~~ THE Solution ~~
- Does My Pet Have Fleas?
- Flea Allergies
- Life Cycle of the Flea
- Insect Growth Regulators
- About Us -- Our Story
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Insect
Growth
Regulators
Cats
dog
flea
Archer
Flea Fix
IGR
methoprene
fenoxycarb
lufenuron
InsectGrowth
Regulator
Control
dogs
(Frequently Asked Questions about Archer and Flea Fix)
An Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) breaks the flea
lifecycle by preventing a young flea from
growing normally, into the next phase -- a biting, breeding adult.The first IGR to come out was Precor. It did a wonderful job of interrupting the flea life cycle in the house, but it breaks down rapidly in sunlight. So it didn't complete the job of getting rid of fleas in the whole environment.
Program pills for dogs and cats is technically an IGR. The chemical in the pet's bloodstream stops the baby fleas from being able to hatch out of the egg. This, however, is its downfall. With Program, the flea has to bite the pet, AND CONTINUE TO CHEW ON THE PET for the rest of its life, to be effective.
Archer and FleaFix are third generation IGR's that work in the environment. There is no need to feed chemicals to the pets, and they don't easily break down in sunlight. This is true long term control. No flea can reproduce on your property for months at a time either indoors or outdoors. We use Archer because it is so much more economical, but if you have just a small area, then FleaFix is just as good of a choice.
The IDEAL time to treat your environment is before you
have fleas. The second best time is RIGHT NOW.
ARCHER comes in a 16 ounce tip-and-measure bottle. You mix one
ounce of ARCHER in one gallon of water in a pump sprayer. This will
easily cover 1500 square feet indoors and in kennel runs. It does
not go nearly as far outdoors. We recommend 7-8 ounces in a normal
sized back yard. 
NO. ARCHER stops the eggs and larvae
from developing in those insects that go through a larval stage.
It does not even kill adult fleas. Although it affects such
insects as fleas, ticks, lice, mites, cockroaches and fire
ants, it will not
harm spiders or scorpions because they don't go thorough a
larval stage. Similarly, the active ingredient, pyriproxyfen,
will not affect squirrels, birds, puppies, kittens, kids or
yourself. It is non-toxic once it dries. ARCHER does not
stain carpets or furniture and is practically odor-free.
Be sure to treat under the furniture, in closets, and under
the cushions of upholstered furniture, anywhere that flea
eggs and larvae might have been left or moved to. 
Yes. ARCHER has no problem being combined with other
liquids. In fact, we have an advanced level pyrethrin
called Conquer that is actually approved for use in the food areas of schools and hospitals because it breaks down so rapidly in our environment. So, feel free to apply the insecticide and Archer at the same time.
Be sure to follow all instructions and cautions
listed with any insecticide. 
Pyriproxyfen (IGR) does not degrade in direct sunlight
like the earlier IGR, methoprene. This means long-lasting flea control in brightly
lit rooms and rooms sunlit through open windows. Obviously,
Precor is not designed to be used outdoors, but in the house,
and outdoors is where much of the flea development typically
takes place. This gives Archer a tremendous advantage over
the old first-generation IGR, Precor.
Program
is an interesting product that came on the market several years ago.
Its active ingredient is lufenuron, which prevents
the formation of chitin (pronounced KY-tin). When a larva
needs to break out of the egg, it uses an egg tooth made
of chitin. Program is given to the dog or cat orally where
it is absorbed and enters the bloodstream. The blood is
ingested by the female flea when the flea bites the dog
and as the egg is produced, it causes the dysfunction in
chitin formation and the ultimate inability of the egg to
hatch. Program,
was originally a prescription product, sold by
veterinarians only, but is considered over-the-counter now.
For it
to be truly effective,
every pet in the household should be given an appropriate
dosage every month. Unfortunately, if the flea bites
an untreated animal like a squirrel or neighborhood
cat, it can lay perfectly healthy eggs within three
days. If your animals are isolated, the flea population
should eventually diminish with the use of Program. But we no longer carry it,
since it cannot compare with the newest generation of IGR's like Archer and Flea Fix.There is no conflict between ARCHER and Program. Since ARCHER, however, protects the property from flea infestation, there should be no reason to use other forms of flea prevention, even Program.
There is no conflict between ARCHER and Program. Since ARCHER however, protects the property from flea infestation, there should be no reason to use other forms of flea prevention, even Program.
ARCHER is an Insect Growth Regulator. If you currently have adult fleas, we
have the products to stop them as well. After one last application of both
Archer AND an insecticide to kill of the adult fleas, it will be necessary to
use only an IGR since no new fleas will be hatching on your property and it
will not be reinfested. An Insect Growth Regulator is truly the answer to the
question: FLEAS? Never Again! NOTE: After application of ARCHER, be sure to leave the grass clippings the next couple of times that you mow the lawn. The ARCHER is bonded to them, they become part of the dirt layer and that is where the eggs and larvae are.
The adult flea will either die of old age, or the pet may
be treated with a topical treatment (we recommend Frontline)
as necessary. Pets
can bring adult fleas in to the home after it has been treated,
but no fleas will hatch from any eggs laid, so the house will not
be reinfested. So, what do you need? For the first application, you will need an insecticide for the lawn AND Archer. Demize does both jobs in the house. Frontline is great on both dogs and cats. For all subsequent applications (two or three times per year), use Archer!
