Hardware stores offer a wide range of insecticides in convenient gel, paste, powder, crayons or trap forms. But the good old “Dichlorvos” does not lose its popularity. The product has eight undeniable advantages.
- Performance. Insects die within a few hours after treating the room.
- Range of action. “Dichlorvos” has a detrimental effect not only on cockroaches, but also on other domestic insects (flies, mosquitoes, ants, fleas).
- Attack on three “fronts”. The insecticide affects insects through the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and shell.
- Easy to use. No need to cook or mix anything. Simply spray the product from a can. This shape makes it easy to handle the most difficult to reach areas.
- Prolonged effect. The insecticide retains residual activity for up to two weeks, after which it begins to decompose in the air and gradually disappears.
- Economical. On average, one can is enough to treat 15-20 square meters. m.
- Practicality. Does not leave stains on furniture, walls and floor coverings.
- Availability. The aerosol is available at most hardware stores and is relatively inexpensive.
Old name with new line-up
Most modern housewives are afraid to poison cockroaches with Dichlorvos. On one side of the scale is effectiveness against household pests, and on the other is terrible odor and toxicity. But modern means have little in common with their Soviet counterpart. Manufacturers only took as a basis the familiar name, which is associated among buyers with mercilessness towards household pests.
Soviet cockroach poison is the organophosphate insecticide dimethyldichlorovinylphosphate (abbreviated as dichlorvos). The substance is toxic, merciless to insects, and also dangerous to humans and warm-blooded animals. “Dichlorvos” was used forcedly, since there were no worthy analogues. The dust, merciless towards insects, was even more dangerous for humans, and non-toxic substances had no effect on pests.
The composition of modern Dichlorvos is based on pyrethroids - the least toxic to humans among the known insecticides. These are synthetic analogues of pyrethrins, natural insecticides found in the flowers of some plants (for example, Dalmatian chamomile). Pyrethroids fight insects much more effectively, and their residual activity lasts an order of magnitude longer.
In a hardware store you can buy Dichlorvos without odor or even with a pleasant floral aroma. But this is only the result of adding fragrances. The absence of an unpleasant odor does not mean that you can forget about precautions.
Dichlorvos for bedbugs reviews
Now, under the dichlorvos series, a lot of peritroids are produced, the manufacturers of which use a word that has established associations. There are even odorless preparations that are also used to combat bedbugs. Carefully study the composition of the drug; for work you will need instructions and protective equipment. The deciding factor when purchasing is not the price; you can find out whether dichlorvos helps against bedbugs by studying the reviews.
“We encountered such a disaster in a rented apartment: it was impossible to sleep at night, someone was constantly biting us.
I wish my husband some henna, but I was terribly unhappy that some creatures were crawling all over me at night. I talked to my mom and we found out who it was. And already in the store, choosing a product to combat bedbugs, we decided to buy dichlorvos, the name is well-known and the prices are reasonable. I spent a long time deciding which was better: neo (odorless), eco or super, and also different manufacturers. As a result, I took the odorless one, the instructions are written clearly, it was carefully spelled out what types of insects it kills, and what additional needs to be used for protection. We treated the mattress, washed the clothes at 90 degrees, and now we’ve been sleeping soundly for a month now.” “We found out that there were bedbugs in the apartment after some bugs started biting our child. At first we thought about mosquitoes, so we installed a net and used applicators, but nothing helped. We went to the dermatologist, and he said that it was definitely bedbugs. We thought about how to poison, after all, the child is small, you never know what kind of reactions there might be. A friend recommended dichlorvos for a clean house, she said they poisoned insects at the dacha, and then I myself saw in the store that it was available without the smell. So we treated it with it, but still ventilated it afterwards. While there are no bed bugs observed, this is certainly encouraging.”
Operating principle
The principle of operation of the product can be described in three points.
- Breath. Spreading in the air, insecticide particles enter the cockroach's respiratory tract. Next, absorption into the hemolymph and distribution throughout the body occurs.
- Surface contact. Pyrethroid particles settle on the shell, gradually penetrating the body. Once in the blood, the insecticide has a nerve-paralytic effect.
- Gastrointestinal tract. The chemicals that make up the aerosol settle on surfaces over which cockroaches run. The insect stains its legs, and when it begins to clean them with its jaws, it eats the poison. As it spreads throughout the body, the substance blocks the activity of the central nervous system.
