Being caught up in a constant need of anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic hydrocortisone creams, in a bid to combat those red and swollen marks left by the nagging parasitic larva known as ‘chiggers’. This calls for a prompt and practical means of eliminating those offending little creatures.
Here we will produce a guide on how to get rid of these bugs and look closer at the options for the best insecticide for chiggers.
What are the best pesticides for chiggers?
- Tempo Ultra SC
- Tempo Dust Insecticide BA1011
- Talstar 67759 Professional
- Exterminators Choice Tick and Chigger Defense Repellent
- Ortho Home Defense MAX insect killer for indoor & Perimeter RTU Wand
It must be noted that the top five (5) insecticides (as listed above) for chiggers are very strong pesticides. They are well suited for killing chiggers because they are the tough pesticides capable of an effective chiggers treatment.
Information on chiggers
Succinctly put in the words of Sun Tzu (The Art of War) ‘Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril.’ While I believe you know yourself, let’s learn a bit about chiggers (the enemy).
The term ‘chigger’ also known as chigger bug, redbugs, harvest lice, harvest mite and harvest bug is a common name for the six-legged larva of any of several blood-sucking mites belonging to the family Trombiculidae. Usually, they feed on the blood of animal hosts such as: reptiles, birds and small mammals. Occasionally, they also bite humans, especially the one known as Trombicula irritans which induces intense itching and irritation.
They are barely visible to the naked eye. Chiggers are common in the Southern parts of the United States where they cling to foliage and grass stems. They promptly attach themselves to any animal that brushes against them while passing. These bites are usually not dangerous except those inflicted by some Asian species which is suspected to spread the scrub typhus disease in humans.
How to get rid of Chiggers?
There are several options one could adopt in getting rid of a chigger infestation in your yard.
As the first line of defense, a great (and popular) choice is the use of insect repellents e.g DEET (on the skin) and Permethrin-based insecticides (strictly on clothing) to get rid of chiggers as recommended by the University of Kentucky’s Faculty of Agriculture.
Once that has been done, other concerns would include:
- What insecticides will kill chiggers in your yard
- How you might get rid of chiggers in your house
- What pesticides might be effective for chigger lawn treatment
Making the best choice of insecticide is key to addressing all the above concerns. The appropriate selection must be guided by factors such as:
- Resistance to some insecticides
- Presence of children
- Extent of infestation
- Cost
- Duration of action etc
Why would one need a strong insecticide to get rid of chiggers?
It was mentioned earlier that chiggers which bite humans are mites in the larval stage. The larval stage is one of the stages in the metamorphosis (growth) of an insect, thus, the offending chiggers are not full grown insects. The mite larva (which we call chiggers) is more closely related to spiders than any other organism. This makes it very difficult to control them through the use of just any insecticide. Therefore, for an insecticide to be effective in the control of chiggers, it must be highly potent and capable of killing even the larva forms of insects.
What insecticide kills chiggers in your yard?
Over the years, it has been proven that the most effective and reliable insecticides for killing chiggers in your yard and home are those which contain one of: bifenthrin, carbaryl, permethrin (or its derivatives), cyhalothrin or cyfluthrin. The five insecticides in this article were specifically chosen in a bid to save you time on scouring the internet for specific products containing the above effective ingredients. They are all listed here.
Attributes that differentiate one insecticide from another
There are several differentiating attributes. Some of these include:
- Spectrum of activity (Broad or Narrow)
- Mode of action (Repellant or Killing i.e cidal)
- Mechanism of action
- Persistence (i.e how long the active ingredient in one insecticide remains unaltered over a period of time as compared to that of another insecticide)
- Onset of action (Instant or Delayed)
Best way of using insecticides
Safety first! It is highly advised that all food and feeding items (e.g cooking utensils, plates and spoons) be kept away prior to the use of chigger insecticides indoors. The label of the insecticide must be carefully read and complied with. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or any other adequate protective gear (e.g boots, handgloves and face masks) must be used.
Prerequisites to using insecticides
- Carefully and thoroughly read the label
- Be familiar with all precautions
- Be familiar with necessary First Aid information
- Wear the proper Personal Protective Equipment
- Do not smoke or eat while mixing or applying pesticides
- Stick to the ‘directions for use’ as clearly stated on the insecticide label
- Always mix or dilute the pesticide outdoors or in a well-ventilated area
- Mix only the amount needed for each application
- Keep children, pets and toys away from areas where you mix and apply insecticides
- Always have a nearby source of water (it comes handy in case of an emergency caused by excessive spills on the skin or contact with eyes) (https://pesticidestewardship.org/homeowner/using-pesticides-safely-and-correctly/&hl=en-NG )
Now, let’s delve into the mini-review section of the five (5) products listed in the introductory part of this article.
Chigger Insecticide Reviews
Tempo SC Ultra –Multi Use Pest Control Insecticide
A super, long-lasting, odourless and effective insecticide against more than 100 pests
No products found.Tempo SC Ultra is one of the products manufactured by Bayer AG. Tempo SC Ultra (Cyfluthrin, cyano 11.8%) is the perfect all-round spray. It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.
This chigger insecticide has a high residual insecticidal power, which means that you would not need to spray your house, yard or lawn for a very long time while the chigger bugs and other pests are exterminated.
