Crack and Crevice Pest Control, Pest Management with Dusts, Sprays

In many pest control articles, pesticide labels and other pest management information, the term "cracks and crevices" is often used. This term indicates a procedure where insecticide sprays, dusts, aerosols and baits are injected to or placed in areas where conventional methods are not possible.

Cracks and crevices include areas such as wall voids, spaces between walls and cabinets or other small spaces that are out of reach of pets and children.

Pest control operators and pest management technicians have used crack and crevice tools for many years. Pyrethrins are often used to flush roaches out of hiding places during a German roach clean out. In the past, pyrethrin dust was the product of choice but the price and inconvenience of use made this an unfavorable crack and crevice product. Pyrethrin aerosols and Drione Dust are now favored for flushing roaches out of hiding areas.
Why flush them out? Once bugs have been flushed out of their harborage, they are more likely to come into contact with conventional pesticide sprays. During a clean out, a pyrethrin aerosol or Drione Dust can be used to inspect for roach harborage. In most cases, a clean out is performed for severe infestations of German cockroaches.
Once the residual spray has been applied, crack and crevice dust or aerosol is used to flush the pests for a better kill. A residual spray is usually a concentrated product that is mixed with water and applied to baseboards, beneath appliances and other areas where roaches, spiders, ants, stored product pests or other household pests frequent. Suspend SC, Cypermethrin concentrates and Acephate (or Orthene) are examples of products used as residual sprays. Demon and Cynoff, concentrated materials that contain Cypermethrin, are used more often than other insecticides, when treating for infestations of German cockroaches and other pests found in homes.

Pyrethrin aerosols are generally used for flushing roaches and other pests. Drione Dust is also used for flushing but is often used as a residual dust in cracks and crevices. Drione contains pyrethrins and silica gel. Pyrethrins provide initial knock down of pests while giving a flushing action. Silica gel is a low hazard material that provides a long residual when applied to cracks and crevices, providing that the material is kept dry. Moisture will severely harm the action of silica gel. When applying Drione Dust or other insecticide dusts to these small areas, the use of a Crusader Duster makes the job go faster. This hand bellows duster helps in injecting small amounts of product to small areas without making such a mess.
Another insecticide dust used in crack and crevice work is Delta Dust. This is an insecticide that contains Deltamethrin active ingredient. Deltamethrin is an odorless synthetic pyrethroid material that is becoming very popular with pest control technicians. Delta Dust is water-proof and is preferred for use around plumbing lines or other areas where moisture might be present.

Besides inspection and flushing, crack and crevice tools are used to apply longer acting products to areas where pests hide, forage for food, breed and multiply or where they enter a building. Residual crack and crevices products can be in several different forms. Aerosols such as CB Invader and CB Airdevil are examples of residual crack and crevice products. The difference between these products and pyrethrin products is mainly in how and where they are used. While pyrethrins have a broader range of use (space sprays, crack and crevices, etc.) Invader and Airdevil will leave a residual. This is fine for many areas but more care should be taken with any pesticide that leaves a residue that might harm people, pets or their food when used improperly.
Invader contains Baygon insecticide. Airdevil contains Cypermethrin and is virtually odorless. Both of these products are to be used for cracks and crevices, only. Do not use them as a space spray for flying insects indoors.
Crack and crevice aerosols are generally used immediately after spraying with Cypermethrin or Deltamethrin insecticides but can be used as a stand along pest control tool. Many people find that use of professional crack and crevice aerosols lessens or eliminates the use of conventional sprays.

The use of foaming agents is becoming very popular in pest management programs. Termitafoam is a material that transforms insecticide solutions into a foam that resembles shaving cream in texture. Using a foamer for application, treat wall voids and other inaccessible areas with Demon EC, Cynoff EC, Permethrin, Deltamethrin, Boracare, Demand CS or other insecticides.
Water, Termitafoam and your insecticide are mixed in a foamer. After pressurizing the foamer (pressurize the device just as you would a pump type garden sprayer) the mixed solution is injected into wall voids through a small hole in the wall. By only making a small hole through which to inject chemicals, far less work is involved, both in application and filling and repairing any hole you had to make for the job.
As foam is injected into voids, the insecticide expands to fill the void. In a few minutes or up to a couple of hours, the foam dissipates and allows your insecticide solution to slide down deeper into the void or area being treated. Foaming is a great tool for certain jobs but is not designed for smaller cracks and crevices. It is mainly used for applying product into walls and beneath concrete slabs.

Insect baits that are manufactured in granular form can be used in cracks and crevices. Maxforce FG is a granular bait that is used for control of ants, roaches and crickets. This is a small granule that can be applied with a hand bellows device such as a Crusader Duster. Niban FG is a boric acid bait that is formulated into very tiny particles. Use Niban FG for control of roaches, silverfish and ants. This bait is also applied to cracks and crevices with the use of a hand bellows duster.

Insect growth regulators (any of which is usually called an IGR) can now be used for cracks and crevices. Gentrol, Precor and Archer are growth regulators in concentrated form that can be used in a foamer, with the help of Termitafoam. Gentrol is also available in aerosol form. Gentrol Aerosol is designed for use in cracks and crevices, to aid in the control of roaches, certain pantry pests (stored product pests) and drain flies, fruit flies.