Lots of little flies!

[ERKleRose]

It's safe to use around other insects, as well

 

[Lindasjackson]

It's an insecticide that only affects mosquitos and fungus gnats, killing them and their larvae off

Oh, ok, never heard of it. If they don’t go away on their own I may have to try that.

 

[Snuits]

It's an insecticide that only affects mosquitos and fungus gnats, killing them and their larvae off

Sooo dumb question. I know you said on top. But on top of soil, under rocks. Or on top of soil & rocks? I'm assuming on top of soil under rocks. But I figured asking so I get it right the first time. Lol also these are harmless for them to eat right? Cause I've seen him eat a couple lol

 

[DonKeesh]

I use the miracle gro indoor potting mix to prevent this issue. Havnt had any gnats since switching.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

What’s mosquito bits?

Mosquito Bits are a biological insecticide.
https://www.gopests.com/mosquito-dunks/

Ingredients

Bacillus Thuringiensis Subspecies Isrealensis Primary Powder Aedes Aegypti (Aa) International Toxic Units (Itu) Per Milligram Primary Powder.
https://www.amazon.com/Summit-Responsible-Solutions-Mosquito-Bits/dp/B0001AUF8G

Are Mosquito Dunks and Bits Safe?​

Generally, bits and dunks are safe when they’ve already been dissolved, so they’re not known to hurt humans and animals. However, their solid forms tell another story.

If these products have not been melted down, they can be dangerous when consumed by pets. The Bti can cause cats and dogs sever stomachaches and nausea. So if it’s been eaten, you should go to a vet right away.

Also, many experts still warn users to not use this product in drinking water. You shouldn’t get treated water near your eyes and open wounds either. Even if it hasn’t been thoroughly researched on, the Bti might wreak havoc on your body.
https://www.gopests.com/mosquito-dunks/

I did not find any information on safety with regard to chameleons or reptiles.

Concerns OTTOMH:

• What if feeder insects happen to accidentally gut load on it?
• What if a chameleon happens to ingest some—dry/solid or dissolved? Nevermind... found it.
• What if it gets into mist or drip water?
• Residue?

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

I use the miracle gro indoor potting mix to prevent this issue. Havnt had any gnats since switching.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=fungus+gnats+from+miracle+gro

 

[dinomom]

Yeah venus fly traps are pretty useless, they're just cool. They don't even usually eat flies in the wild, usually crawling insects and small frogs/lizards.

Drosera capensis sundews are amazing with the soil and fungus gnats that are attracted to them. I'd see them pretty much come right out of the soil, leave the cage, and fly over to the sundews.

I think you should tell that to the fly trap outside my front door that currently has 4 dozen fly corpses in it that..(it's a huge pot). Just not good indoor plants.

I recommend a butterwort, especially one called pinguicula aphrodite, mine get absolutely covered.

And I think we had this discussion before, aren't these phorid flies?

 

[ERKleRose]

Sooo dumb question. I know you said on top. But on top of soil, under rocks. Or on top of soil & rocks? I'm assuming on top of soil under rocks. But I figured asking so I get it right the first time. Lol also these are harmless for them to eat right? Cause I've seen him eat a couple lol

On top of soil under rocks

 

[ERKleRose]

Mosquito Bits are a biological insecticide.
https://www.gopests.com/mosquito-dunks/





I did not find any information on safety with regard to chameleons or reptiles.

Concerns OTTOMH:

• What if feeder insects happen to accidentally gut load on it?
• What if a chameleon happens to ingest some—dry/solid or dissolved? Nevermind... found it.
• What if it gets into mist or drip water?
• Residue?

Here's a quote from Summit's website:
"Can Mosquito Bits® be used around animals and pets?
While Mosquito Bits® kill mosquito and fungus gnat larvae in their respective habitats, they are labeled for use in animal watering troughs, ponds, birdbaths, and other areas in which animals and pets will drink and bathe. Mosquito Dunks® and Bits® are also completely harmless to plants, fish, frogs, turtles and beneficial insects. They can be applied to water and soil used with edible plants, fruits and vegetables. (Read more about Bti)"
Obviously you wouldn't use it in feeder bins or on bioactive soil for chams that eat/walk around on the soil or drippers or in pots that aren't covered with rocks or if you free-range feed your insects off in the cage.
I'd love to look at the article you found on the chameleon that ate some!

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

I'd love to look at the article you found on the chameleon that ate some!

Wasn't me. I posted links to what I found.

 

[ERKleRose]

What if a chameleon happens to ingest some—dry/solid or dissolved? Nevermind... found it.

The link to this wasn't posted, I'd really love to read it to make sure I don't continue to use it if it isn't safe/make sure I don't use it how that person used it if it was misused.