Another interesting feature of this chigger pesticide is that it has no odour and it is non-staining. This is great because of the environmental friendliness it would afford you while the chiggers are being thoroughly dealt with.
Tempo SC Ultra stands out among chigger killers because it is safe to use while it gives long-lasting results. Only a 32 ml bottle of Tempo SC Ultra makes around 2 gallons of spray which can be used over 2000 sq ft. This is great because it can help you to cut down on costs required to eliminate chiggers.
How to use
Indoors: 8ml – 16 ml of Tempo concentrate into one gallon of water, then apply as a crack, spot, crevice and perimeter spray wherever insect pests are found to nest.
Outdoors: 8ml – 16 ml of Tempo concentrate into one gallon of water. Spray around door frames and window frames
Pros
- No chemical odour
- The first application yields a high insect mortality rate
- High residual power (i.e no need to re-treat areas)
- It is useful both indoors and outdoors
- Treats up to 2,000 sq ft.
Cons
- May prove slightly difficult to use
Tempo Dust Insecticide
An all-round dust which provides a long residual activity against several perimeter pests
Tempo Dust Insecticide BA1011 is also one of the products manufactured by Bayer AG. This product is highly recommended for killing stinging insects such as wasps, bees and hornets, it is equally effective in killing chiggers.
Tempo Dust Insecticide BA1011 (Cyfluthrin 1%) contains one of the most effective compounds capable of initiating a rapid knockdown and long-term control of numerous bugs.
Tempo Dust Insecticide is pyrethroid dust. This is great because pyrethroids offer an instant or almost instant killing of chiggers and other pests within their spectrum of activity. It can be dusted into cracks, voids, crevices, in and around structures with the aid of dusters (e.g Power dusters or Hand dusters).
Another great feature of this product is that: it is excellent at penetrating into walls and voids, thereby establishing a maximal coverage of the points of application and its environs. This is such a great feature because it has the ability to reach those crevices which are physically inaccessible thereby ensuring a total wipeout of chiggers and other pests. It is odour-free and non-staining.
Pros
- No chemical odour
- It kills on contact
- The first application yields a high insect mortality rate
- High residual power (i.e no need to re-treat areas)
- It is easy to use
Cons
- Its high residual effect is affected when applied to areas which are being disturbed (e.g by human or animal movement)
- Loses effectiveness when mixed with water
Talstar Professional 96 fl oz Insecticide
Effective, safe, odorless and economical pesticide for general pest control
No products found.Talstar Professional known as Talstar P, Talstar, or Talstar One is one of the products manufactured by FMC.
Talstar Professional (Bifenthrin 7.9%) is great for use around the home. It is a general pesticide, which means that you could use it to kill a wide range of other pests in your house, yard and lawn on top of the chiggers themselves, thereby saving some amount of money that would have been invested into the purchase of narrow-spectrum pesticides. Also, it has been found to be active against termites, cockroaches and bedbugs.
Pros
- Useful both indoors and outdoors
- Long-lasting control over more than 75 pests
- Quick killing of most insects
Cons
- Rainfall diminishes its effectiveness
Exterminators Choice Tick and Chigger Defense Repellent
Highly effective and safe natural insecticide for repelling chiggers, mites and biting insects
Exterminators Choice Tick and Chigger Defense Repellent is one of the products manufactured by Pinelake Industries.
The blend of natural oils which this products is made of such as: Cinnamon, Citronella and Peppermint oil, helps to effectively repel invading pests such as chiggers, mites and biting insects amongst others while it leaves a pleasant scent in your home, yard, lawn and clothing.
Hikers or field workers can benefit from these natural oils as they act as a repellent to the bugs. This means that this choice can also be applied to clothing and defend you against chigger bites!
Pros
- It has a wide range of activity
- Can also be used as a repellent for hikers, field workers, outdoor activities
Cons
- Frequent application is required
Ortho Home Defense MAX insect killer for indoor & Perimeter RTU Wand
A non-staining, odor-free, one-touch spray with superb handle design
Ortho home defense MAX is one of the products manufactured by Ortho. It is an excellent all round bifenthrin spray for both indoor and outdoor applications which means it is a total package capable of saving you some cash.
It sports an easy to use, continuous one-touch spray comfort wand which makes it easier to apply the chemical onto your lawn and yard – wherever the chiggers have taken home. This is great for eliminating hand fatigue and is particularly good for those who have arthritis.
Pros
- Offers up to 12 months of protection
- It is useful both indoors and outdoors
- It is easy to use
- Effective on large infestations
- Suitable for persons who have arthritis
Cons
- The sprayer wand can become tricky to use after first use
Best Option for Chiggers
The winner is Tempo SC Ultra. This product is chosen as the best among the top five because it offers attractive attributes such as effectiveness, safety, environmental friendliness, high residual power, ease of usage and budget effectiveness all in one pack!
No products found.
It is the exterminator’s insecticide! The product is best for those who might seek to wipe out almost every conceivable pest (chigger killer positive) with the least amount of insecticide for the longest possible period of time.
Tempo Ultra SC is a broad-spectrum pesticide, which has potent cidal activity once it comes in contact with any pest. You need not be bothered about stains and chemical odor – It gives none!