Profex Duo | Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC | Dual-Action Insecticide

Description

What is Profex Duo?

Profex Duo is a scientifically formulated dual-active combination insecticide from Bhumi Growth Solutions, combining Profenofos 40% (an Organophosphate — IRAC Group 1B) and Cypermethrin 4% (a Synthetic Pyrethroid — IRAC Group 3A) in a single Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) formulation. This combination is not simply “two insecticides in one bottle” — it is a strategically designed dual-mechanism formulation where each active ingredient complements and enhances the action of the other, resulting in pest control performance that is significantly superior to either active ingredient used alone.

The Profenofos component provides broad-spectrum systemic and translaminar activity — penetrating deep into plant tissue to reach hidden, burrowing, and leaf-mining pests — while simultaneously delivering ovicidal (egg-killing) action that breaks the pest breeding cycle. The Cypermethrin component delivers lightning-fast knockdown and strong repellent activity, immediately stopping pest feeding and preventing new infestations from establishing. Together, these two complementary modes of action cover every critical stage of pest biology — from eggs to mature adults.

Trusted by millions of Indian farmers, the Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC formulation has been a cornerstone of commercial pest management on Cotton — India’s most pest-pressured crop — for decades. Profex Duo brings this same proven combination to Bhumi Growth Solutions customers across all major crop systems.

 

Understanding the Two Active Ingredients

Profex Duo’s power comes from the synergistic combination of two fundamentally different insecticidal chemistries:

Parameter	Profenofos 40%	Cypermethrin 4%
Active Ingredient	Profenofos 40%	Cypermethrin 4%
Chemical Class	Organophosphate	Synthetic Pyrethroid (Type II)
IRAC Group	Group 1B — AChE Inhibitor	Group 3A — Sodium Channel Modulator
Mode of Action	Inhibits acetylcholinesterase enzyme → nerve impulse overload	Holds voltage-gated Na channels open → continuous nerve firing
Action Type	Systemic + Contact + Stomach + Translaminar	Contact + Stomach + Repellent
Special Property	Ovicidal (kills insect eggs)	Ultra-fast knockdown, repellent effect
Speed of Action	Moderate but sustained (systemic)	Very rapid (knockdown within hours)
Residual Activity	10–14 days (systemic translocation)	14+ days (contact residue)
Key Advantage	Kills hidden pests through leaf penetration and translaminar action	Stops feeding immediately; deters new pest arrivals

 

🔬 WHY THE COMBINATION IS MORE POWERFUL THAN EITHER ALONE:
• Profenofos kills hidden, burrowing, and leaf-penetrating pests that Cypermethrin misses
• Cypermethrin’s immediate knockdown stops pest damage BEFORE Profenofos’ systemic action begins
• Ovicidal action (Profenofos) + Adult kill (Cypermethrin) = Complete pest lifecycle disruption
• Two IRAC groups in one spray = Built-in resistance management from EVERY application
• Repellent effect (Cypermethrin) prevents pest re-invasion after the spray

 

How Does Profex Duo Work? (Dual Mode of Action)

Profex Duo attacks insects simultaneously through two independent biochemical pathways — making it extremely difficult for any pest population to develop resistance against both mechanisms at the same time:

• Profenofos: AChE Inhibition (IRAC 1B): Profenofos is absorbed by insects through contact and ingestion, and moves systemically through plant tissues via translaminar penetration. Once inside the insect’s body, it binds to and irreversibly inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE) — the enzyme responsible for breaking down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at nerve synapses. Without AChE function, acetylcholine accumulates continuously at nerve junctions, causing uncontrolled, sustained nerve excitation, muscle paralysis, and death.
• Cypermethrin: Sodium Channel Modulation (IRAC 3A): Cypermethrin acts at the nerve axon membrane, binding to voltage-gated sodium channels and holding them in a permanently open state. This produces continuous, uncontrolled sodium ion influx and repetitive nerve firing — resulting in rapid hyperexcitation, paralysis, and death. The speed of this mechanism is what gives Profex Duo its characteristic lightning knockdown, visible within hours of application.
• Translaminar Penetration (Profenofos): Unlike contact-only insecticides, Profenofos penetrates through the leaf blade from the sprayed surface to the unsprayed surface — reaching pests hiding on leaf undersides, inside rolled leaves, within fruits, and in other protected feeding sites that conventional contact sprays cannot reach.
• Ovicidal Activity (Profenofos): Profenofos disrupts egg development and kills insect eggs on treated plant surfaces — breaking the pest breeding cycle and preventing the next generation of larvae from hatching. This ovicidal property, combined with its larvicidal and adulticidal activity, gives Profex Duo complete coverage across all pest developmental stages.
• Repellent Effect (Cypermethrin): The Cypermethrin component has a strong deterrent effect — insects detect the chemical on treated surfaces and avoid feeding, mating, and ovipositing (egg-laying) on treated crop. This repellent property extends the effective protection period beyond the residual contact-kill effect.
• Rain Fastness: The EC formulation provides good adhesion of both active ingredients to leaf surfaces, and Profenofos’ translaminar absorption into leaf tissue makes it rain-fast within 1–2 hours of spray drying — ensuring reliability even in areas with unpredictable rainfall during the spray interval.

