Summary
Mycodex Plus is an insecticidal premise spray. It’s primarily used for flea and tick control, but can also kill a variety of other domestic insect pests. Permethrin and linalool work to kill adult fleas. While pyriproxyfen, an insect growth regulator (IGR), lasts 7 months and prevents eggs and larvae from becoming adults.
Mycodex Plus is similar to other premise sprays, especially PT Ultracide. However, Mycodex contains less IGR, which is the most important active ingredient for flea control. Thus, Precor 2000 Plus may be the better option, as it contains more IGR while remaining relatively inexpensive.
| Product name | Mycodex Plus Environmental Control Aerosol Household Spray |
| Active ingredients | 0.015% pyriproxyfen 0.200% permethrin 1.000% linalool 1.000% MGK 264 97.785% other ingredients |
| Target pest | Fleas & ticks |
| Kills | Adults, eggs, larvae & pupae |
| Duration | 7 months |
| Size | 16 ounces |
| Capacity | 1000 sq ft |
| Application | Aerosol spray |
| Use on | Home premises |
| Manufacturer | Pegasus Laboratories |
| UPCs | 764464062973 764464062980 |
| Product label | view |
| MSDS | view |
| Shop | Amazon.com |
| Price | $20 |
| Customer reviews | Read reviews |
| Competitors | Browse premise sprays |
- Prices are based on Amazon.com at time of publishing.
Details
How Mycodex Plus Works
Pyriproxyfen
Pyriproxyfen, also called Nylar, is an insect growth regulator (IGR). IGRs work by mimicking a hormone in insects called juvenile hormone (JH), which regulates maturity. When endogenous JH is present, larval insects will molt into new instars, but won’t become adults. When JH subsides, they metamorphose into adults. Since pyriproxyfen mimics JH, the hormone response never goes away, and the exposed larvae are stuck in immature form until they die. The IGR also sterilizes adult females.
In flea premise sprays, the IGR is the most important ingredient. This is because flea populations consist of 95-99% eggs, larvae, and pupae. These immature stages live in the environment, usually deep within carpets. Adulticides aren’t very effective at killing these stages, because they can’t penetrate carpets well and have short-lived effect. IGRs are more effective because they remain active much longer, around 7 months indoors. IGRs are also considered the safer choice since they mimic hormones that are specific to insects.
Linalool
Linalool is a compound found many flowers and spice plants. Linalool functions as a botanically-derived insecticide. It is commonly employed to fight fleas, fruit flies, and cockroaches. Linalool acts on the nervous system of adult insects. It’s thought to be neurotoxic, acting as an agonist upon sensory cells causing muscle tremors, convulsions, and loss of coordination.
Permethrin
Permethrin is another adulticide often used to combat adult fleas. Permethrin belongs to a class of insecticides called pyrethroids, which are synthetic derivatives of a natural insecticide in Chrysanthemum flowers called pyrethrum. Permethrin is altered to be more photostable than pyrethrum. Pyrethrum and its many derivatives are neurotoxins, affecting the nervous system of insects. The compounds cause spasms, paralysis, and ultimately death.
When Mycodex Plus is sprayed, the linalool and permethrin will kill any emerged adult fleas in the environment. Unfortunately, only 1-5% of populations consist of adults, and most of those live on the host. As a result, few adult fleas will be found in the environment at any given time. This is why adulticides are less important than the IGR in premise sprays.
Since immature stages live in protected refuges, sprays and vacuums can’t reach them well. Many present at the time of spraying will survive control measures, and they will eventually emerge as adults. Seeing new adults can make it seem like the spray didn’t work. However, this should be the last generation, as new eggs that fall onto the IGR-treated surfaces won’t survive.
MGK 264
MGK 264 (N-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide) is a synergist. It doesn’t have insecticidal properties, but will enhance the potency of permethrin (and other pyrethrins and pyrethroids). Synergists allow less insecticide to be used, resulting in safer, cheaper products.
Competitor Comparison
Mycodex Plus is similar to other flea premise sprays in terms of ingredients. However, it contains less IGR than many top competitors, which may be substantial, considering that the IGR is crucial for environmental flea control. Of the top premise sprays, Precor 2000 Plus is currently the least expensive for its ingredient formulation.
Instructions
The following instructions were taken from the product label of Mycodex Plus. Before using the product, view the label for the full directions and precautionary statements.
- A photostable residual product for control of fleas and ticks
- Breaks the flea life cycle and controls reinfestation for up to 210 days!
- Kills all four stages of the flea: ADULTS, EGGS, PUPAE, and LARVAE
- Also kills ticks, roaches, ants, spiders, lice, crickets, centipedes, waterbugs, silverfish and sowbugs
- Contains the botanically-derived insecticide LINALOOL
- Kills adult and pre-adult fleas utilizing an insect growth regulator (IGR) in conjunction with other ingredients to kill adult fleas and prevent pre-adult fleas from developing into biting adults.
- Reaches the hiding places of the flea: rugs, carpets, drapes, pet bedding, upholstery and furniture.
