Is CimeXa insecticide dust toxic? Is it safe? Does it kill bed bugs?

cimexa insecticide dust

Bed bugs, like many other insects that invade homes, have a mechanism that allows them to produce resistance to commonly used insecticides. This makes the battle to eradicate them all the more difficult, and additional options are becoming crucial to fight against them.

CimeXa insecticide dust by Rockwell Labs is one of the most popular desiccant powders as these types of insecticides are fail-safe against resistance and can last for years in comparison to liquid-based poisons.

Is CimeXa Insecticide Dust Toxic?

CimeXa is a non-crystalline, silica powder that is non-toxic and completely safe to both humans and animals. The dust attaches to an insect’s exoskeleton and dries the insect out by dehydration which results in death.

CimeXa is non-toxic and can be completely safe if administered correctly. Unlike other desiccant powders which can irritate the lungs, CimeXa dust is non-crystalline and is formulated from a unique mixture of silica dust which absorbs all of the moisture in insects. Due to this unique mechanism, insects cannot develop a resistance to the product.

What is CimeXa Insecticide Dust?

CimeXa dust is a fine, white powder that is made of silicon dioxide. Unlike other powder desiccants, CimeXa is generally non-toxic and doesn’t contain tiny fragments that can easily irritate the lungs if breathed in so you shouldn't be worried about health issues.

CimeXa can be administered through dust applicators, applied with brushes, and can also be applied in a liquid mixture if dust applicators are not available or desired.

CimeXa works by clinging to an insect’s waxy exoskeleton as they crawl through it which then begins to drain the insect of all of its bodily moisture, killing the insect in approximately 24 hours.

What Does CimeXa Kill?

cimeXa kills any insect that has a waxy exoskeleton. The dust is only truly effective for insects or arachnids that crawl, so applying the product for winged-insects is generally not very efficient.

CimeXa has been proven to kill bed bugs, termites, cockroaches, ants, silverfish, mites, firebrats, earwigs, fleas, lice, and ticks. Any insect that crawls or lands into an area containing the dust will die by rapid dehydration, and although this product is not an immediate, contact kill – the dust can last up to ten years if left undisturbed, which is a great value for money.

All insects have a propensity to hide to elude detection, but some insects utilize this mechanism more astutely than others.

The application of cimeXa dust is guaranteed to destroy insects that crawl through the fine film of powder. The dust is only as effective as the methods you undertake to apply the product. If treating for bed bugs, for example, you will want to apply a thin layer of dust to all cracks and crevices and areas that bed bugs harborage or crawl through. It is important not to clump the powder heavily, as this could deter insects from crawling through it.

How Effective is Cimexa?

Currently, insects cannot develop resistance against cimeXa insecticide dust. Chemical insecticides have a targeted mechanism to destroy a certain component of an insects anatomy, such as the central nervous system.

As a defense, insects over time can develop resistance within their DNA to become adapted to certain poisons, therefore rendering them no longer effective. For treatments that target physical, exterior methodologies of destroying insects, resistance is hard to develop to avoid physical attacks to their system as opposed to internal attacks.

With this in mind, cimeXa is an essential product when it comes to killing insects due to the inability for insects to develop resistance to the silica dust. Additionally, the product remains active for up to a decade if left undisturbed, making the dust a continuous insect eradicating tool. Bugs generally die within 24 hours after crossing through the product as the dust drains their internal and external moisture drying them out completely.

How to Use CimeXa Insecticide Dust

CimeXa has a basic, easy-to-understand method of application (see CimeXa Insecticide Dust Label) that varies depending upon the targeted insect. For all insects, this product should be applied in a thin, nearly invisible layer to all areas where the insects crawl and with particular attention being paid to cracks, crevices, voids, and along walls and baseboards and exterior, extending pipes and ventilation structures.

It becomes essential to spot treat areas dependent upon the main type of insect that has invaded the home. Certain insects have desired food sources, so it is essential to know what these sources are to know where the bugs will cross to reach it. 

When you know what the food source is, you can generally assume that there are certain areas the bugs will cross to reach it.

Proper application of this dust to all the areas that a certain pest may congregate is essential to having the product work. If the insect does not crawl through the dust, they will not die. 

