Pesticide...need help

[nocturnalpulsem]

I have some guys workin on my house, and they ran into an ant colony in the foundation near a window. They sprayed it pretty good...trouble is, that's the area I keep one of my tanks.

They were nowhere near it when they sprayed, so that's ok, but I'd like to know what I should do before moving the tank back? Should I clean it with something, or just leave the window open for a while?

N.

 

[Malhavoc's]

I think it depends on the type of pesticide weather its an airborn killer or it takes the creature to touch it to become intoxicated I had ant trouble with my tanks and had to move them out because we used the touch stuff and the ants didnt die immediatly so if a contaqmmed ant got near my t's or scorp..well that would infect my pet...

 

[Code Monkey]

It would be almost impossible that any sort of aerosol/fog pesticide formulation was used, contact poison or bait is the name of the game with modern pesticides (and a spray is not a bait). There should be no problem with moving your inverts back to the area without any special precautions beyond a good airing (washing may do nothing, may just spread it around, or it may clean it up some - without knowing exactly what they used it's impossible to say).

In general, sprays are ineffective with ant species anyhow, baits are the way to go if you actually want to eliminate an ant nest. Odds are they sprayed a pyrethroid based contact poison. I'd let things air out to you couldn't smell any obvious residue (i.e. it's all completely dry) and then put things back.

 

[nocturnalpulsem]

Originally posted by Code Monkey
I'd let things air out to you couldn't smell any obvious residue (i.e. it's all completely dry) and then put things back.

That's what I've been doing, but I wasn't sure if I should try washing it. Most of the smell is gone, and by the time the workers are done today it should all be gone.

Thanks CM,
N.