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
- Pyriproxyfen
- Chemical class
- IRAC Group 7C juvenile hormone mimic, listed separately from the Group 7A juvenile hormone analogues.[2]
- Mode of action
- IRAC Group 7C: Juvenile hormone mimics: pyriproxyfen[2]
- Signal word
- Pyriproxyfen 10% EC (Pivot 10): Caution[1]
Slow, but long lasting
The label says adult fly numbers drop after 3 to 4 weeks when pyriproxyfen is used alone. One cockroach treatment works for 6 months against nymphs and crickets.[1]
Outdoors on soil, the label gives 30 to 60 days of growth-regulator activity, depending on insect type, soil and weather.[1]
Where it is used
Indoor flea treatments give up to 7 months of residual control, according to the label. Treat carpets, throw rugs, pet bedding and under cushions of upholstered furniture.[1]
Don't wet carpet, draperies or furniture, and test the mix on a hidden spot first, since some fibers and surfaces such as vinyl siding may be affected.[1]
Don't mix it with malathion or Vapona; the label says those products are antagonistic to pyriproxyfen.[1]
For backyard mosquitoes, spray moist, shady resting and breeding spots such as shrubs, tall grass, gutters and birdbaths. It only affects immature mosquitoes, so reapply every 28 days.[1]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pyriproxyfen 10% EC (Pivot 10)[1] | Control Solutions, Inc. | 53883-280 | 10.0% | emulsifiable concentrate | Caution |
Label rates
| Product | Use | Pests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pyriproxyfen 10% EC (Pivot 10) | Indoor carpets, furniture, pet sleeping areas, kennels and baseboards | Fleas, ticks and other listed crawling insects | 4–12 mL product per 1,500 sq ft[1] Mix in one gallon of water. 4 to 8 mL works as a preventive flea treatment before the season; established infestations start at 4 mL, going up to 12 mL when control is difficult. |
| Pyriproxyfen 10% EC (Pivot 10) | Kitchens, cabinets, under appliances and building perimeters | Listed cockroaches, crickets and ants | 12 mL product per 1,500 sq ft[1] 12 mL in a gallon of water. Outdoors, spray a 2 to 6 foot band around the structure and 2 to 3 feet up the foundation. Repeat in 6 months. |
| Pyriproxyfen 10% EC (Pivot 10) | Enclosed rooms, wall voids and equipment voids (fog or ULV) | Flying and crawling insects on the label | 1 mL product per 1,000 cubic feet[1] Remove people, close the area and shut off ventilation. Keep it closed 30 minutes or longer and ventilate before re-entry. |
How to apply it, step by step
1. Protective gear
- The label lists no specific gear: it causes moderate eye irritation, so keep it off your skin and out of your eyes and wash your hands with soap and water after handling.[1]
2. Before you spray
- It is an insect growth regulator: flea eggs and larvae that touch treated areas never become adults, but it doesn't kill adult fleas, so the label suggests pairing it with an adult insecticide for immediate control.[1]
- Cover or remove food and food-preparation surfaces, and wash those surfaces before use. Test a hidden spot for staining first, and don't soak carpet, drapes or furniture.[1]
- Keep it out of electrical equipment, and away from water: it is toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates.[1]
3. Mixing
- Indoors, mix 4 to 8 mL in a gallon of water per 1,500 sq ft for a preventive flea treatment before the season; for an established infestation start at 4 mL and go up to 12 mL when control is difficult.[1]
- It can also be added to a non-heated extracting carpet shampoo, at 4 mL per gallon of shampoo solution.[1]
4. Applying
- Spray everywhere fleas and other crawling insects can develop: carpets, throw rugs, furniture (including under the cushions) and pet sleeping areas.[1]
- Use it where pets have been and where earlier infestations occurred; indoors it can control fleas for up to 7 months.[1]
5. After you spray
- Keep children and pets off treated surfaces until the spray has thoroughly dried.[1]
- Don't rinse equipment where the water can reach water bodies.[1]
First aid