Description of the drug
The earlier version of Dichlorvos was more toxic. The composition included a substance from a group of organophosphorus compounds called dimethyl-dichlorovinylphosphate. It is distinguished by its aggressive effect on the human body. For this reason, Dichlorvos was no longer used. For marketing purposes, the name of the product has not been changed. The modern version of the drug contains various pyrethroids. This is a multi-component product, due to which it has an effect on different insects. There is no risk of harm to humans (provided the instructions for use are followed).
Chemical composition
Dichlorvos Neo, Varan and other varieties differ in composition. At the same time, the minor components differ, in most cases the active substances are the same:
- cypermethrin is a second generation pyrethroid, the substance has a mild odor, is poorly soluble in water, which should be taken into account when using Dichlorvos against cockroaches and other insects, there are different types of this substance, they differ in isomeric composition (alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cypermethrin, etc.). d.),
- tetramethrin is another insecticide of the pyrethroid class; when treating a room, the destruction of insects occurs under direct contact; this substance does not withstand the influence of solar radiation and begins to deteriorate,
- permethrin is a type of pyrethroid, it is a direct analogue of the natural insecticide pyrethrum, this substance can be used to treat ectoparasites,
- piperonyl butoxide is an auxiliary component of insecticide-based preparations; the substance enhances the effect of the toxic components listed above; its function is to inhibit the mechanisms in the body of insects that are aimed at destroying pyrethroids.
Additionally, the drug contains components that do not exhibit insecticidal activity: ethyl alcohol, fragrances, preservatives, stabilizers.
How does Dichlorvos work?
The principle of operation of the drug is based on the properties of various insecticides. For this reason, the level of effectiveness and mechanism of action of different types of products differs. Cypermethrin is a contact substance. This means that this compound provokes the rapid death of pests, but provided that this component gets on the chitinous covers of insects. This disrupts the functioning of the nervous system. The pests gradually lose their motor activity, resulting in paralysis and death soon after.
Cypermethrin is resistant to ultraviolet radiation. In comparison, tetramethrin breaks down in the sun. However, this substance retains its properties when heated. Tetramethrin enters the pest's body through inhalation, along with food. The mechanism of action is similar to how cypermethrin works. This similarity is due to the fact that these substances belong to the same group of insecticides.
Permethrin destroys the nervous system of parasites. This substance most effectively eliminates ectoparasites (insects that live on the human body), however, as part of Dichlorvos, it is used less frequently for treatment against lice and ticks. Piperonyl butoxide enhances the effect of insecticides.
Pros and cons of the product
Positive traits:
- speed of action, which is due to the release form (produced in the form of an aerosol),
- complex effect on pests: insecticides can enter the body of insects through inhalation, along with food and through direct contact - through chitinous covers,
- moderately aggressive effect on humans; in comparison, dimethyl dichlorovinyl phosphate is more toxic and may pose a health hazard,
- the components in the product decompose at the end of their service life, without generating toxic waste, which makes the product safer for the environment,
- it is permissible to use the product near plants without harm to them,
- Dichlorvos is an innovative, universal drug that helps destroy various pests,
- long period of action of active components: insecticides remain on surfaces after treatment of the room for 1 month.
Minuses:
- the product takes a long time to dissipate,
- treatment must be carried out several times to get rid of insects.
Features of application
The instructions for use, printed on the bottle with the product, are concise and superficial. In order for the fight against insects to be as effective as possible and without unpleasant consequences for household members, you need to arm yourself with many years of experience of housewives and advice from professionals.
Spray locations
The method of using Dichlorvos is quite simple - you need to spray the contents of the bottle. But it is important to find the right places so that the largest number of pests come into contact with the insecticide, and so as not to “contaminate” the atmosphere of the room with an excess amount of chemicals. Namely:
- along the baseboard;
- in cracks in the floor and walls;
- near water pipes;
- for batteries (only not during the heating season);
- next to plumbing fixtures;
- along the perimeter of windows and doors;
- under the window sills;
- on the back walls of furniture and under them;
- in closets;
- near the ventilation openings;
- behind the refrigerator and kitchen stove.
Some cockroaches, sensing something is wrong, may go to their neighbors through the ventilation pipes. To prevent pests from returning, cover the holes with mesh or place traps with boric acid or insecticidal gel.
