray is a valid application that could very well offer some benefit. We tend to think of Gentrol in terms only of cockroaches, since that was the original use for it and perhaps still leads the way. Of course, now Gentrol is getting much wider use for bed bug control as well. But, on the label we also find stored foods pest moths and beetles as well as small flies such as drain and fruit flies. The active ingredient (hydroprene) works on all of these to disrupt proper growth and development of the early stages if those larvae or nymphs are exposed to the active ingredient. Larvae of moths and beetles, with any luck, will die prior to reaching the adult stage and nymphs of roaches and bed bugs will reach the adult stage but should be infertile and incapable of producing viable eggs.
View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.
A plant manager mentioned to me that another pest control company ULD's his other warehouse with just Gentrol. Have you ever heard of such a thing? Unless they are using oil and Gentrol there would really be no sense to use Gentrol alone as it seems it would take too much and offer no pest control. Does this sound correct?
ANSWER:
Gentrol really does have Labeling for a great many pests, as well as for either fogging or surface application. So, this use of Gentrol as a space spray is a valid application that could very well offer some benefit. We tend to think of Gentrol in terms only of cockroaches, since that was the original use for it and perhaps still leads the way. Of course, now Gentrol is getting much wider use for bed bug control as well. But, on the label we also find stored foods pest moths and beetles as well as small flies such as drain and fruit flies. The active ingredient (hydroprene) works on all of these to disrupt proper growth and development of the early stages if those larvae or nymphs are exposed to the active ingredient. Larvae of moths and beetles, with any luck, will die prior to reaching the adult stage and nymphs of roaches and bed bugs will reach the adult stage but should be infertile and incapable of producing viable eggs.
The Gentrol Label also does offer various uses, including surface treatments, spot or C&C, as well as fogging, and in a large warehouse fogging would be the most efficient way to disperse the active over large areas. Since the molecule of hydroprene is fairly stable it is possible that it may last for several months to affect larvae that emerge from eggs or even new pest insects that enter the facility well after the application. Hydroprene and methoprene (in Precor) also have the unusual ability to "move", and this is why Gentrol Point Source works. The vapors of the active ingredient sort of "flow" over the surfaces adjacent to where it is placed, or where the mist or spray from fogging or spraying the material has landed. The Gentrol label does instruct that when fogging it should be directed into hidden locations as much as possible, such as under pallets or behind equipment, so ensure better coverage.
There also are some very specific directions for use in any kind of food facility. If this warehouse that is being fogged packages food or has any exposed foods or surfaces where foods will be placed and exposed, those surfaces cannot be treated. They must be covered ahead of time or thoroughly washed following the fogging if they were left exposed. Even though these IGR's have extremely low toxicity to people they still are pesticides and must be applied according to the label.
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