- In the eyes, rinse slowly and gently for 15 to 20 minutes, removing contact lenses after the first 5 minutes; on skin, take off contaminated clothing and rinse for 15 to 20 minutes; if inhaled, move the person to fresh air.[1]
- If swallowed, call a poison control center or doctor right away and don't induce vomiting: it contains petroleum distillate, which can cause aspiration pneumonia. The label lists SafetyCall International, 1-866-897-8050.[1]
Storage, spills and disposal
- Store it in its original container in a cool, dry place, away from food and pet food.[1]
- Don't reuse or refill the empty container.[1]
From the safety data sheet
- The Pivot 10 safety data sheet from Control Solutions (EPA Reg. No. 53883-280, revised January 2016) lists 10.0% pyriproxyfen and less than 0.3% naphthalene in a yellow to light amber liquid. Under OSHA rules its signal word is WARNING; the label hazard text it reproduces in its regulatory section opens with CAUTION.[3]
- Its OSHA hazard statements: causes serious eye irritation, causes skin irritation, harmful if inhaled, may cause respiratory irritation, and combustible liquid, with a flash point above 194°F (90°C). It calls for protective gloves and eye or face protection, says to avoid breathing the mist or spray, and to keep it away from flames and hot surfaces.[3]
- The acute numbers are estimates based on component data: oral LD50 above 3,000 mg/kg, dermal LD50 above 2,000 mg/kg and 4-hour inhalation LC50 above 1.4 mg/L. On the same basis the sheet expects serious eye irritation, no more than mild skin irritation and no skin sensitization, and it names the respiratory tract as the target organ.[3]
- For technical pyriproxyfen it gives a 96-hour LC50 above 0.27 mg/L for bluegill (L. macrochirus), a 48-hour EC50 of 0.4 mg/L for Daphnia magna, a 72-hour EC50 of 0.15 mg/L for the alga Selenastrum capricornutum, an oral LD50 above 1,906 mg/kg for bobwhite quail, and an oral LD50 above 98.3 µg per bee for honey bees.[3]
- Store it at room temperature, locked up, tightly closed and cool in a well-ventilated place, out of direct sunlight and away from heat and strong oxidizers. DOT doesn't regulate it for ground shipping, but by sea or air it moves as UN3082, an environmentally hazardous liquid.[3]
Safety and environmental hazards
People
Signal word CAUTION: causes moderate eye irritation, and it contains a petroleum distillate. In homes, cover food-processing surfaces and utensils during treatment or wash them before use.[1]
Pets
Keep children and pets off treated surfaces until the spray has thoroughly dried. In kennels and animal housing, remove animals first and return them once the spray is dry.[1]
Bees and pollinators
The label has no bee warning. For animal housing it says that, used as directed, the product won't harm beneficial insects such as predatory wasps.[1]
Fish and water
Toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. Don't apply to water or where surface water is present, and never pour leftover product down any indoor or outdoor drain.[1]
Common questions
- How much pyriproxyfen 10% EC per gallon for fleas?
- 4 to 8 mL in a gallon of water treats 1,500 square feet as a preventive. For a hard-to-control infestation, the label allows up to 12 mL.[1]
- Does pyriproxyfen kill adult fleas or roaches?
- It mainly stops eggs and immature insects from becoming breeding adults. The label recommends tank mixing with an adulticide for immediate control of adults.[1]
- When can people go back into a treated room?
- After a surface or crack and crevice spray, once it has dried. After fogging, once the room has been thoroughly ventilated.[1]
Sources
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “Pyriproxyfen 10% EC label, EPA Reg. No. 53883-280 (EPA-stamped, June 24, 2021).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/053883-00280-20210624.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)
- Control Solutions, Inc. (linked from its product-labels page; file hosted by Agrian), “Pivot 10 Safety Data Sheet (Control Solutions, Inc., revised January 22, 2016; EPA Reg. No. 53883-280, the page's Pyriproxyfen 10% EC registration).” www.agrian.com/pdfs/Pivot_10_MSDS1j.pdf (accessed 2026-11-08)