 

Target Pests

Target Pest (Scientific Name)	Key Crop(s)
American Bollworm / Gram Pod Borer (Helicoverpa armigera)	Cotton, Chilli, Tomato, Chickpea — primary target
Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella)	Cotton
Spotted Bollworm (Earias vittella, Earias insulana)	Cotton
Tobacco Caterpillar (Spodoptera litura)	Cotton, Soybean, Vegetables, Groundnut
Hairy Caterpillar (Amsacta moorei)	Groundnut, Castor
Fruit Borer (Helicoverpa / Leucinodes spp.)	Chilli, Tomato, Brinjal, Bottle Gourd
Pod Borer (Maruca vitrata)	Pigeonpea, Soybean, Chickpea, Pulses
Stem Fly (Melanagromyza sojae)	Soybean
Aphids (Aphis gossypii, Myzus persicae)	Cotton, Chilli, Vegetables
Thrips (Thrips tabaci)	Cotton, Chilli, Onion
Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci)	Cotton, Tomato, Chilli
Jassids / Leafhoppers (Amrasca biguttula)	Cotton, Okra, Brinjal
Spider Mites (Tetranychus urticae)	Cotton, Brinjal, Vegetables
Leaf Miner (Liriomyza spp.)	Vegetables, Tomato

 

CIB-Verified Crop-Wise Dosage & Application Table

⚠️ RESTRICTED IN KERALA STATE — Do not sell or ship to Kerala.

Crop	Target Pests	Method	Dose/Acre	Water/Acre	Dilution Rate	PHI (Days)
Cotton	Bollworm Complex (American, Pink, Spotted), Thrips, Aphids, Jassids, Whiteflies, Mites	Foliar Spray	400–600 ml	200–400 L	2–2.5 ml/L	21 days
Chilli	Fruit Borer, Thrips	Foliar Spray	300 ml	200 L	2 ml/L	7 days
Tomato	Fruit Borer, Aphids, Leaf Miner	Foliar Spray	300 ml	200 L	2 ml/L	7 days
Brinjal	Fruit & Shoot Borer, Aphids, Mites	Foliar Spray	300 ml	200 L	2 ml/L	As per label
Okra / Bhindi	Jassids, Aphids, Fruit Borer	Foliar Spray	300 ml	200 L	2 ml/L	As per label
Bottle Gourd / Cucurbits	Fruit Borer, Aphids, Thrips	Foliar Spray	300 ml	200 L	2 ml/L	As per label
Soybean	Stem Fly, Semilooper, Thrips	Foliar Spray	400 ml	200 L	2 ml/L	As per label
Chickpea / Gram	Pod Borer (Helicoverpa)	Foliar Spray	400 ml	200 L	2 ml/L	As per label
Pigeonpea	Pod Borer, Pod Fly	Foliar Spray	400 ml	200 L	2 ml/L	As per label
Groundnut	Thrips, Caterpillars	Foliar Spray	400 ml	200 L	2 ml/L	As per label
Paddy / Rice	Leaf Folder, Stem Borer	Foliar Spray	400 ml	200 L	2 ml/L	As per label

 

💡 QUICK REFERENCE:
• Per 15-litre knapsack pump: 30–35 ml per pump
• Per acre general: 400–600 ml in 200–400 litres of water
• General dilution: 2–2.5 ml per litre of water
• Spray interval: Every 10–15 days depending on pest pressure

 

