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
- Lambda-cyhalothrin (CAS 91465-08-6)
- Chemical class
- Pyrethroid: a synthetic version of the pyrethrins extracted from chrysanthemum flowers.[1]
- Mode of action
- IRAC Group 3A: Sodium channel modulators (nerve action)[3]
- Signal word
- Demand CS: Caution[2]
How it works
Lambda-cyhalothrin disrupts the central nervous system of insects; pests that contact or feed on it become paralyzed and die.[1]
It is in IRAC Group 3A with the other pyrethroids, so alternating with a different group number is the way to slow resistance.[3]
Using it indoors
Indoors the label permits retreatment at 21-day intervals or as needed, and prohibits application in rooms in use by patients, the elderly or the infirm, or in classrooms while in use.[2]
Treat a small area first and let it dry to check for staining; the label notes it has not stained surfaces that water alone does not damage.[2]
2026 label restrictions
The January 2026 label, revised under EPA's registration review, prohibits direct application to residential lawns and turf; indoor pin-stream or coarse-spray treatment of carpets and hard surfaces; application in classrooms, nurseries or daycare facilities while in use; and application when wind speed is greater than 15 mph or to the point of runoff.[2]
Where it is used
Demand CS is labeled as a general surface, crack-and-crevice and spot treatment in and around buildings and on modes of transport, as a structural perimeter barrier, and on ornamentals; the January 2026 label prohibits applying it directly to residential lawns and turf, including homes, parks, schools and athletic fields.[2]
In food handling establishments it is limited to crack-and-crevice or spot treatment, and it may be converted to foam to treat wall voids and other structural voids.[2]
The label states the product is restricted for use in the State of New York.[2]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demand CS[2] | Syngenta Crop Protection | 100-1066 | 9.7% | capsule suspension (microencapsulated) | Caution |
Label rates
| Product | Use | Pests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demand CS | Structural pests: crack and crevice, spot, general surface (hand equipment) | Ants, bed bugs, cockroaches, crickets, fleas, spiders, ticks, wasps and other listed pests | 0.2–0.8 fl oz per gal of water[2] 0.2 fl oz (0.015%) maintenance, 0.4 fl oz (0.03%) clean-out, 0.8 fl oz (0.06%) for severe infestations and residual mosquito control. |
| Demand CS | Structural perimeter barrier | Ants, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, crickets, scorpions and other perimeter pests | 0.2–0.8 fl oz per 800–1,600 sq ft (in 1–5 gal of water)[2] Band up to 7 ft wide around the structure and up to 2 ft up the foundation (January 2026 label). |
| Demand CS | Landscape ornamentals | Aphids, bagworms, caterpillars, Japanese beetles, lace bugs, mosquitoes and other listed ornamental pests | 1.5–5.0 fl oz per 100 gal of water[2] Not more than 0.36 lb active (52.4 fl oz of product) per acre per year; no foliar sprays to landscape trees and shrubs with a mechanically pressurized handgun. |
How to apply it, step by step
1. Protective gear
- The label lists no special protective clothing for routine use: keep it off your skin, out of your eyes and off your clothing, and don't breathe the spray mist; it notes that protective equipment may be needed when treating stinging-insect nests.[2]
- Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling and before eating, drinking or using the toilet, and wash contaminated clothing before wearing it again; repeated skin contact can cause allergic skin reactions in some people.[2]
2. Before you spray
- Don't spray it on residential lawns or turf at all; the January 2026 label prohibits that at homes, parks, schools and athletic fields.[2]
- Clean floors by vacuuming before a bed bug treatment, and pull infested bedding for laundering at high heat rather than spraying it.[2]
- Outdoors, apply in calm weather when rain isn't expected for 24 hours, keep it out of storm drains and gutters, and take care around ponds and fish or reptile pets.[2]
- Test a small hidden area first and let it dry to check for staining.[2]
3. Mixing
- Fill the sprayer with the amount of water you need, add Demand CS, then close and shake it; shake again if you stop partway through.[2]
- Indoors the label uses 0.2 fl oz per gallon for maintenance, 0.4 fl oz for clean-outs and 0.8 fl oz for severe infestations; for a perimeter barrier it uses 0.2 to 0.8 fl oz in 1 to 5 gallons of water per 800 to 1,600 sq ft.[2]
4. Applying
- Indoors, apply a coarse, low-pressure spray to hiding spots such as baseboards, corners, closets, around pipes, doors and windows, and behind and under appliances and furniture, paying attention to cracks and crevices.[2]
