Hot Shot No-Pest Strip
 

This week I did something incredibly stupid, and managed to dodge a huge bullet.
Now that fall weather is here, we tend to leave the doors and windows open for some fresh air, which invites quite a few flies into the reptile room. Wednesday I went out to buy feeders (2,000 crickets, roaches, fruit flies). I also picked up a Hot Shot No-Pest Strip. I glanced over the instructions, assuming it worked like any other pest strip (ie flies are attracted then stick to it). I hung it on the wall, as far as possible from the tanks. I like to gutload the bugs overnight before feeding them to my herps, so I put their gutload in and went to bed.
The next morning, every cricket, fly, and roach in the room was dead. Close call; I lost about $80 in feeders, but no herps. Could have been an absolute disaster.

Just wanted to put a warning out there to fellow herpers.

Noelle

These are also highly effective mite killers.

I use them in tanks with snakes in bad situations with mites...Have no effect on the animal but kill mites every time...(Only had to do this once though)

They are also very well know to cause neurological issues in many reptile herps.
I personally have working experience with this product and its adverse effects on BCI species.
Many DVM's were advocating the use of this product for mite eradication and control back in the early 2K's.
The effects where not seen until the second and third year even in those with minimal exposure to Dichlorvos(Vapona) is bad news for most all living fauna on the planet.

Research it,its been around since the early 60's

Dichlorvos(Vapona)

FWIW, have used them since the early 70s. NEVER in the cage (the one-inch chunk in a vented deli cup creates numerous issues, I agree). We have used them in the quarantine room as a preventative. I have never had animals suffer ill-effects when used short-term in this manner. I agree prolonged or close-up exposure is problematic. Thanks for posting the additional info.