When it comes to using an insecticide to try and win your bed bug battle, not all pesticides are created equal. Crossfire bed bug concentrate by MGK is a painstakingly researched and formulated insecticide that was created to target one pest – bed bugs.Â
As a highly toxic formulation, Crossfire pesticide combines a powerful contact kill with a residual that keeps killing the bugs and their eggs through all of their life stages, so a degree of caution and education about the insecticide is crucial when handling this revolutionary product.
What is Crossfire pesticide?
Crossfire is a dual-action pesticide targeted specifically for bed bugs and their eggs. Due to the high toxicity of Crossfire, all label instructions must be followed when applying the insecticide to kill bed bugs.
Crossfire for bed bugs is specifically formulated to address the increasing resistance that bed bugs are developing against pyrethroid-based insecticides.
Crossfire utilizes clothianidin, metofluthrin, and piperonyl butoxide to attack the bed bug central nervous system and kill the bugs within five minutes of direct contact or crossing through the residual poison. It is important to remember that Crossfire is specifically formulated for bed bugs and to exercise caution when handling and administering the product.
What Bugs Does Crossfire Kill?
Crossfire for bed bugs was formulated with years of research to address the rapid resistance to which bed bugs were developing against common insecticides. Since the 1990s, after a period of rebirth after DDT nearly wiped them out, bed bugs began to infest any and every dwelling that humans inhabited, and the natural course of action to kill them was the overuse of pyrethrin pesticides.Â
Many species of insects are able to develop evolutionary resistance to common insecticides and this mechanism is particularly enhanced in bed bug strains. Apart from heat and some desiccant powders, as well as squashing with hands and shoes – there are no guaranteed remedies to kill bed bugs and pesticides must continuously evolve to keep up with the rapid resistance to chemicals that bed bugs undergo.
Crossfire pesticide is formulated solely to kill bed bugs; however, the active ingredients and a powerful residual component of the pesticide will likely kill other pests as well, although this product should only be used to destroy bed bugs due to the strong toxicity of the product. If you are dealing with other insects, it would be wise and more frugal to invest in common insecticides to handle pests such as flies, cockroaches, or gnats. Crossfire pesticide is a powerful arsenal to use in a bed bug battle only.
Does Crossfire Kill Bed Bugs?
Crossfire pesticide is a state-of-the-art formulation that kills bed bug strains that have become resistant to commonly utilized insecticides. The dual-action formula provides a strong contact kill that attacks the central nervous system of bed bugs as well as their eggs and kills the bugs within five minutes of contact.Â
Additionally, Crossfire for bed bugs is a residual pesticide that will remain wherever applied for up to four weeks to provide continuous eradication for an entire month. Crossfire pesticide will kill bed bugs and their eggs, but it is important to understand how to mix the product and where to place it.
For optimal efficiency, Crossfire pesticide should be applied in an applicator that has a container to house the poison and a nozzle that adapts to areas both large and small–such as cracks and crevices.
Each 13-ounce bottle will cover an area of 1,000 square feet and each bottle should be diluted in a half and half mixture of the product and water.
For hard to reach areas, such as underneath sofas where tiny compartments can be tricky to get the poison, Crossfire is also available in an aerosol spray can.
How Do I Apply Crossfire Pesticide?
Administer Crossfire in all the places that bed bugs congregate and hide. The box spring, the underside of the mattress (avoid placing the product on the top layer near skin contact), every crack, crevice, and void of the bed frame and headboard, all furniture including underneath and the sides of drawers, window and door frames, cracks and crevices of picture frames, on and underneath baseboards, and any holes and cracks in the wall and ceiling.Â
The pesticide will kill the bugs on contact and the real power of the product will create a coat of poison that will kill bugs as they cross over it for up to a month.
It is important to remember that bed bugs need to feed on blood every 7 to 10 days, so the application of Crossfire should be in every possible place that bed bugs will have to cross through it to reach their host. They cannot jump or fly, so they will have to crawl through the poison to reach a blood meal.Â
Additional measures should be taken for optimal efficiency and include laundering all clothing in high heat and isolating the clean clothes in a sealed bag, encasing the bed and box spring with the Crossfire pesticide inside of quality mattress and box spring encasements, thoroughly vacuuming any carpet before application of the product, and using yourself as bait to draw out any dormant bed bugs that may be susceptible to the poison.