How to Prepare Profex Duo Spray Solution

1. Step 1: Shake the Profex Duo bottle well before measuring — EC formulation may separate slightly during storage
2. Step 2: Measure the required quantity accurately using a graduated measuring cylinder — wear gloves while measuring
3. Step 3: Fill the spray tank half-full with clean water (pH 6.0–7.0 preferred; avoid alkaline water which degrades both AIs)
4. Step 4: Add the measured Profex Duo to the water while stirring — it forms a stable milky-brown emulsion
5. Step 5: Top up with the remaining water and agitate the tank to ensure uniform distribution
6. Step 6: Begin spraying immediately — maintain agitation during long spray operations
7. Step 7: Focus spray on canopy, fruiting bodies, and pest congregation sites; cover both upper and lower leaf surfaces
8. Step 8: For bollworm control in cotton: Pay special attention to bolls, squares, and green parts of the plant where larvae bore and feed
9. Step 9: Wash all spray equipment thoroughly with detergent and water after use

 

Application Tips for Best Results

• Apply at FIRST DETECTION of bollworm eggs or early instar (young) larvae — Profex Duo’s ovicidal activity is most effective against fresh egg masses; young larvae are far more susceptible than mature ones
• Spray in the morning (6–9 AM) or evening (after 5 PM) — UV degrades Cypermethrin; also reduces heat stress phytotoxicity risk from EC solvents in hot afternoon conditions
• Do NOT mix with alkaline products (lime, Bordeaux mixture, copper oxychloride) — both Profenofos and Cypermethrin degrade under alkaline conditions; use pH 6–7 water
• Repeat application at 10–15 day intervals during peak pest pressure season — this is especially critical for bollworm management in cotton during September–November
• PHI 21 days for cotton — plan spray timing carefully to ensure the last application is at least 21 days before harvest
• For vegetable crops (Chilli, Tomato, Brinjal): PHI is shorter (7 days) — safe for regular-harvest vegetable cultivation
• Rotate Profex Duo with NEEMOLI-15 (Azadirachtin) for one spray per season — bio-pesticide rotation further reduces resistance risk and supports beneficial insect recovery

 

Profex Duo vs Single-Active Insecticides: The Combination Advantage

Parameter	Profex Duo (Combination)	Single-Active Insecticide
Modes of Action	DUAL — IRAC 1B + IRAC 3A simultaneously	Single IRAC group
Resistance Management	Built-in — two mechanisms in EVERY spray	Requires deliberate rotation scheduling
Speed of Action	Immediate knockdown (Cypermethrin) + sustained (Profenofos)	Either fast OR sustained — not both
Pest Coverage	Sucking + Chewing + Boring + Mites + Egg stages	Typically targeted to specific pest groups
Translaminar Activity	Yes (Profenofos) — reaches hidden pests	Limited to surface contact in most single AIs
Ovicidal Activity	Yes (Profenofos) — kills insect eggs	Not present in most insecticides
Repellent Effect	Yes (Cypermethrin) — deters new infestations	Limited or absent
Sprays Needed Per Season	Fewer — dual action reduces number of applications	More sprays often needed for equivalent control
Cost Per Unit Pest Control	Lower — double efficacy per spray	Higher — may need complementary products

 

Key Benefits at a Glance

• ✅ Two IRAC Groups in One Bottle — IRAC 1B (Organophosphate) + IRAC 3A (Pyrethroid)
• ✅ Built-in Resistance Management — Dual mechanisms make resistance development extremely difficult
• ✅ Six-Way Pest Action — Contact + Stomach + Systemic + Translaminar + Ovicidal + Repellent
• ✅ Ovicidal Activity — Kills insect eggs, breaking the pest reproduction cycle
• ✅ Translaminar Penetration — Reaches hidden borers, miners, and pests on leaf undersides
• ✅ Lightning Knockdown + Extended Residual — Cypermethrin speed + Profenofos persistence
• ✅ Broad-Spectrum — Bollworms, caterpillars, borers, sucking pests, mites, leaf miners
• ✅ Rain-Fast — Translaminar absorption ensures performance even after light rain
• ✅ Proven On India’s Toughest Crop — Decades of bollworm management on commercial Cotton
• ✅ Available in Custom Sizes — 100 ml to bulk quantities for every farm size

 

Available Pack Sizes

Standard Size: 1 Litre
Custom Sizes: 100 ml | 250 ml | 500 ml | 1 Litre | Bulk quantities

 

Safety, Precautions & First Aid

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Profex Duo contains Profenofos — an Organophosphate compound.
Organophosphates inhibit acetylcholinesterase in both insects AND mammals at high doses.
Strict PPE and safe handling is ESSENTIAL. This product carries a CAUTION (WARNING) label symbol.

