Stomach Poisons vs Contact Insecticides
Understanding whether insecticides kill through ingestion (stomach poison) or cuticle contact - determining application method and effectiveness.
Detailed Overview
Insecticides work through different routes of entry. (1) Stomach poisons: must be ingested to kill. Includes all baits (gel baits, granular baits, rodenticides), boric acid dust (insects groom it off legs and ingest), some insect growth regulators. Application: place where pests will feed or groom. Effective for: pests that groom frequently (roaches, ants), pests with predictable feeding (rodents at bait stations). Limitations: pests must consume product; competing food sources reduce effectiveness; some pests do not groom sufficiently. (2) Contact insecticides: absorbed through cuticle - no ingestion required. Includes most sprays, aerosols, and pyrethroid products. Application: apply where pests walk. Effective for: widespread pest populations, pests that do not bait well, situations requiring rapid knockdown. Limitations: requires pest to contact treated surface; repellent products may prevent contact. (3) Both: some products work through multiple routes - diatomaceous earth (contact abrasion + ingestion), some insecticides absorbed through contact but also work if ingested. Application strategy depends on route: stomach poisons placed as baits in feeding areas; contact insecticides applied to travel routes and surfaces. Combining both approaches covers multiple exposure routes.
When to Use
Use stomach poisons (baits) for species that feed predictably and groom frequently. Use contact insecticides for widespread applications and rapid knockdown. Combine both for comprehensive coverage.
Required Skill Level
Requires some training and experience in pest management
Benefits
- Different routes increase likelihood of pest exposure
- Baits (stomach poisons) highly targeted with low exposure risk
- Contact insecticides provide immediate results
- Understanding route guides proper application
- Combining both covers all exposure possibilities
Limitations
- Stomach poisons require ingestion - slower acting
- Contact requires pest to physically touch treatment
- Competing food sources reduce stomach poison effectiveness
- Repellency reduces contact insecticide effectiveness
Related Concepts
Other product types that may be useful
Reduced-Risk Pesticides
Low-toxicity pesticide products that pose minimal risk to humans, pets, and the environment while remaining effective against target pests.
Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs)
Pesticides that disrupt insect development and reproduction by mimicking or blocking growth hormones - providing long-term population suppression.
Non-Repellent vs Repellent Chemistry
Understanding the difference between insecticides pests cannot detect (non-repellent) versus those they avoid (repellent) - critical for colony elimination.