Experience with pesticides and birds - HELP

[Loz]

Hello everyone! It's been a while. I hope you've all been well

I'm currently dealing with carpet beetles in my apartment, it's been approximately a week since they've appeared. I'm trying to figure out where they could be nesting and any changes prior to their appearance. It's frustrating. Recently, we had snow like I have never experienced (UK). I was given two wooden chairs, these were a relatives and did have an unpleasant smell. They were thoroughly steamed and cleaned that evening.

I've been looking at safe ways to get rid of them, one of them being diatomaceous earth. Has anyone used this? Or any other suggestions?

 

[Flboy]

DE works wonders and is nontoxic! BUT-BUT, you must use food or agriculturual grade! No exception!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Flboy, would you use DE inside or near the birds? I have only used it outside along the house perimeter, for ants, and it worked well. I was worried about the particulates being stirred up...


EDIT - THIS MAY SOUND EXTREME, BUT WE EVENTUALLY PULLED ALL CARPET UP TO EXPOSE THE OLD WOOD FLOORS, SO THAT WE COULD THOROUGHLY INSPECT AND CLEAN. Ants are a big problem when it snows/rains a lot, and also in spring, and when the two events combine... YIKES! We have a resurgence every few years.

 

[Loz]

DE works wonders and is nontoxic! BUT-BUT, you must use food or agriculturual grade! No exception!

I've ordered food grade! I cannot wait for it to arrive although I'm anxious about using it - I don't want to put Dora at risk. I suppose Gail has already asked my next question We've only lived here for a couple of years, the carpet bugs haven't appeared till now. Ugh :24:

 

[SailBoat]

We have been carpet free for a very longtime! With the wonders of the snap-together 'floating' wood floors, replacing carpeting is much easier than ever.

It is also, much easier to find access /nesting areas.

Also, with carpet, there is no certainty of getting the product and all that other stuff out of it.

 

[LordTriggs]

also scrubbing poop out of a carpet can be very tedious!

 

[Loz]

Thank you all! Fortunately, I don't have any carpet in the apartment - I never considered it and your comment has fixed that decision :25:

 

[Kentuckienne]

I never heard of carpet beetles until now. I had to go look them up - eew! The adults only live a couple of weeks but the larvae can live up to three years! Attached is a link from the University of California with some advice. You might not want to use pesticides anywhere near your bird, but you can be sure somebody in the apartment building will be using them and try to prevent any fumes coming into the parrot’s space. Diatomaceous earth is good for ants - it seems to get in their joints and they die writhing in seconds of encountering it. The sites I find recommend a good cleaning and vacuuming to get adults and eggs, but the larvae can live under baseboards and in crevices. You might consider putting boric acid or DE way back under these spots, if you can be 100% sure the bird will never come in contact with them. I have to use boric acid in the basement because there are critters that come in from outside, but I try to keep it really out of the way. The best thing I’ve found is sticky traps. You can get them treated with pheromones- in your case, look for ones made specifically for carpet beetles. These are quite safe to use if no pets can get to them. I buy them in bulk on Amazon. Come to think of it, time to place an order - spring is coming and that means bugs are too.

Carpet Beetle Management Guidelines--UC IPM

 

[Loz]

I hadn't till their appearance. I was searching "tiny black white bug" etc. Thank you for your concern, it is something that I've considered and have been/continue to be wary of Recently, we received a letter about introducing a new cleaning scheme, this will target the communal area - it doesn't begin till next month. I'm going to ring tomorrow and ask about the products they will be using to do this. The DE hasn't arrived yet. Honestly, I am uncertain where to use it. Fortunately, I'm able to relocate Dora, if necessary - into another room or house(if absolutely necessary). Today, I have seen less of them... pests. Hopefully, the extra(?) hoovering is the reason. I still haven't located where they are nesting. I want to steam every crevice I've had a look for sticky traps targeting carpet beetles, they seem to have negative reviews. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place. The woes of Spring

< Tom insisted I add this bird LOL