 

[Snuits]

On top of soil under rocks

Thank you♡

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

The link to this wasn't posted, I'd really love to read it to make sure I don't continue to use it if it isn't safe/make sure I don't use it how that person used it if it was misused.

The Nevermind in red referred back to the quote in (same color) red, "So if it’s been eaten, you should go to a vet right away." The source of that quote is at the bottom of it.

https://www.gopests.com/mosquito-dunks/

I haven't researched these mosquito bits thoroughly yet (only just heard of it), but some things that popped out in my cursory search (Concerns OTTOMH: ) are the kinds of things I'd be looking for.

For example, when I see something like (post #25):

"Generally, bits and dunks are safe when they’ve already been dissolved, so they’re not known to hurt humans and animals. However, their solid forms tell another story,"

... there's this little bell in my head that goes, "DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!"
and I'm going to wonder about after the product dries out, and/or any residue.
... And dig further.

I did come across this from 2015 from The National Pesticide Information Center.
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/btgen.html

 

[ERKleRose]

The Nevermind in red referred back to the quote in (same color) red, "So if it’s been eaten, you should go to a vet right away." The source of that quote is at the bottom of it.

https://www.gopests.com/mosquito-dunks/

I haven't researched these mosquito bits thoroughly yet (only just heard of it), but some things that popped out in my cursory search (Concerns OTTOMH: ) are the kinds of things I'd be looking for.

For example, when I see something like (post #25):

... there's this little bell in my head that goes, "DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!"
and I'm going to wonder about after the product dries out, and/or any residue.
... And dig further.

I did come across this from 2015 from The National Pesticide Information Center.
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/btgen.html

That quote is for cats and dogs, and while I agree with going to the vet if your cham eats any, the product is safe for birds (which are more closely related to chams than cats or dogs) and turtles (which are a fellow reptile).

You can also make "Mosquito Bits Tea" to pour over plant soil so you get the benefits without any possible risk (if there is any). Using the bits properly and only if your cham/set-up allows it to be done safely, there is little to no possibility of a cham ever interacting with it.

The study, which is from 2015, so not too recent, showed that only honeybees and water fleas were affected by BTI, and that rats, bird, fish, shrimp, non-targeted insects, shelled invertebrates, and earthworms were unaffected by it.

Now I'm not saying to use it willy-nilly or for every circumstance, but if used correctly in the correct environment, it is super effective and harmless. I've used it in isopod colonies, plant grow-out bins, and in bioactive set-ups before.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

It always amazes me how some will say, "better safe than sorry" when applied to unproven claims about plants & bulbs, but will blindly accept claims made by the mfr. of a chemical pesticide.

However, even though Bti may have minimal direct effects on non-target organisms, it may potentially be associated with knock-on effects on food webs and other ecosystem properties, including biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_thuringiensis_israelensis

Sorry, but this is where I say better safe than sorry.

 

[ERKleRose]

The EPA and source from Wiki have the same info that Summit Chemical has on their Mosquito Bits. The BT strain that's in BTI, isrealensis, is shown non-toxic to animals (except water fleas) and environments, aside from mosquito environments. The effect on food webs is most likely do with animals that have mosquitos in their food chains. I'd love to read more on it if you have more sources, preferably reputable ones, since anyone can change anything on Wikipedia

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

The EPA and source from Wiki have the same info that Summit Chemical has on their Mosquito Bits. The BT strain that's in BTI, isrealensis, is shown non-toxic to animals (except water fleas) and environments, aside from mosquito environments. The effect on food webs is most likely do with animals that have mosquitos in their food chains. I'd love to read more on it if you have more sources, preferably reputable ones, since anyone can change anything on Wikipedia

It's not quite as simple as that.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Editing#Policies_and_conventions
Most edits are subject to review.

Sources for Wikipedia can be found at the bottom of any article page. It is this source material that says:

However, even though Bti may have minimal direct effects on non-target organisms, it might potentially be associated with knock-on effects on food webs and other ecosystem properties, including biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Evidence from previous research is mixed, with some finding no evidence for indirect effects on biodiversity and ecosystem-level properties, but others indicating that such effects are possible. The fact that many studies have been conducted by organisations coordinating the control programs, and that many of those studies have been published outside peer reviewed scientific journals, highlights the challenges for decision makers and others to assess the results of the existing studies.
https://environmentalevidencejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13750-019-0175-1

Nevertheless, some evidence for direct impacts of Bti on NTOs exists [12, 13], including on vertebrate species [14].
Ibid.

This last (14) refers to BTi being found toxic to the South American common frog.