- Protects the household from a buildup of fleas and reinfestation by providing 210-day residual activity from a single treatment.
- Also kills ticks, roaches, ants, spiders, lice, crickets, centipedes, waterbugs, silverfish and sowbugs.
- Home Protection
- When applied in a normal sweeping motion, one aerosol can will cover 1,000 square feet.
SHAKE WELL BEFORE USING
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
It is a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling.
PRECAUTIONS AND RESTRICTIONS
- For indoor use only.
- Do not allow adults, children, or pets to enter or contact the treated area/surfaces until sprays have dried.
- Do not wet articles to point of runoff or drip. Do not use treated article until spray has dried.
- Remove or cover exposed food and drinking water before application.
- Remove or cover dishes, utensils, food processing equipment, and food preparation surfaces, or wash them before use.
Do not apply this product in a way that will contact adults, children, or pets, either directly or through drift. Remove pets, birds, and cover fish aquariums before spraying. Do not apply while food processing, preparation, or serving is underway.
INDOORS:
Thoroughly vacuum all carpeting, upholstered furniture, drapes, along baseboards, under furniture and in closets. Seal vacuum bag and dispose of in outdoor trash. Spray Mycodex® Plus Environmental Control® Aerosol Household Spray from a distance of two to three feet from surface being treated. Apply with a smooth back-and-forth motion to carpets, drapes, rugs and upholstered furniture. Avoid wetting or saturating carpets or furniture. An evenly applied fine mist spray is sufficient. To apply at the maximum application rate, use 2 oz (a 30 second spray) to cover 125 sq ft. Do not spray wood furniture, floors or trim as water spotting may occur. Repeat treatment as necessary to eliminate fleas and ticks. Apply directly to exposed insects: roaches, ants, spiders, crickets, centipedes, waterbugs, silverfish and sowbugs
PET BEDDING:
Treat pet bedding and resting places. Apply a uniform spray to nearby cracks and crevices, along baseboards, window and door sills and localized areas where fleas, ticks or lice may be present as these are primary hiding places for these pests. Removal and replacement of pet bedding after treatment is not necessary.
STORAGE AND DISPOSAL
PESTICIDE STORAGE: Store in a cool, dry area out of the reach of children. Protect from freezing. PESTICIDE DISPOSAL AND CONTAINER HANDLING: Do not puncture or incinerate! If empty: Place in trash or offer for recycling. If partly filled: Call your local solid waste agency for disposal instructions.
Tips for Success
Target Hot-Spots
Flea eggs are laid on the animal host. The eggs aren’t sticky and fall wherever the animal roams. Most ends accumulate in favored resting spots, or places where the host sleeps, grooms, or eats. Dogs and cats often lay beside furniture where their owner sits. As a result, flea hot-spots often develop around beds in bedrooms, and near seating in living rooms. The area around pet bedding is also a common hot-spot.
When spraying, be thorough and treat the entire floor of the infested premises. However, special attention can be given to identified or potential hot-spots. If follow-up treatments are required, then spraying can be mostly limited to the hot-spots.
Have Realistic Expectations
Fighting fleas can be frustrating. Having realistic expectations is useful for keeping the stress down. There isn’t any product or method that will end an infestation immediately. Immature stages live deep within carpets (or other substrates), where sprays and vacuums can’t penetrate well. Many won’t be affected by control efforts, and will soon emerge as adults. Seeing new adults is common, and it isn’t a sign that the spray failed. Before the infestation ends, all of the immature stages present at the time of spraying must mature, emerge, and die. They should be the last generation. This process usually takes around 2 months.
Pre-Emerged Adults
Pre-emerged adult fleas can cause control issues. This is because they can stay inside their cocoons and enter a quiescent (sleep-like) state for up to 5 months, extending their longevity substantially. However, they’ll immediately wake up and emerge upon detecting heat and pressure (a host). Vacuuming can simulate these host stimuli and force emergence.
Vacuuming Procedure
Vacuum carpets before spraying. The vacuum lifts up carpet fibers so insecticide can penetrate deeper. Don’t vacuum again until the carpets are dry. Then begin vacuuming around every other day. Dry vacuuming shouldn’t reduce the efficacy of flea insecticides. It may actually improve efficacy by causing fleas to emerge into the pesticide.
Premise Sprays Aren’t Enough
Adult fleas make up 1-5% of infestations and live on pets. They won’t leave a host of their own choosing. So, even with the environment treated, adult fleas will continue to thrive on untreated pets. Each female lays about 25 eggs a day. The eggs will fall wherever the animal wanders. If the eggs drop onto an untreated surface, the infestation will continue.
This is why integrated flea control is the best approach. Treat the environment, treat pets, and establish a regular vacuuming routine. This kind of regime establishes control quickly, and makes it easy to maintain control until eradication.
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can i mop afterwards
It would be best not to mop, as wet cleaning has been shown to dilute the insecticide, reducing efficacy and residual activity. Stick to dry methods of cleaning. Or re-apply after mopping.
What is the shelf-life of this product once opened?