[Ace High]

Hi Experts,

I have a question about lizards and pest control. I hate the creepy crawly things and use perimeter spray around my house. I really try hard not to harm my lizards but I do wonder what happens if they eat a dying bug that I have just sprayed. They seem to dart out of nowhere and taste things that randomly fall on the ground or deck. I've even seen them taste a piece of charred wick that falls off a candle outside. If they don't like it, then I've seen them spit it out. What happens to them if they eat these poisoned bugs?? I've never seen a dead lizard yet but I do worry about them. These are the little green lizards or chameleons and we also have the skinks? Or are the called skates? The ones with the bright colored stripes on black body. Anyway, are they being harmed by the poison? Ace

[RickJ]

I can't say for sure, but I'll guess not, but to be sure, let's check out the product you're using - and it's active ingredient(s). What product are you using for the perimeter treatment?

Now here's another angle. It's quite likely that the lizards/skinks (yes, skinks is correct) are quite harmless. They really don't want in your home.. . and to be sure on that part of it, what city are you near; we can find out what lizards and skinks habit your area.

[Ace High]

Thanks Rick,
The active ingred. Is bifenthrin 0.05% (Ortho Home Defense Max brand). This is the midland SC area, the lizards are my concern. I don't think these are rare lizards and I don't consider them a pest so I'm trying to protect them. I know they do their job in eating bugs. The bugs are the crawly things I don't like. Are they immune to the poison that is used on the bugs?? Ace

[RickJ]

I see now. I did misunderstand you previously.

Boy, I sure got a lesson on this one. Bifenthrin is a pyrethroid, which is made from the Chrysanthemum plant. In searching the webpages from here and here, I do not find any that specifically make the claim that pyrethroid's are NOT harmful to lizards (but that's understandable, as most of them are speaking to what the chemical is designed to eradicate) but I do read, from an old article here, that it is possible that it IS harmful to them.

From all that I read, I would presume that the amount left in the system of a bug that injested it would not be harmful to the lizards... but if that's not enough comfort for you, you might contact the zoology department at a local college to get their input.

I hesitate to suggest calling Ortho, as my guess is that they'll say it's safe... but then again, if they could supply any factual data as to that fact, I suppose that would be good.