Pesticide Dusts

Dusts are an essential instrument to have whether you are a pest control professional or a DIYer. There are many problem pests which take to products that are delivered in dust form and applicators often prefer it to the other formulations of pesticides you’ll find out there. Among some of the common species of pest which are effectively controlled via insecticidal dusts are roaches, fleas, bed bugs and ants. 

Insecticidal dusts are very handy in many pest control treatment programs because they retain their insect killing power over a much longer period of time, and will continue controlling the pest population long after the initial application.

On this page, we will briefly teach you about pesticide dusts, how they work and the numerous benefits they bring. You can also shop our top recommended insecticidal dusts here on this page.

What is a Pesticide Dust? 

A pesticide dust is a formulation which comes ready-to-use and usually consists of an active ingredient and an inert carrier that is very fine and dry. The active ingredient contained in an insecticidal dust is usually a low percentage, usually 10% or less by weight. A few insecticidal dust formulations, however, are concentrates and contain a much larger percentage of the active ingredient and thus, these concentrates would have to be mixed and diluted down with the dry inert carriers before applying.  

Common dry inert carriers include finely ground talc, clay, volcanic ash, nut hulls and nutshell flour. The carrier is used to dilute the active ingredient, making it possible to spread the dust evenly over the treated surface. 

According to most professional pest control experts, dusts are believed to be the most effective of all insecticide formulations for killing crawling insect pests. When applied into wall voids, dusts penetrate into hard-to-reach areas where German cockroaches hide. Dusts can be easily picked up by crawling insects because the active ingredient stays on the surface where insects can be exposed.

Not all dust kill insects the same way. While some kill insects by destroying the wax layer of the insect cuticle in causing treated insects to dehydrate, others affect the neurological system which ultimately leads to death.

Conditions for Using Pesticide Dusts

Dusts are always used dry. They are often used for seed treatments and in some other agricultural operations. Some ornamental and garden pest management products aimed at homeowners are dust formulations. In building structures, dust formulations are useful to treat cracks and crevices and for spot treatments to control insect pests. Dusts are also a good tool to control lice, fleas, and other external parasites on pets and livestock.

Insecticidal dusts should be a common tool used in a comprehensive pest control program along with liquids and baits. Dusts should be used alongside these products because they will be able to reach places the other products can’t reach, like tight cracks and crevices and wall voids. They also have a longer residual effect and will keep on killing for a much longer period of time.

The great thing about insecticidal dusts is that there are many different options which are effective in killing pests, some of which are environmentally friendly and safe around pets and humans. These include silica gel and diatomaceous earth.

Benefits of Using Pesticide Dust

Insecticidal dusts come mostly ready to use with no mixing required. They can be effective where moisture from a spray may cause damage, such as around electrical outlets and wiring. They also require simple equipment for application, such as a handheld or electronic duster to allow for delivery in hard to reach indoor areas.

Studies have shown that dusts can be used effectively over a wide range of moisture conditions. The results of the research disprove the long-held belief that dust formulations are ineffective when applied to areas with high humidity.

Pesticide Dust Drawbacks

Like other formulations, dusts have some limitations. On exposed surfaces, dusts may be unsightly, and if excessive amounts of dusts are applied, the deposit may be a repellent to insects. Care should be taken when filling dusting equipment and when applying dusts in enclosed areas. They are ineffective against most flying insects like mosquitoes and flies.

Other disadvantages include that insecticidal dusts have tendencies to easily drift off target during application. Dust residues often do not adhere to some types of surfaces compared to liquids (for instance, on foliage) as they may easily wash or or get blown away.

Dusts may irritate the eyes, nose, throat and skin during application and they pose a high inhalation exposure risk. If it is too damp or moist, the product may clump or may clog equipment. It also can be difficult to get an even distribution of the insecticidal dust particles during application.

Our Recommendations

D-Fense Dust- D-Fense Dust is a new Deltamethrin Dust. Both D-Fense Dust and Delta Dust have 0.05% Deltamethrin as the active ingredient and the dusting formulations are waterproof and won't clump. D-Fense Dust is a ready to use insecticide dust which gives an effective knockdown and residual control of up to 8 months if undisturbed. This product should be applied using a hand duster or power duster equipment. Find this in our 100% Guaranteed Bed Bug Kit.

Viper Insect Dust-  Martin's Viper Insect Dust, with Permethrin may be used for various uses. This garden dust may be dusted on vegetables, fruits, and flowers in gardens to kill listed insects such as leafminers, armyworms, cutworms and more types of garden pests.

Tools Needed

Most of the dust equipment you can find comes with a top which serves as an applicator. However, the applicator tip often is not as effective as a handheld duster. We recommend using handheld or electrical dusters for a more convenient application.

User Guide

Step 1: Input Dust into Handheld Duster

To use the handheld duster, just pop or twist off the rubber top, fill the duster about halfway with your preferred choice of dust, secure the cap back seal. Flip the duster over so the bulb is pointing down and the straw is above it.

Step 2: Begin Dusting

Take off the protective cover on the tip of the straw, and give the bulb a gentle squeeze to start dusting. When applying dust into cracks and crevices and on surfaces, gently squeeze the duster to ensure the application of very thin layers of dust. When dusting correctly, you should barely be able to see the dust emerging from the tip of the duster. Treat between carpet and baseboards, cracks and crevices, around plumbing and in other hard to reach places until the area is thoroughly treated.

Key Takeaways

• A pesticide dust is a formulation that comes ready-to-use, and usually consists of an active ingredient and a dry inert carrier of the ingredient.
• Pesticide dusts are especially effect in killing crawling insect pests (bed bugs, roaches, fleas etc.) that like to hide indoors in tight spaces and cracks and crevices that other pesticides aren't able to reach for treatment.
• Dust should be used alongside liquid insecticide and baits because it will reach the places other products can't and contains a long residual.