Pyrethroids

Pronounced “pī-rē-throid,” these ingredients are found in many commonly used consumer home and garden insecticides for treating problems with mosquitoes, caterpillars, ants, spiders, garden worms, wasps, cockroaches, aphids and other insect infestations.

Pesticides

Pesticides represent one of several ways to control household and garden pests. Most insecticides – the name for pesticides used to control insects –contain pyrethroids. As is the case with any product, all pesticides must be used safely and judiciously to minimize impact to the environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Urban Pyrethroid Stewardship and why was it formed?
The Urban Pyrethroid Stewardship is a pesticide industry alliance that has come together to create and promote the campaign “Apply Responsibly.” The industry alliance came together on this issue because it realizes it has a responsibility to ensure that its products are used as safely as possible and only in keeping with their intended and approved use.

What is Apply Responsibly?
Apply Responsibly is a a public education effort intended to inform Californians in urban areas about environmentally responsible ways to use, handle, store and dispose of a wide range of home and garden pesticide products, including insecticides containing pyrethroids in order to help protect California’s waters.

Why is the campaign emphasizing pyrethroids?
Pyrethroids and other chemicals used around the home and garden have been detected in some of California’s urban waterways. Our industry alliance wants to make consumers aware of how they can do their part to keep pesticides out of our water by carefully following instructions on the product labels and common sense tips from Apply Responsibly.

Is the Apply Responsibly program an effort to sell more pesticides?
No. While funded by an industry alliance, the program is aimed primarily at those homeowners and gardeners who choose to use insecticides or those who may have them in their garages and are wondering how to dispose of them.

Does the effort include information about alternative pest control strategies?
Yes. In fact, this consumer outreach program provides a range of resources for consumers who may be interested in learning more about organic gardening, integrated pest management and other strategies for controlling insects.

Who makes up the Stewardship?
The following companies are members of the Stewardship: AMVAC Chemical; Bayer CropScience; Cheminova, Inc.; DuPont Crop Protection; FMC Corporation; Syngenta Crop Protection; and Valent BioSciences Corporation.

Products

Insecticides with pyrethroids are used to control a wide range of insects that can infest gardens and enter the home. Chances are you are probably using a pyrethroid if you have selected a consumer pesticide product intended to control mosquitoes, caterpillars, ants, spiders, garden worms, wasps, cockroaches, aphids and other insects that threaten plants, home or health.

While you won’t see the word “pyrethroid” as a listed ingredient, they are contained in products with the following active ingredients (often ending in “thrin”)

• Beta-Cyfluthrin
• Bifenthrin
• Cyfluthrin
• Cypermethrin
• Deltamethrin
• Esfenvalerate
• Fenpropathrin
• Gamma-Cyhalothrin
• Lambda-Cyhalothrin
• Permethrin
• Tau-Fluvalinate
• Tralomethrin
• Zeta-Cypermethrin

Storage/Disposal

1. Dispose of unused pesticides according to the instructions on the product label

2. Never pour any leftover pesticides down the sink, toilet, sewer or storm drain

3. Don’t stockpile pesticides. Buy only enough for one season

4. If you only need to treat a small area, consider ready-to-use pesticides rather than products you have to mix yourself

5. Always store pesticides in their original containers

6. Ensure containers are securely closed

7. Store in a safe place away from children

8. Do not reuse an empty pesticide container

9. Remember that an empty pesticide container contains residue and should also be handled carefully and according to the label