Outdoor & Yard / Products / Tick / mosquito yard spray (concentrate)

Tick / mosquito yard spray (concentrate) — outdoor safety profile

High risk

Outdoor yard treatment concentrate containing synthetic pyrethroids (bifenthrin, permethrin) for broadcast application to lawns, landscaping, and perimeter areas to kill ticks, mosquitoes, and other biting insects.

What is this product?

Outdoor yard treatment concentrate containing synthetic pyrethroids (bifenthrin, permethrin) for broadcast application to lawns, landscaping, and perimeter areas to kill ticks, mosquitoes, and other biting insects. Applied via hose-end sprayer or pump sprayer. Bifenthrin and permethrin are broad-spectrum synthetic pyrethroids that disrupt insect sodium channels. Highly toxic to cats (permethrin toxicosis is a leading cause of feline pesticide poisoning), fish, and aquatic invertebrates. Runoff from treated yards contaminates waterways.

What's in it

Click any compound name for its full safety profile, regulatory consensus, and exposure data.

Active Insecticide

  • Bifenthrin — Synthetic pyrethroid. Extremely toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates (LC50 < 1 ppb for some species). EPA classified as possible human carcinogen (Group C).
  • Permethrin — Synthetic pyrethroid. Highly toxic to cats (deficient glucuronidation). Toxic to bees and aquatic organisms. EPA classified as likely carcinogen.

How to use it more safely

  • Apply when wind speed is < 10 mph to minimize drift
  • Keep children and pets off treated area until completely dry (minimum 24 hours)
  • Do not apply within 25 feet of water bodies
  • Wear PPE (gloves, long sleeves, respirator) during application

Red flags — when to walk away

  • Application near water features or storm drains — Bifenthrin/permethrin runoff is lethal to aquatic life at parts-per-trillion

Safer alternatives

  • Cedar oil-based yard sprays — Natural repellent; lower toxicity to mammals and aquatic life; less persistent
  • Tick tubes (permethrin-treated cotton for rodent nesting) — Targeted delivery to tick hosts (mice) reduces broad environmental exposure

Frequently asked questions

What's in Tick / mosquito yard spray (concentrate)?

This product type can contain: Bifenthrin, Permethrin, among others. Click any compound name above for the full safety profile.

How can I use Tick / mosquito yard spray (concentrate) more safely?

Apply when wind speed is < 10 mph to minimize drift; Keep children and pets off treated area until completely dry (minimum 24 hours); Do not apply within 25 feet of water bodies

Are there safer alternatives to Tick / mosquito yard spray (concentrate)?

Yes — consider: Cedar oil-based yard sprays; Tick tubes (permethrin-treated cotton for rodent nesting). See the Safer alternatives section above for details.

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Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific information. Why we built ALETHEIA →