6 Ways to Increase Efficiency
There are six ways to increase the effectiveness of an insecticide.
- Shake the can. It is necessary to lift active substances from the bottom that have a detrimental effect on cockroaches.
- Do not spray the product into the air. The insecticide is designed specifically to treat specific places and surfaces where insects live.
- Maintain the correct distance. Keep the can at a distance of about 20 cm from the surface to be treated.
- Prepare the surfaces. Wipe off dust and remove other contaminants.
- Open up access to far corners. It is better to move the furniture to the middle of the room. If possible, remove carpets from floors and walls.
- Limit air circulation. After treating the room, you need to close the windows and doors tightly for at least five hours.
Cockroaches often hide inside household appliances. Despite this, it is strictly forbidden to treat equipment with Dichlorvos. This may negatively affect the quality of work.
Purpose
The product was developed specifically for the destruction of flying and crawling parasites. It not only instantly kills insects, but also protects the room from their reappearance. Dichlorvos Neo can be used to get rid of:
- Komarov;
- Muh;
- Butterflies;
- Moly;
- Cockroaches;
- Klopov;
- Ants and other insects.
Even a minimal amount of aerosol can guarantee high performance. The product is also great for killing secretive pests.
Varieties
An ideal remedy for cockroaches should combine two main characteristics: mercilessness towards insects and a low level of toxicity for humans and animals. From the wide range of products presented in hardware stores, several of the most popular can be identified. These are analogues of Dichlorvos, which are sold under other or combined names. Their characteristics are given in the table.
Table - Characteristics of popular cockroach repellents similar to Dichlorvos
| Name | Active components | Peculiarities | Price, rubles (data as of January 2022) |
| "Varan" | — Tetramethrin; - cypermethrin; -dimethyldichlorovinylphosphate | — Activity for 12 days; - the smell of lemon; — required exposure time — 7 hours | 100 |
| "Clean house" | — Tetramethrin; - cyphenothrin | — Designed to process 20 square meters. m.; - without smell; — required exposure time — 48 hours; - repeated events - in a week | 200 |
| "Neo" | — Permethrin; - cypermethrin; — piperonyl butoxide | — Activity for 5 days; - odorless, lemon scent, mint scent; — required exposure time — 15 minutes; — designed to process 15 sq. m.; - low probability of resistance | 150 |
| "Raid" | - Cypermethrin; - prallethrin; - imiprotrine | — Activity for 15 days; — contact impact; — designed to process 20 sq. m.; - forms an oily film on the surface | 250 |
Analogs
The Russian market offers a large selection of insecticides under the general name Dichlorvos. Sometimes “Dichlorvos” means any other anti-cockroach remedy in the form of aerosols. They differ somewhat in composition, active substances, their concentration, fragrances used, and name. The following aerosols are popular:
- Dichlorvos (regular, with odor);
- Combat;
- Raptor;
- Raid.
They have their advantages and disadvantages. It is up to the consumer to decide which type of odorless Dichlorvos to choose. The quality of processing depends on strict adherence to instructions and the complexity of the situation.
Security measures
Thanks to modern scientific developments, the harm of Dichlorvos to people and animals has been minimized. However, if you inhale too much of the chemicals, you can cause a severe allergic reaction or even poisoning. Once in the liver, pyrethroids destroy its cells. Follow seven precautions when working with insecticide.
- Remove children and pets from the premises. It is advisable that children and animals are not in the apartment for a couple of days after treatment.
- Seal the aquariums hermetically and turn off the compressors. The insecticide is toxic to fish and amphibians.
- Hide food and personal items. Pack food in cling film or sealed bags, then hide it in the refrigerator or cupboard. Do the same with personal hygiene items and dishes.
- Remove textiles. Bedspreads, pillows, carpets, soft toys, curtains - all of this absorbs toxic substances. Remove what can be removed, cover the rest with newspapers or cellophane.
- Protect skin and respiratory tract. Carry out the treatment in a respirator or gauze bandage. Wear gloves and tight, closed clothing.
- Open the windows. Spray in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling chemicals. You need to close the windows immediately before leaving the room.
- Ensure safe storage. If you have not completely used up the product, pack the can in a plastic bag and hide it in a place out of reach of children.
