The label is the law. Rates and restrictions below are taken from the product labels listed under Sources. Your product's own label governs; read it before you mix or apply. Mixing calculator · Disclaimer
- Active ingredient
- Buprofezin
- Chemical class
- Insect growth regulator; IRAC Group 16 inhibitor of chitin biosynthesis, type 1, whose exact target protein is not yet characterized.[1][2]
- Mode of action
- IRAC Group 16: Inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis, type 1[2]
- Signal word
- Buprofezin 40SC Insect Growth Regulator (also sold as Talus 40SC, Courier 40SC and Centaur SC): Warning[1]
Where it can't be used
The label prohibits use in residential areas and through irrigation systems on ornamentals. It also may not be sold or used in Nassau and Suffolk Counties of New York State.[1]
Fogging is allowed only in greenhouses, nurseries, field-grown ornamentals and Christmas tree farms, and fogging applicators must wear a NIOSH-approved particulate respirator.[1]
One spray, then switch
If more control is needed after a buprofezin spray, the ornamental directions say to use another chemistry or a growth regulator with a different mode of action before applying it a second time.[1]
Where it is used
It works on immature insects by blocking molting, cutting egg laying and lowering egg survival. It does not kill adults.[1]
Expect a delay. Treated pests can stay alive on the plant for 3 to 7 days, but they have stopped feeding, so damage in that window is usually very low.[1]
Time sprays by pest: start when adult leafhoppers, planthoppers or whiteflies begin to appear, at first sign of mealybug activity, and when scale crawlers are emerging.[1]
It is a contact product, so spray to runoff and cover stems and leaf undersides. Mix only what you can spray within 4 hours.[1]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buprofezin 40SC Insect Growth Regulator (also sold as Talus 40SC, Courier 40SC and Centaur SC)[1] | Nichino America, Inc. | 71711-20 | 40.0% | suspension concentrate | Warning |
Label rates
| Product | Use | Pests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buprofezin 40SC Insect Growth Regulator (also sold as Talus 40SC, Courier 40SC and Centaur SC) | Ornamentals in greenhouses, lath and shadehouses, nurseries and landscapes; ground covers; non-bearing nursery fruit and nut trees; Christmas trees | Whiteflies, leafhoppers, planthoppers, mealybugs, scales | 9.0–21.5 fl oz product per 100 gallons of water[1] 9.0 fl oz for whiteflies, 18.0 fl oz for leafhoppers, mealybugs and planthoppers, and 21.5 fl oz for scales. No more than 2 applications or 43.0 fl oz per 100 gallons per year; 100 gallons typically covers 1 acre. |
Safety and environmental hazards
People
Signal word WARNING: causes substantial but temporary eye injury. Handlers wear goggles, a face shield or safety glasses, long sleeves and pants, chemical-resistant gloves, shoes and socks. Workers stay out of treated areas for 12 hours.[1]
Pets
The label bars use in residential areas, which keeps it away from homes, yards and pets. Its precautions for people and domestic animals center on eye injury.[1]
Bees and pollinators
This label carries no bee or pollinator hazard statement.[1]
Fish and water
Don't apply directly to water, to areas with surface water, or below the mean high-water mark, and keep equipment washwater and rinsate out of water.[1]
Common questions
- Does buprofezin kill adult whiteflies?
- No. The label says it is not an adulticide; it acts on nymphs and reduces egg laying and egg viability.[1]
- How much Talus per 100 gallons for scale?
- 21.5 fl oz per 100 gallons on ornamentals, applied when crawlers are emerging. Whiteflies need 9.0 fl oz and mealybugs 18.0 fl oz.[1]
- Can homeowners use buprofezin?
- This label says not to apply it in residential areas. Its ornamental uses cover greenhouses, nurseries, landscapes and Christmas trees.[1]
Sources
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “Buprofezin 40SC Insect Growth Regulator (Talus 40SC) label, EPA Reg. No. 71711-20 (EPA-stamped, Mar. 23, 2022).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/071711-00020-20220323.pdf (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)