What is fipronil? An active ingredient used in very small amounts in cockroach and ant gels and baits. It kills slowly and without repelling the insect, so a cockroach feeds, returns to its hiding place and passes the effect on before dying. That is how it clears the nest, not just the ones you see.
How does it work?
- It enters by feeding or contact.
- It hits the nervous system in a different way from pyrethroids.
- The insect becomes agitated, then paralysed, and dies within hours to two days.
- It has no odour or off-putting taste, so insects do not avoid it.
What does transfer between insects mean?
A cockroach that fed on the bait goes back to its hiding place, where:
- Nymphs eat its droppings.
- Others eat its body after it dies.
- Contact in the tight space passes on some of the substance.
So one gel dot can kill more insects than those that fed on it directly.
Which insects is it used for?
| Insect | How it is used |
|---|---|
| German cockroaches | Gel dots near hiding places |
| American cockroaches | Gel near drains and entry points |
| Ants | Baits the ants carry to the nest |
How does it differ from indoxacarb?
| Fipronil | Indoxacarb | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Hits the nerves directly | Activated inside the insect first |
| Speed | Hours to two days | One to three days |
| Transfer to the nest | Yes | Yes |
| Repels the insect | No | No |
Both are excellent, and switching between them every few months stops cockroaches getting used to one.
How to use the gel
- Clean crumbs and grease so the gel is the only food.
- Place small dots at cabinet hinges, behind appliances and under the sink.
- Use many small dots rather than one large one.
- Do not spray insecticide near the gel.
- Check after a week and renew what has been eaten.
Safety
- Highly toxic to bees and fish; do not use near flowering plants or fish tanks.
- Place it out of reach of children and pets.
- Rabbits are sensitive to it; keep it away from them.
- Wash your hands when finished.
Products from Orkida
Fipronil FAQs
How long does it take to kill cockroaches?
A cockroach that fed dies within hours to two days, and overall numbers fall within one to two weeks.
Can I spray it?
At home it is used as gel and baits, not sprayed. Spraying is done with other substances, away from the gel.
Do cockroaches avoid the gel?
They may after months of the same type. If they stop eating it, switch to a gel with a different substance.