Liphatech Introduces FirstStrike Soft Bait

Irresistibility is everything — just ask mice and rats. Thanks to food aroma from a palatable soft bait treat, Liphatech, a developer of rodent control product technology, has created a new-concept rodenticide that’s effective in areas of high infestation or when competing food sources exist.

FirstStrike is a 10-gram pouch that relies on the active ingredient difethialone to create an easy-to-use rodenticide for application in bait stations, the company said. The product is designed for flexible dosing — use the exact amount of FirstStrike necessary: more for heavy infestations, less for maintenance.

“FirstStrike marks an important milestone in rodent control technology, a new concept,” said Ray Finke, business director, pest management division, Liphatech. “In heavy infestations rodents will seek out FirstStrike even with food sources available. It’s easy to apply, easy to secure and easy to clean up — the perfect solution for our industry.”

FirstStrike does not incorporate wax, so palatability is maximized, the company said. Additionally, taste is not affected by extreme heat or cold, and the pouch is not subject to crumbling or translocation. Rodent variety can be identified by the feeding pattern on the pouch as well as dye from bait that appears in droppings.

Results from a FirstStrike application begin showing in as little as four to five days after placement, with rapid rodent depopulation after five to 11 days. A bittering agent is included in the pouch to avoid accidental consumption.

“FirstStrike is a powerful rodenticide that’s effective against both heavy infestations and those few rodents that may be reluctant to feed on conventional rodenticides,” said Ted Bruesch, national technical support manager, Liphatech. “In tests conducted recently it outperformed every product to which it was compared; against rats and mice and under tough field conditions. It offers a combination of superior attractiveness to rats and mice, ability to be secured in stations, lack of crumbs, resistance to melting and rodent killing power.”

The FirstStrike pouch can be used like a traditional block bait — it can be quickly and securely fixed on the vertical or horizontal bars of a bait station, yet retains aroma and high palatability. Clean up is easy because the product is readily consumed by rodents and not scattered. And the bait is consistent throughout the entire pouch, reducing debris.

FirstStrike is available in a 16-pound pail or an eight-pound pail. A case includes four eight-pound pails. It will be available in most states by Dec. 1, 2008.