The label is the law. Read your product's label before you mix or apply; the rates here come from the labels listed under Sources.
- Active ingredient
- Beauveria bassiana strain GHA (CAS none: a living fungal strain with no CAS number)
- Chemical class
- Biological insecticide derived from a fungus that causes white muscadine disease in insects.[2]
- Mode of action
- IRAC Group UNF: Fungal agents of uncertain or non-specific mode of action[3]
- Signal word
- Aprehend: Caution[1]
How it works
Beauveria bassiana causes white muscadine disease: when spores contact a susceptible insect they germinate and grow through its cuticle and body, and the fungus produces toxins that drain the insect of nutrients and kill it.[2]
IRAC lists Beauveria bassiana strains in Group UNF, fungal agents whose mode of action is uncertain or non-specific, and the label states Aprehend is effective against pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs.[3][1]
Getting the most from it
Because it works through dried residue, the label says not to clean or wipe treated surfaces, and treated surfaces stay effective for up to 3 months.[1]
Where it is used
The label covers control and prevention of bed bug infestations, with up to three months of residual effect on nymphs and adults on painted and unpainted surfaces, and states it is effective against pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs.[1]
It is not applied to mattresses or bare floors, wet, hot or freshly painted surfaces, wallpaper or silk.[1]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aprehend[1] | ConidioTec LLC | 89186-1 | 2.0% | ready-to-use oil (at least 2.2 × 10⁹ viable spores per mL; contains petroleum distillates) | Caution |
Label rates
| Product | Use | Pests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aprehend | Barrier bands where bed bugs walk (bed frames, box springs, headboards, room perimeter) | Bed bugs (nymphs and adults) | 0.5 fl oz per 50 linear ft of 2-inch barrier[1] Applied with a low-volume applicator as a continuous 2-inch swath; do not let it drip or run off, and do not wipe the residue off afterward. |
Safety and environmental hazards
People
The label signal word is CAUTION and the product contains petroleum distillates. Repeated exposure to high concentrations of microbial proteins can cause allergic sensitization, so applicators must wear gloves, long sleeves and a NIOSH-approved particulate respirator.[1]
Pets
The label says to keep unprotected people and pets out of treated areas during treatment and for 4 hours afterward, and not to apply it to furniture, upholstery, mattresses or flat surfaces where people have prolonged contact.[1]
Bees and pollinators
Aprehend is applied indoors as narrow barrier bands, and this label carries no bee-hazard statement.[1]
Fish and water
This indoor label carries no aquatic-toxicity statement.[1]
Common questions
- How long does Aprehend take to kill bed bugs?
- According to the label, bed bugs that pick up spores die within 4 to 10 days.[1]
- Can I spray Aprehend on my mattress?
- No. The label says not to apply it to mattresses, furniture or upholstery where people have prolonged contact; it is applied as barriers on bed frames, box springs and room perimeters.[1]
- Is Aprehend safe for pets?
- Keep pets out of the treated area during application and for 4 hours afterward, as the label directs; the label also warns that repeated exposure to microbial proteins can cause allergic sensitization.[1]
Sources
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “Aprehend label, EPA Reg. No. 89186-1 (EPA-stamped, June 20, 2018).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/089186-00001-20180620.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- University of California Statewide IPM Program, “Home and Landscape Pesticide Active Ingredients Database: Beauveria bassiana.” ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/pesticide-active-ingredients-database/active-ingredient-details/?uaiKey=96 (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Insecticide Resistance Action Committee, “IRAC Mode of Action Classification Scheme, Version 11.5 (Feb. 2026).” irac-online.org/documents/moa-classification/ (accessed 2026-10-06)