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
- Dichlorvos (2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate, DDVP)
- Chemical class
- Organophosphate; IRAC lists dichlorvos/DDVP in Group 1B acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. The label's note to physicians calls it a cholinesterase inhibitor.[2][1]
- Mode of action
- IRAC Group 1B: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors: organophosphates[2]
- Signal word
- ALCO Small Pest Strip (alternate brand name Nuvan NuShield): Warning[1]
The four-hour rule and other limits
The most repeated restriction on this label: don't use it in any area where people will be for more than four hours a day. The label gives living rooms and family rooms as examples.[1]
It also bars closets of rooms where infants, children, or sick or elderly people spend more than four hours a day. Kitchens, hospital and clinic rooms, and places where food is prepared or served are off limits too.[1]
Do not let children handle a new or used strip. Keep sealed strips in their package until you're ready to hang them, stored somewhere cool, dry and locked if possible.[1]
Where it is used
Inside a home, the label allows strips only in closets, wardrobes and cupboards. Keep the door shut and make sure the strip doesn't touch clothes or fabric.[1]
Work out the cubic feet of the space first. A closet 8 feet tall, 3 feet wide and 2 feet deep is about 48 cubic feet, the job for one small 5.25 g unit.[1]
Write down the date you hang it. Treatment usually lasts about four months, though drafts and weather can shorten it, so swap in a fresh unit then or sooner if it stops working.[1]
For flies at the trash can, attach the strip inside the lid of a garbage can or dumpster and keep the lid closed. Used strips get wrapped in paper and put in the trash.[1]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALCO Small Pest Strip (alternate brand name Nuvan NuShield)[1] | AMVAC Chemical Corporation | 5481-348 | 18.6% | slow-release resin strip (vapor) | Warning |
Label rates
| Product | Use | Pests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALCO Small Pest Strip (alternate brand name Nuvan NuShield) | Closets, wardrobes and cupboards; garages, sheds, attics, storage units and lidded garbage cans | Flies, gnats, mosquitoes, moths, silverfish, cockroaches, spiders, beetles and earwigs | 5.25–16 g strip per unit (one unit treats 50 to 200 cu ft for up to 4 months)[1] Match the strip to the space: a 5.25 g unit covers up to 50 cubic feet, a 10.5 g unit up to 100, and a 16 g unit up to 200. Use extra units for bigger spaces and spread them out evenly. |
Safety and environmental hazards
People
Signal word WARNING: may be fatal if swallowed and is harmful if inhaled, and it causes moderate eye irritation. Avoid breathing the vapor, keep any liquid that forms on an old strip out of your eyes, and wash your hands after handling.[1]
Pets
Hang or place strips out of reach of children and pets. Don't let kids or pets play or sleep in a treated area while treatment is in progress, and never let it contact a pet directly.[1]
Bees and pollinators
The label carries no bee or pollinator statement; its uses are enclosed spaces, not plants.[1]
Fish and water
Don't contaminate water, food or feed when storing or throwing out strips. Never put unused product down an indoor or outdoor drain.[1]
Common questions
- Can I hang a dichlorvos pest strip in my bedroom or living room?
- No. Inside homes the label allows it only in closets, wardrobes and cupboards, and never in spaces people occupy more than four hours a day.[1]
- How long does a DDVP strip last?
- The label says treatment usually lasts four months, depending on drafts and weather. Replace it then, or earlier if it seems to stop working.[1]
- What are the signs of dichlorvos poisoning?
- The label lists weakness, headache, chest tightness, blurred vision, pinpoint pupils, salivation, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramps. If someone swallows it, call a poison control center or doctor right away.[1]
Sources
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “ALCO Small Pest Strip label, EPA Reg. No. 5481-348 (EPA-stamped, Aug. 11, 2026).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/005481-00348-20260811.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)