How Long Does the Residue Last for Crossfire Pesticide?
The most attractive component of Crossfire is that its powerful killing mechanism lasts for up to four weeks after application. To completely kill bed bugs, it is crucial to select a formulation that contains a residual kill for up to four weeks.Â
Each bed bug egg hatches 6 to 10 days after it is laid and nymphs must consume a blood meal to molt and advance to their next life cycle. If you miss spraying eggs on direct contact, you will need a powerful residual to do the job once the nymphs start crawling towards their host.
By adequately placing Crossfire in every possible place that bed bugs harborage and hide, the residual poison will kill them once they have no choice but to crawl through it. A good way to think about the residual when applying it is to think of all the possible places and structures the bugs will have to climb on or through to reach your blood.Â
Because bed bugs can go long periods without blood and some may choose to remain dormant to avoid crawling through the poison, it may be necessary to reapply the product after the four-week residual has expired and avoid mopping or wiping up the poison until there are no more signs of bed bugs.
Who Can Use Crossfire Pesticide?
Crossfire is available for private and commercial use and is popular as a do-it-yourself product and as an arsenal for exterminators. Due to its high toxicity, the product may not be available in all states for private use and if this is the case, ask your pest control professional about the product during a consultation.Â
Crossfire is one of the best methods you can apply for eradicating bed bugs, but it is crucial to follow the label instructions to avoid harm.
Precautions for Use of Crossfire Pesticide
Crossfire bed bug concentrate is a highly toxic poison and certain precautions must be taken to avoid possible lethal consequences of misuse. Always read and follow the Crossfire label instructions consistently to avoid harm.
When using Crossfire, be sure and put on sturdy and thick gloves that will not allow the poison to seep into your skin. Wear old clothing and be sure and immediately launder the clothing after application. Wear a respirator mask to avoid breathing in the product during application.
It may help to open windows and doors during the application process to ventilate your home and help the fumes to escape the dwelling quickly. Once applied, be sure and leave your home for at least two hours to allow the poison to dry and the residual to take effect, also avoid placing the residual on areas where your exposed skin will come into contact with it.
All pets, including fish and birds, should be removed from the unit for up to two hours and be sure and apply the poison to areas of pet bedding where your pets will not be able to sit in it or ingest it. Wash your hands thoroughly in warm, soapy water and if you are in an apartment, it would be beneficial to let your neighbors know that you have administered pesticides.
Related Questions
Does Crossfire Kill Roaches?
As a powerful pesticide, Crossfire will likely kill any insect that crosses through it, including cockroaches. It should be understood that Crossfire is solely formulated to kill bed bugs for up to four weeks that have become resistant to traditional insecticides. Although the poison may kill a few roaches if you are dealing with this problem, the formulation is for bed bugs which have a completely different behavior pattern to roaches.
Where to Buy Crossfire Pesticide?
Crossfire for bed bugs is available directly from the MGK website and a handful of online retailers including Amazon. The product is not currently available outside of specialized, online retailers, so you will need to purchase the product online. Most retailers will package the product discreetly to maintain your anonymity.
In Summary
Crossfire for bed bugs is the newest, best line of defense in insecticide treatment for bed bugs available for private, pedestrian use. The dual-action formulation targets bed bugs and their eggs with a powerful and quick direct contact kill and a residual that lasts for up to four months.Â
Due to the product’s high toxicity, precaution and care must be taken when administering the product to avoid potentially toxic reactions in humans and pets. With an effective residual that kills bed bugs for four weeks, including newly hatched nymphs, Crossfire is one of the most popular and effective pesticides in clearing the bugs from your home for good.Â
When combined with other measures to ensure bed bugs stay out of clothing and are prevented from entering your home, Crossfire will surprise you in its effectiveness and will likely have you breathing a sigh of relief.
