SUSPEND FLEXX – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Suspend Flexx from Bayer is the innovative multi-purpose insecticide with unique carrier technology, which provides for high performance even on tough porous surfaces and flexible application rates. Having been on the market for just over a year, it’s worth recapping some of its unique properties and the benefits pest managers are seeing.

Q: What is Suspend Flexx?

Suspend Flexx is the latest general insect control liquid concentrate from Bayer. It features a new formulation technology, ‘Partix’, with deltamethrin as the active ingredient.

Suspend Flexx is based on a solid particle formulation, and it is the first product registered with this unique formulation. The deltamethrin active ingredient is incorporated into a solid polymer particle that will ‘stand up’ on the most harsh/absorbent surfaces and increases the bioavailability of the active ingredient for the target pest. Suspend Flexx provides excellent results at very low rates.

Q: What prompted the development of this formulation?

The drive to develop this unique formulation was not only to produce a high performing formulation on tough porous surfaces ,but in the changing regulatory and environmentally conscious market place there is increasing pressure to use less insecticide. As such, a formulation that delivered the same or better performance with less insecticide whilst giving pest managers flexibility in application rate would meet the increasing diverse needs of today’s pest managers.

Q: How does a solid particle formulation deliver performance benefits?

These particles are large and solid with irregular surface shapes that allow them to stay on the top of any surface and prevents penetration and loss into rough absorbent porous surfaces. This increases bioavailability for noticeable better performance.

Suspend Flexx Partix particles on wood
Suspend Flexx Partix particle on stucco

Q: What are porous surfaces?

This may sound like an obvious question but knowing the surface properties of a particular material impacts product choice – the selection of the wrong type of formulation will significantly reduce the residual performance and greatly increase the chances of a callback.

Most surfaces treated by a PCO in & around commercial buildings and residential homes are porous. Non-porous surfaces are typically found in commercial kitchens.

Common Porous surfaces:

  • Concrete
  • Brick
  • Carpet
  • Unpainted Wood
  • Wood mulch
  • Textile
  • Marble
  • Blue stone
  • Plaster
  • Render
  • Non glazed tiles
  • Insulation
  • Wall paper
  • Old silicone joins
  • Rusted metal
  • Laminate
  • Cinder Blocks

Common non-porous surfaces:

  • Plastic
  • Metal (stainless steel)
  • Glass
  • Painted wood *
  • Glazed tiles*
  • Silicone joins (Aged, weathered or damaged can be porous)

With porous surfaces being the more common surface types that pest managers treat, selecting a formulation that keeps the insecticide on the surface and available is vital for performance.

Q: How does Suspend Flexx compare to other formulations?

The larger, irregular solid particles will sit on even the harshest porous surface allowing it to be fully bioavailable to the target pest while other formulations with smaller particles tend to be absorbed or lose a certain percent into the pores and cracks of the surfaces. Suspend Flexx thus allows pest manager to apply less insecticide (as more of the applied insecticide is available), making it a responsible choice when the situation requires reduced insecticide use.

Q: Why do we need Suspend Flexx when we already have other deltamethrin-based GIC products?

  1. Due to the advanced formulation technology, Suspend Flexx can achieve high efficacy with 50% less AI, comparing to many current products. This makes it the ideal response to future regulatory challenges on AI load restrictions.
  2. Suspend Flexx offers better performance than current products on all surfaces even highly absorbent ones (i.e.: concrete, stone, wood, render)
  3. It is a technological advancement over our existing deltamethrin-based products.

Q: What is the staining/residue potential?

We have not observed any staining or visible residue in our extensive testing.

Q: How long does Partix work on a rough surface?

A: We have tested Suspend Flexx on a multitude of common surfaces in field trial around the globe. In general, a period of effectiveness of 90 days can be expected. In some situations, we may exceed this value.

Q: Why choose deltamethrin?

Deltamethrin is one of the leading active Ingredients in Professional Pest Management in the world. Deltamethrin is a Type II pyrethroid that provides efficacy advantages over Type I pyrethroids. Suspend Flexx is an entirely new technology category, Suspend Flexx has excellent efficacy on complex surfaces.

For pest managers who haven’t yet had the chance to try Suspend Flexx or want to find out more information, check out Suspend Flexx – Performance You Can Control. Not only does this explain the technology further but details how the label allows for flexible application rates from 1.6 ml/L to 10 ml/L depending on the pest and performance required. Pest managers are appreciating this control over application rate, performance and budget to meet the unique situation in each account.

Daryle Swarz, ANZ Sales & Marketing Manager, Professional Pest Management