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
- Metarhizium brunneum strain F52 (formerly M. anisopliae)
- Chemical class
- Entomopathogenic fungus; IRAC Group UNF (fungal agents of unknown or uncertain mode of action).[2][1]
- Mode of action
- IRAC Group UNF: Fungal agents of unknown or uncertain mode of action[2]
- Signal word
- Lalguard M52 OD: Caution[1]
Ticks: yard treatment is one layer
The label targets the lawn edges and paths where blacklegged ticks are found. The CDC's tick advice still starts with repellents, checking for ticks after being outdoors, and prompt removal.[1][3]
Where it is used
Start early in population growth. On crops and ornamentals, foliar sprays repeat every 2 to 10 days to match the pest's life cycle; soil, turf and leaf-litter applications every 2 to 6 weeks.[1]
Spores persist longer in soil, especially potting media, than on foliage, and longer on greenhouse foliage than outdoors. Very cold or hot temperatures slow the kill.[1]
Test on a small area of plants before treating widely, and don't tank-mix with untried products.[1]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lalguard M52 OD[1] | Danstar Ferment AG / Lallemand Plant Care | 64137-33 | 11.0% | oil dispersion of fungal spores | Caution |
Label rates
| Product | Use | Pests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lalguard M52 OD | Residential and institutional lawns and landscape perimeters | Ticks, including blacklegged (deer) tick and lone star tick | 2–3 fl oz product per 1,000 sq ft[1] Apply in at least 4 gallons of water per 1,000 sq ft. For blacklegged ticks, treat at least a 9-foot border along lawn edges and paths; for lone star ticks, treat the whole lawn. Start in spring and repeat every 4 to 8 weeks. |
Safety and environmental hazards
People
Signal word CAUTION. Handlers wear protective eyewear, gloves and a particulate respirator, since repeated exposure to high concentrations of microbial proteins can cause allergic sensitization.[1]
Pets
Don't apply it in a way that contacts adults, children or pets, and keep unprotected people out until sprays have dried.[1]
Bees and pollinators
The label's environmental warning concerns aquatic invertebrates and drift; it carries no bee hazard statement.[1]
Fish and water
Toxic to aquatic invertebrates; keep it out of water, storm drains and ditches.[1]
Common questions
- How long does Metarhizium take to kill ticks or insects?
- Usually 3 to 7 days after exposure at moderate temperatures, longer when it's very hot or cold.[1]
- Where should I spray for deer ticks?
- Along the edges of manicured lawns and paths, in a border at least 9 feet wide, per the label.[1]
- Can homeowners use Lalguard M52 OD?
- The label has a residential lawn sublabel for ticks at 2 to 3 fl oz per 1,000 square feet.[1]
Sources
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “Lalguard M52 OD label, EPA Reg. No. 64137-33 (EPA-stamped, May 28, 2026).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/064137-00033-20260528.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)
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Preventing Tick Bites (reviewed August 28, 2024).” www.cdc.gov/ticks/prevention/index.html (accessed 2026-10-06)