Frequently asked questions

These are the most commonly asked questions about Entech Systems. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact Us!

If your insect control program is not providing the results you need, fogging is often a cost effective method to greatly improve insect control. Uncontrolled insect activity can turn into an infestation which will continue to spread if not quickly brought under control in plants with raw materials subject to stored product insects, large food plants, and plants not well designed for food processing . Fogging will stop the spread of insect activity throughout an entire warehouse or plant. Fogging often will eliminate the need for expensive fumigations. Installation of an overhead fogging system

Yes. Pyrethrins or esfenvalerate combined with Insect Growth Regulator (methoprene) kills insects on contact and provides residual protection against immature life stages of insects. The fogging insecticide kills exposed adult insects and insect larvae (worm life stage) along with some of the exposed eggs and pupae. The Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) methoprene (Diacon IGR) leaves a residue on surfaces to halt the life cycle of immature life stages of insects (egg, larva, pupa). Combining the pyrethrins fogging insecticides with an IGR provides insect control results which have allowed many plants to reduce or eliminate general fumigations. See results of Dr. Frank Arthur’s (USDA, ARS Research Entomologist, Manhattan, KS) evaluation of the Entech Automatic Fogging System.
 
Pyrethrum (or pyrethrins) is a botanical insecticide extracted from a flower grown in Tasmania, Australia or East Africa. The pyrethrum extracted from a flower is composed of six different pyrethrin based insecticides. The six different insecticides are thought to be the reason very little insect resistance has occurred in the 1,000’s of years since pyrethrins were first used. The concentration of pyrethrum used in insecticides is non-toxic to plants, birds, and mammals. Therefore, these insecticides find wide use in food plants, households, and livestock spraying. Pyrethrins are known for rapid knockdown of insects, and their killing power is further enhanced by the use of PBO (Piperonyl Butoxide) as a synergist. Pyrethroids are synthetic forms of pyrethrins or pyrethrum.
 

You can fog directly on the specific commodities that are listed on the EPA registered insecticide label. In order to have a commodity listed on the label, every ingredient in the insecticide must have an established tolerance level for the commodity or be exempt from tolerance levels. This is covered by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR-140- Part 180).

The Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) Diacon IGR (s-methoprene) may be directly added to, and or fogged on, any commodity as per the label. Diacon IGR is exempt for food additive tolerance levels. Diacon IGR may also be added to all of Entech’s fogging

Fumigation will penetrate bags of product, and other areas fogging will not reach. Fumigation is much more expensive than fogging. The Entech Fogging System may cost less than one general fumigations. A building or container must be completely sealed shut when fumigating, or the fumigation will not be effective. The re-entry time requires a long wait or testing prior to re-entry, versus a few hours with fogging. When stored product insects are present, an ongoing fogging program is needed, even if a facility must resort to fumigation. A good fogging program will keep the population of the insects down and prevent an infestation. Even if fumigation kills 100% of the insects in a plant, new insects may enter the day after fumigation. USDA tests at a Kansas flour mill showed that flour beetle levels can rebound to 60% of pre-fumigation levels in just 4 weeks. Fumigants include methyl bromide and phosphine, which are released as very toxic gases. The Entech Automatic Fogging System uses low impact chemicals which are general use, non-restricted insecticides. Food products or ingredients with large amounts of insects inside bags and other containers must be fumigated or destroyed. Infested product cannot be legally reused or diluted down to reduce insect content after fumigation. The key to minimal insect activity is using a combination of all insect prevention tools available, including sanitation, inspection, monitoring, stock rotation, building maintenance for sanitation, etc.

Entech’s pyrethrins based insecticides may be fogged in all areas of food plants. Food must be covered or removed prior to fogging. Food contact surfaces must be covered or cleaned after fogging. You may fog directly on post harvest commodities specifically listed on the label with Entech’s pyrethrins based insecticides. This includes several fruits, vegetables and nuts.

Entech Auto Fog-ES (0.25% esfenvalerate) may also be used in all areas of food plants.

The insecticide label is the law in regard to application of the insecticide, precautions to protect food, disposal of containers, etc. Exposed food must be covered or removed before fogging. Food contact surfaces (surfaces that directly touch food) must be covered or washed after fogging if not covered. The re-entry time after fogging is from 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on the label. The fog should remain in the building for two hours to obtain optimum kill of stored product insects. The area fogged should be ventilated before re-entry. Re-entry after fogging may be in just a few hours if a good ventilation system is present.
 

As per Entech insecticide labels, empty 55-gallon drums of all Entech insecticides may be placed in the regular trash without any rinsing. The drums or pails must be empty to be placed directly in the trash. Entech recommends center punching the top of the empty drum at the rim and then inverting to drain the small remaining amount of insecticide into a clean container. Pour the small amount of remaining insecticide back into a new drum of insecticide.

Entech normally installs the Entech Automatic Fogging System. However, if a customer wishes, Entech will sell the components and the customer may install the system. Entech will provide installation assistance for a minimal charge if Entech insecticides are used in the system.

Texas and Virginia are the only Southern states, requiring certification for the use of general use, non-restricted insecticides by regular employees in food plants. Texas is the only state west of the Mississippi River requiring certification for the use of general use, non-restricted insecticides by regular employees in food plants. States requiring certification for the use of general use, non-restricted insecticides in food plants by regular employees include: TN, KY, VA, PA, OH, NY, MI and all of the New England States. Certification is not required for the use of non-restricted, general use insecticides, in house, in food plants by regular employees in CA, OR, WA, NM, ID, AZ, KS, NB, SD, IL, IN, WI, GA, AL, AR, MO, LA, MS, FL, NC, SC. Call Entech for specifics.

Entech pyrethrins based insecticide cost are one-fourth or less than the use cost of an equal amount of pyrethrins based insecticides in aerosol, cylinder, or canister-type system. The insecticide in pressurized cylinder type fogging systems is extremely costly due to the extra handling, filling, and returning of cylinders. Compare the pounds of pyrethrin, strength of the pyrethrins, and use rate to see the much higher use cost compared to liquid pyrethrins.

Entech offers an ongoing warranty on the Entech fogging system if only Entech’s competitively priced insecticides are used in the system. Entech also guarantees thorough fog coverage at all areas of your plant. If fog coverage is not thorough, and to your satisfaction, Entech will add additional equipment at no charge. Cylinder and canister type fogging systems include Turbo Cide, AeroJet, Industrial Fumigants System, and Hub States system. Pyrethrins based pressurized cylinder type fogging systems do not effectively kill hard shell stored product insects. USDA tests with pyrethrin based pressurized cylinder type fogging systems have shown poor kill of hard shell stored product insects. Ask these companies to see their efficacy data on flour beetles. Pressurized cylinder type fogging systems do not provide the ULV insecticide particle size which best controls crawling insects.

Yes, Entech Insecticides may be used with all portable foggers. This includes thermal foggers, ULV foggers and all others.

Entech manufactures compressed air operated foggers and is a distributor for Dyna-Fog, B&G Foggers, and Commander Tri-Jet Foggers.

Users of Entech’s fogging systems include many large and small food producers and food distributors in the United States. Call Entech for contacts at companies in your area using the Entech Automatic Fogging System. Usually Entech can put you in contact with a food company that processes or stores the same type product or commodity as your plant.
 

The Entech 1.0% pyrethrins label (Entech Fog-10 Space Spray) allows direct fogging above animals in cattle barns, horse barns, poultry houses, swine houses, and zoos to kill flies, small flying insects and gnats.