Thread: Bugs in tank

I was doing an inspection last week when I walked into a room and viewed a glass tank with a weighted down lid that had to be raised with a pulley system. The tank had an air system that was vented up into the garage attic. The tank had a cover draped over it so I couldn't see inside. I was curious so I pulled the cover back and viewed through the glass. There were a combination of different skulls from smaller animals in the tank. I seen little bugs on the skulls and at the interior. I didn't think anything of it until the selling realtor asked if I had seen the owner's " flesh-eating insect colony." There is a crawl space located under this room and it is sealed. My question for anyone is should I disclose that the house has a flesh-eating bug colony present? The crawlspace is directly below and seems it might be habitable for them. The seller is a scientist and has the proper state and federal permits to keep this colony. I'm wondering if there is any liability on my part if I don't let them know? Is this any of my business and is it outside my scope? Thanks for any comments.

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What is there to report"

Originally Posted by Jody Humbert

My question for anyone is should I disclose that the house has a flesh-eating bug colony present?

I'm wondering if there is any liability on my part if I don't let them know?

Is this any of my business and is it outside my scope?

A) Yes, I would.

B) Only if some got out and caused a problem, in which case your name would be there with the seller for failing to report it.

C) Nope, yep and so is most of what home inspectors do.

"C) Nope, yep and so is most of what home inspectors do."

I agree with that.

It's none of your (or the buyers) business.
If it's none of your business and not in you SOP, and you inform the client, THEN you may have a liability concern.

Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell

It's none of your (or the buyers) business.
If it's none of your business and not in you SOP, and you inform the client, THEN you have a may have a liability concern.

I TOTALLY disagree with that.

IT IS YOUR JOB to report what you see, and when you see something like that .. IT IS YOUR JOB to advise your client of it.

That "liability" thing is inspector lore ... you have no liability for reporting what you see ... you have TONS OF LIABILITY for NOT REPORTING what you see and think that maybe your client should know.

It is then up to your client to decide if it concerns them or not - but as far as "liability" goes, your increased liability is in *not reporting it*.

Thanks everyone. I let them know.

When he asked " Is it any of my business?"
I thought you answered " Nope"
Meaning, too me; no, it's none of your business,


I'm wondering if there is any liability on my part if I don't let them know?

B) Only if some got out and caused a problem, in which case your name would be there with the seller for failing to report it.

I also agree with that, but would add
Only if some got out and caused a problem AND YOU had knowledge that there is a risk to the buyer.


The liability I am talking about is if you report something as though it negatively affects the structural or safety aspects of the home.
Then you should be ready and able to have creditable and acceptable evidence that supports your conclusion.

Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell

I also agree with that, but would add
Only if some got out and caused a problem AND YOU had knowledge that there is a risk to the buyer.

Some "CAN" get out, and that is worth reporting.

You DO have knowledge of that risk, thus "there is risk to the buyer". Will you guaranty that none of those insects can or will get out between the time you looked at it and the time the seller removes them? I sure cannot.

[quote]The liability I am talking about is if you report something as though it negatively affects the structural or safety aspects of the home.[quote]

You don't think that those insect getting out will negatively affect the safety aspects of the home?

Then you should be ready and able to have creditable and acceptable evidence that supports your conclusion.

You have it: Those were reported to be flesh-eating insects, and that he was a scientist, and that he had to have special permission to have them. You don't think that is credible evidence of risk?

That scientist might be a genius in his field, but he's and idiot for not having moved his colony prior to listing his house.

That's just plane creepy. I know my wife would not stay in that house and I'm not sure about me!

Some "CAN" get out

Can is not the same as did or will

You don't think that those insect getting out will negatively affect the safety aspects of the home?
At this time I see no creditable information to report

Those were reported to be flesh-eating insects, and that he was a scientist, and that he had to have special permission to have them. You don't think that is credible evidence of risk?

Is that evidence or rumor?

Those flesh eating insects only feed on dead things. I'm getting the impression that some of you are thinking that if a bug escapes you'll find Fifi in a corner devoured, or perhaps one of the children.

I bet that batch of skulls stinks like hell though. Who wouldn't write up the smell?

I do not think that the bugs would have made it in my report. Why? Well for starters, I'm not a bug expert!

What is the difference if a person has a sealed aquarium with flesh eating bugs and an aquarium with pythons or other snakes that could also get out and make a new home in the home? Y'all remember that child that was killed by a python in FL a few months back?

What about "bed bugs" and the simple fact that they have become so much of a problem throughout the country? Do we as home inspectors have a duty to inspect and report on them?

The list can on and on and on...... At what point do we have to draw the line?

Potential health or safety issue.

Not informing client of presence may lead to client being put at risk of having to remove item abandoned by present owner. Also, possible cost or cleanup if improperly removed prior to settlement.

As a buyer: I would like to know of the presence and have to option to include in the contract that the seller is liable for proper removal and/or disposal prior to settlement. I would not like to cleanup nor have to deal with potential bug infestation.

Assuming the file name you posted is in fact the property address pending sale in Columbia City, and you've now broadcast the condition and photo on the WWW, by virtue of the file name being the property address....

You NOW may have not only a duty to disclose to your client, but may have "issues" with the seller/Dentist/Scientist/Occupant for having snooped, photographed, and published on the WWW his private property and activities/project, and civil liability/torts.

DO NOT post photos on the www or IN with property addressess, client names, owner's names, MLS numbers in their file names!!!!

RENAME your photos before posting!

DO NOT DISCLOSE private party information to the world wide web!!!

You can delete the file you uploaded by revisiting your post using the edit mode and the upload file feature - using that same pop-up box, simply use the center section and mark the file previously uploaded for DELETION.

If you chose to upload a replacement file, RENAME the photo, or make a copy of what you have on your hard drive and give it a DIFFERENT FILE NAME, BEFORE YOU UPLOAD THE NEWLY NAMED FILE TO the WWW!!!!

Even should you feel immune to possible negative consequences which might be faced as a result of such activities; IMO, it APPEARS VERY UNPROFESSIONAL to be disclosing such identifying information to the WWW, especially that of a seller's/occupants private home activites and one in which a sale is pending (tortious interferrance, publication of aleged false information, etc.). Esp. in the market conditons which exist today, and for a seller with property on the market for some time and 2 mo.s post price reduction, and under contract!

As far as flesh-eating insects - many insects and "infestations" will feed on dead tissue, fly maggots and certain beetles for example are often used to debris and clean remains to expose nice clean skelletons/skulls.

Certain ants attack/eat and bot fly larva/maggots can infest/infect and eat living tissue. Some of our returning armed forces have suffered from burrowing parasitic insects and bot fly (egg/larval) infections.

If a colony of bot flies or army ants, or some other ? otherwise undesireable insect colony is present, it would seem prudent for full disclosure by the seller and your discovery being reported to your client, most likely to suggest and/or refer to an entomologist/health expert and/or pest control specialist. There are also a host of parasites which for example feed on blood and tissues of their living hosts.

IIRC there is a good extension/outreach program via Perdue and State Universities - with good entomologist, and public health support.

Originally Posted by H.G. Watson, Sr.

DO NOT post photos on the www or IN with property addressess, client names, owner's names, MLS numbers in their file names!!!!

RENAME your photos before posting!

H. G.,

EXCELLENT CATCH!

I did not even look at the file name, sometimes I do and sometimes I do not, but you are correct, change the file name to something generic, such as what is show in the photo.