- Outdoors at a home, sprays are limited to spot or crack-and-crevice treatments except for soil and plants, a perimeter band no more than 7 feet wide from the foundation, protected eaves and soffits, a band of 1 inch or less around doors and windows, and walls up to 2 feet above pavement.[2]
- Don't spray sidewalks, driveways or patios except as a spot or crack-and-crevice treatment, and keep spot treatments to 2 square feet or less.[2]
- For bed bugs, spray crevices, baseboards, bed frames, headboards and bedsprings, but not mattresses or furniture surfaces where people sit or lie.[2]
- Treat bee, wasp and hornet nests late in the day, when most of the insects are home; it doesn't knock them down instantly, so allow 2 to 3 days for the colony to die before retreating.[2]
5. After you spray
- Let treated surfaces dry before people or pets touch them.[2]
- Rinse application equipment over the treated area so rinse water doesn't run off toward drains or water.[2]
First aid
- On skin or clothing, take off the contaminated clothing and rinse skin with plenty of water for 15 to 20 minutes; in the eyes, rinse slowly and gently for 15 to 20 minutes and remove contact lenses after the first 5 minutes.[2]
- If swallowed, call a poison control center or doctor immediately, don't give the person any liquid, and don't induce vomiting unless told to.[2]
- If inhaled, move to fresh air and call 911 if the person isn't breathing. The label's 24-hour emergency line for people, animals or spills is 1-800-888-8372.[2]
Storage, spills and disposal
- Keep the container closed and away from food or feed, protect it from freezing, and shake well before use; soak up spills with sand, earth or a synthetic absorbent.[2]
- Don't pour leftovers down a drain or sewer; call your local solid waste agency for disposal options.[2]
- Triple-rinse containers of 5 gallons or less, adding the rinse water to your sprayer, before disposal.[2]
From the safety data sheet
- The SDS classifies the concentrate as harmful if inhaled and as a skin sensitizer that may cause an allergic skin reaction (signal word Warning).[4]
- It may cause temporary itching, tingling, burning or numbness of exposed skin, called paresthesia.[4]
- The concentrate is a white to light brown liquid with a solvent-like smell and does not flash.[4]
- Keep containers tightly closed in a dry, cool, well-ventilated place, out of reach of children and away from food, drink and animal feed.[4]
- Soak up spills with a non-combustible absorbent such as sand, earth or vermiculite, clean the surface with detergent rather than solvents, keep wash water for disposal, and don't let it reach surface water or sewers.[4]
Safety and environmental hazards
People
The label signal word is CAUTION: harmful if absorbed through skin, and prolonged or frequently repeated skin contact may cause allergic skin reactions in some people; avoid breathing spray mist.[2]
Pets
The label says to let treated surfaces dry before people and pets contact them, and to take care around household pets, particularly fish and reptile pets; do not let applications contact aquariums or ornamental fish ponds.[2]
Bees and pollinators
The label states it is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or to residues on blooming crops or weeds; do not apply or let it drift to blooming plants if bees are visiting.[2]
Fish and water
The label states it is extremely toxic to fish, and outdoor turf and ornamental use is barred within 25 feet of lakes, reservoirs, rivers, permanent streams, marshes, natural ponds and estuaries.[2]
Common questions
- What does 'CS' mean in Demand CS?
- Capsule suspension: the active ingredient is microencapsulated, according to the product label.[2]
- How strong should I mix it?
- For structural pests the label gives three strengths: 0.2, 0.4 or 0.8 fl oz per gallon of water, with the 0.8 fl oz rate reserved for severe infestations and residual mosquito control.[2]
- Can I spray Demand CS on my lawn?
- No. The January 2026 label says not to apply it directly to residential lawns and turf in residential settings, such as homes, parks, schools and athletic fields.[2]
Sources
- University of California Statewide IPM Program, “Home and Landscape Pesticide Active Ingredients Database: lambda-cyhalothrin.” ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/pesticide-active-ingredients-database/active-ingredient-details/?uaiKey=27 (accessed 2026-10-06)
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “Demand CS Insecticide label, EPA Reg. No. 100-1066 (EPA-stamped, Jan. 28, 2026).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/000100-01066-20260128.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)
- Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, “Demand CS Insecticide Safety Data Sheet (Syngenta Crop Protection, revision dated November 12, 2024; copy hosted by labelsds.com).” labelsds.com/images/user_uploads/Demand-CS%20SDS%2011-12-24.pdf (accessed 2026-10-15)