Pest Control Questions

[TJ Relic]

I live in a great apartment complex, and they take maintenance very seriously. I love it because they spray for bugs every 3 months, and I've never had any roaches (they get big in Texas ) since I moved here from a rental house that never got sprayed. The pesticide they use doesn't have strong fumes. I usually leave the windows open and fans on, take Rigel out before they get here, and go for a ride to the coffee shop or park for 30-60 minutes while the place airs out. He has never had any health problems with this setup. Today they were all in a rush, and wanted me to let them in before I got Rigel ready, and tried to insist that he would be fine if they just didn't spray around his cage. No deal, they had to wait.

I leave my windows open all day, with screens, but ants can get through, of course. Rigel ate at his new windowside playstand last night, and made the usual mess. I didn't have time to vacuum before the bugspray people came. When we got home, I found that there was a pile of (live) ants all over the food bits on the floor! I HAD to vacuum them up, even though I was worried that the pesticides would get redistributed in the air.

Long story long, I have these questions/concerns:
How long do we really need to stay away for the pesticides to not hurt him?
Will vacuuming soon after spraying cause problems?
Are ant-specific pesticides more dangerous, would I need to take extra precautions if I had them spray for ants (which I know they would do)?
Would it just be better to not offer any food at the window playstand, or become The Insane Hourly Vacuumer?

[beak tweaks]

It's been a number of years since I worked as a Pest Control Tech but I feel pretty certain I can help with your questions.

Unless the tech is using pyrethins the little fellow should be okay but, personally, I wouldn't be spraying the room he's in at all unless absolutely necessary. "An ounce of prevention . . . . . "

A natural remedy for the ants is cayenne pepper or hot pepper sauce. You probably have those teeny ants we in the south call piss ants. The spray that the tech puts down is a residual which dries fairly quick & leaves a residue which, when an insect walks on, paralyzes the pest over a period of hours. This is because an insect's nerve endings are on the bottom of their feet. That's why it's ineffective on spiders, which are arachnids. You have to spray them direct.

Vacuuming after spraying should be okay. The residual is applied to a hard surface & dries fairly quick.

Ants are one of the easier to control pests & shouldn't require some of the stronger residuals.

I'm sure it's okay to continue offering the little fellow his treats at the window. Just be diligent in your housekeeping efforts at the scene. Personally, I would discontinue the "crub cafe" at the window. Here again, "An ounce of prevention . . . . "

You've probably already done this, but there are a lot of helpful suggestions for non-toxic remedies on the web.

[B CAMP]

Check out this link it will get rid of your ants and safe around birds
Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Ants Be Gone! - A Bird Safe Method That Works.
BCAMP

[mmr]

I am having a HUGE flea problem. Never had issues till this year. I saw a flea so put the frontline on (like always) except this time I still have fleas jumpping around and bitting us. So I tried advantage (for my cats that is) and I still have them. I don't know what else to do. Anyother time I had even just a few putting the meds on they would all be gone within a few hours or a daay. It has now been 3 weeks and I still have tons!!! I am so miserable with them aqnd embarreseed.

[bmcm]

fleas.do you have rugs and how often do you vacuum to rid of eggs,if you don't you are just hatching new ones every 3 weeks .usually takes care of problem in a month.

[Addicted to Tequila]

That was too funny! I LOVE Winged Wisdom.

That is basically the same thing I use.