For bed bugs, every surface where the insect's harborage should be dusted with a fine layer of the product and you can use a paintbrush to fill in gaps and crevices that are hard to reach with the nozzle of an applicator. The finer the dust, the more effective it will be in being picked up by the insects waxy shell.

How Long Does CimeXa Take to Kill Bed Bugs?

The length of time that it takes cimeXa to kill bed bugs can vary and it is important to remember that the product is not a contact kill, although it has perhaps the most powerful and beneficial residual kill of any other bed bug product. 

This can discourage many people who decide to treat their bed only with this product and take no other precautions with their bed or furniture. Even though a bed bug has crossed through the dust, they may still bite as the dust is slowly but surely dehydrating them, even with a blood meal, bed bugs may still suck your blood – which inevitably will prolong the dehydration process from the dust.

Generally, once a bed bug crosses through the dust, the bug will be dead within 6-24 hours.

Therefore, it is crucial to also take other steps to prevent the bugs from reaching you while you sleep. If a bed bug has crossed through the dust and is unable to obtain a blood meal, you can generally expect the bug to be dead within 24 hours. 

Although contact insecticides offer a quicker kill, bed bugs have a deceptively clever hiding pattern that requires a properly applied residual product to destroy them over time. With a shelf life of ten years, this product is one of the most cost-efficient options for residual bed bug killer.

Related Questions

How Long Does it Take for CimeXa to Kill Carpet Beetles

Like any other insects, CimeXa will generally kill carpet beetles within 24 hours of contact. Since carpet beetles generally like to inhabit carpet and other cloth-based materials, it may become counter-effective to treat carpet beetles with this dust. The dust will have to be continuously applied to carpet due to foot-traffic and vacuuming; however, the dust will kill any beetles that hide in cracks and wall crevices.

Does CimeXa Kill Fleas?

CimeXa dust will kill any insect that has a waxy, exterior shell and this includes fleas. Treatment for flies can become problematic due to the ability of fleas to jump from surface to surface. The silica shards in the dust will cut the exoskeleton and begin the process of desiccating the flea when the insect crawls through it. Unlike grounded bugs such as bed bugs, the process of eradicating a flea colony may take longer due to the flea’s ability to freely jump from surface to surface. Once a flea jumps or crawls into the powder, the dehydration process typically takes up to 24 hours.

Where Can I Buy CimeXa Dust?

CimeXa insecticide dust is sold through online retailers and is available in select stores. The product can be purchased through Amazon, in addition to numerous online retailers and pest control outlets. This product is a beneficial investment due to its decade-long residual effects and low toxicity.

In Summary

CimeXa insecticide dust is a powerful, non-toxic insecticide that attaches itself to an insect's exoskeleton and desiccates the insect within 24 hours. With no odor or staining, this product has a shelf life of ten years, which makes it one of the most cost-effective and attractive residual pesticides to rid your home from a variety of insects. For optimal efficiency, the dust should be applied in a thin, nearly transparent layer to cracks and crevices and any structure where insects typically harbor or hide. Once an insect crawls through the dust, there is no resistance the insect can utilize to avoid the powder from killing them.

cimeXa typically targets any insect that primarily utilizes crawling as their mode of travel, however, the dust will kill any insect that crosses through it by splitting their outer shell and drying the insect from the outside in. Once the insect comes into contact with the dust, there is no escaping their eventual demise. 

CimeXa is generally safe to humans and pets, so there is no need to worry yourself in wondering if its application will cause your or your pets harm. With a powerful, decade-long effectiveness that will continue to kill insects as long as the dust is left undisturbed, CimeXa insecticide dust is a crucial product to have in your arsenal and a certain death sentence for any insect that happens to cross through its deadly trail.

Mike Henderson
Mike Henderson

Mike Henderson is a pest control operator from New York with over 15 years experience dealing with a wide range of pests. He shares his knowledge on this blog and provides useful information to help you combat pests on your own.

For severe infestations and professional advice you can also request a free pest control quote here.

Recent Posts
FREE Pest Control Quote
Before you go request a free pest control quote in your area! You will receive a call back from a pest control specialist.