how bug barriers (e.g. Ortho Home Defense, Raid Max Bug Barrier) kill a large variety of insects for 6+ months even afte its dry?
In: Biology
Those are best case scenario tests.
Basically, the spray is applied to an area. Then they put some bugs in the area. They count how many bugs die, and how many bugs come back to the area.
“Up to” is a very important part of the sentence. These products say they will prevent bugs for “up to” some amount of time. All they are is a product that kills bugs. You spray, bugs die.
Most bugs found in a home are scout bugs, they find a new source a food and tell the colony where it is. If you kill the scout, it will take a long time for a new scout to come along.
So, when testing, they see which bugs come to check out and area and then die, and then time how long it takes for a new scout to come along.
Unless you have lots of bugs in your house, it is best to not use pesticides, and instead continue to keep the house clean of unsealed food and other food like items for bugs. For example, cardboard is a wonderful source of food for cockroaches. Then mice will eat cockroaches.
If you have a really large bug problem, keep all food in a sealed container, plastic or glass. Mind you, cockroaches can find any opening and rats will eat through a lot of stuff, so it must be sealed right.
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