Dead and lethargic cockroaches are infected with insecticides. Therefore, after treating the premises, you need to ensure that pets do not come into contact with the corpses of insects and do not eat them. If your pet begins to salivate profusely and tremors, he has been poisoned by an insecticide. He needs immediate veterinary attention.
Dichlorvos Varan
Opinions regarding the drug Dichlorvos Varan are different. It is indeed effective, but the level of toxicity is quite high, so its use is only possible with gloves and a special respirator. Many people complain about a strong odor and poisoning, so you should always read the manufacturer’s recommendations in advance to know what to watch out for and how a particular insecticide works. The big advantage of Varan is that its effect is prolonged and reaches twenty days, plus its prevalence and affordability.
You can purchase it in departments of large supermarkets or in chain stores that sell household goods, so if you need to buy an additional cylinder in case of a shortage, there will be no difficulties.
Actions in case of poisoning
Dichlorvos and its analogues should be used with extreme caution. But even protective clothing and a respirator do not provide a 100% guarantee. Residual vapors of the insecticide may be inhaled by household members.
Stages and symptoms
Depending on the severity, there are three stages of Dichlorvos poisoning. Their characteristics are given in the table.
Table - Stages of Dichlorvos poisoning
| Stage of poisoning | Development time | Symptoms |
| First (excitement) | In 20 minutes | - Dizziness; - emotional arousal; - migraine; - nausea; - lack of coordination; - bronchial cough; - constriction of the pupils; - tachycardia; - high blood pressure |
| Second (convulsive) | In a few hours | — Physical weakness; - labored breathing; - frequent urge to urinate; - muscle spasms; - state of stupor; - fainting; - increased salivation; - lack of pupillary reaction to light |
| Third (paralytic) | In a few hours | - Loss of consciousness; - complete immobility; - lack of response to external stimuli; - rapid breathing |
Having noticed signs of the initial stage of Dichlorvos poisoning, you must immediately provide first aid to the person. The second and third stages require hospitalization and drug treatment. You need to react quickly, because the consequences of poisoning can be very serious.
First aid
Symptoms of mild poisoning (first stage) disappear after three hours with timely provision of first aid. It implies four points.
- Access to fresh air. It is best to take the victim outside. If this is not possible, the person should be moved to a room that has not been treated and the windows should be opened.
- Correct position. The victim should relax, so it is better for him to lie down.
- Removing obstructions to breathing. You need to unfasten the collar and belt on your trousers. It is better to take off tight clothes.
- Cleaning the upper respiratory tract. If the victim is conscious, you need to prepare a weak soda solution to rinse your mouth and throat.
If the victim has lost consciousness, under no circumstances let him sniff ammonia. It is strictly forbidden to give soda and laxatives to drink.
The insecticide has high preventive activity. If you know that your neighbors have cockroaches or insects appear in the entrance, immediately spray the area of the front door and ventilation holes with an aerosol. After this, the pests will definitely not come around.
Is the product harmful to people?
In modern aerosol packages, the main active ingredients are pyrethroids, which are lethal to most insects. However, they can be harmful to humans only in exceptional cases, because as a result of the liver, the components of the composition break down into metabolites that are safe for humans. However, there is a small chance of poisoning.
This can happen in several ways:
- inhalation of diclofos vapor;
- after taking its components in the digestive tract;
- if aerosol components come into contact with human skin.
Small children and pets (especially cats) are at greatest risk from this tool. People prone to allergic reactions are also at risk.
If a person inhales harmful fumes, they may soon experience fever, cough, dizziness, severe facial sensitivity, headache and vomiting. If the toxin gets into the eyes, they begin to hurt and turn red. Capillaries may burst. Contact with skin may cause swelling, burning and tingling.
Such symptoms should be completely eliminated within 3 days if a new part of the harmful substance does not enter the human body. In case of prolonged intoxication of the body, the patient's condition may seriously deteriorate. Severe poisoning with Dichlorvos leads to repeated vomiting, increased blood pressure and heart function, the appearance of internal contractions, and convulsions.
When a harmful substance enters the human body, you need to provide fresh air, rinse your mouth with clean water or a weak solution of baking soda. It is also necessary to wash exposed areas of the face and body, and to change into clean clothes. If toxic components get into your eyes, it is important to rinse them several times; if they get into your stomach, you cannot do without rinsing.
It is necessary to consult a doctor only in case of severe poisoning or if Dichlorvos enters the body of a child under 1 year of age.