• ALWAYS wear full PPE: chemical-resistant gloves, protective goggles, full-sleeve clothing, and nose-mouth mask/respirator during handling, mixing, and spraying — this is especially critical for Profenofos-containing products
• Do NOT eat, drink, or smoke during application. Wash hands and face thoroughly before eating
• Store in original, tightly sealed container in a cool (below 30°C), dry, locked location — away from children, food, animal feed, and water sources
• DO NOT spray near water bodies (ponds, canals, rivers) — both Profenofos and Cypermethrin are toxic to aquatic organisms and highly toxic to honeybees
• DO NOT spray on flowering crops during bee activity hours — spray in early morning or late evening only
• If skin contact: Immediately remove contaminated clothing; wash skin thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes
• If eye contact: Immediately flush with clean running water for 15–20 minutes; seek ophthalmologist consultation
• If inhaled: Move immediately to fresh air; if symptoms persist (dizziness, difficulty breathing, excessive sweating) — seek immediate emergency medical care
• If ingested: Do NOT induce vomiting; keep patient at rest and calm; seek IMMEDIATE emergency medical care and bring the product label to the physician
• ANTIDOTE for Organophosphate poisoning: Atropine sulphate (consult physician for dose); pralidoxime (2-PAM) may be indicated — administer only under qualified medical supervision
• Triple-rinse empty containers before disposal; never reuse for food, water, or domestic purposes; dispose of safely
• ⚠️ RESTRICTED IN KERALA STATE — Do NOT sell, distribute, or use in Kerala

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is Profex Duo and what makes it different from single-active insecticides?

Profex Duo combines Profenofos 40% (IRAC Group 1B Organophosphate) and Cypermethrin 4% (IRAC Group 3A Pyrethroid) in a single EC formulation. This dual-active combination delivers six simultaneous modes of pest action — Contact, Stomach, Systemic, Translaminar, Ovicidal, and Repellent — providing pest control coverage that no single-active insecticide can match. Built-in dual IRAC group action also provides automatic resistance management with every spray.

Q2. What pests does Profex Duo control?

Profex Duo controls Bollworm complex (American, Pink, Spotted Bollworms), Tobacco Caterpillar (Spodoptera), Fruit Borers, Pod Borers, Stem Flies, Aphids, Thrips, Whiteflies, Jassids, Spider Mites, and Leaf Miners — covering both chewing and sucking pests across Cotton, Chilli, Tomato, Brinjal, Okra, Soybean, Chickpea, Pigeonpea, Groundnut, and Paddy.

Q3. What is the recommended dose of Profex Duo per acre?

Cotton (Bollworm complex + sucking pests): 400–600 ml per acre in 200–400 litres of water (2–2.5 ml per litre). Vegetables (Chilli, Tomato, Brinjal) for Fruit Borer: 300 ml per acre. Pulses, Soybean: 400 ml per acre. Per 15-litre pump: 30–35 ml. Source: Multiple CIB-registered Profenofos + Cypermethrin EC product labels.

Q4. What is the ovicidal activity of Profex Duo and why is it important?

Ovicidal activity means Profex Duo kills insect eggs deposited on treated plant surfaces. The Profenofos component penetrates egg chorions and disrupts embryonic development. This is especially critical for Bollworm management — Helicoverpa armigera lays hundreds of eggs per female; killing eggs before they hatch prevents the next generation of damaging larvae from ever feeding on the crop. This egg-kill capacity is absent in most single-active insecticides.

Q5. What is the pre-harvest interval (PHI) for Profex Duo?

PHI for Cotton: 21 days (standard for Profenofos-containing products). For vegetables (Chilli, Tomato, Brinjal): 7 days. Always strictly observe the PHI to ensure produce safety and compliance with Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). Never harvest before the specified waiting period after the last spray.

Q6. Is Profex Duo available in Kerala?

No. Profex Duo (Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC) is RESTRICTED FOR SALE AND USE IN KERALA STATE as per the Kerala Pesticides Regulation. We do not supply or ship this product to Kerala. Customers in Kerala should explore NEEMOLI-15, LAMBDORA, or StrikeForce as alternatives for their crop protection needs.