FAQs Pest Control

Have a look through these questions and answers. If you don't find the answer you need please contact us by sending a message to us here.

You can also follow our blog at | Follow The Pest Advice Blog This blog contains answers to many of the answers to questions we get at Kiwicare from our customers.

• Ants
• Borer
• Fumigators
• Cockroaches
• Fleas
• Rodents (Rats and Mice)
• Spiders
• Possums

 

NO Ants

Is it really possible to rid my place of ants?
Yes it is, with the right combination of PRODUCT, THOROUGHNESS and PERSISTENCE.
Use a combination of control products. Baits are taken back to the nest by workers. the bait is then fed to larvae and most importantly the queen or queens, destroying the colony at source. Surface sprays are used as barriers or flushing agents. Ants will not want to cross the treated surfaces, but if they do they will die. Sprays, ant sand and ant prills act as barriers outside to prevent ants coming in, or to destroy the nests directly.

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What do I use INSIDE the house?
NO Ants Gel Bait, NO Ants Gel Bait Station, NO Ants Liquid Gel Bait and NO Ants Long Term Residual Surface Spray.

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What do I use OUTSIDE the house?
NO Insects Lawngard Prills, NO Ants Outdoors or NO Ants Ant Sand for ALL GARDEN AND SOIL SITUATIONS, below concrete paths, stumps and stones
Plus - NO Ants Gel Baits in sheds and sheltered areas along with long term surface sprays onto the house foundations and steps. NO Ants Ant Sand used in and around flower beds and patios, NO Ants Organic Barrier can be painted on around the possible ant entry points and NO Bugs Crack and Crevice Spray can be used to treat nests in the cracks and crevices of your patio.

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How do the No Ants Gel Baits work?
Kiwicare NO Ants Gel baits are taken back to the nests by the ants and fed to the queen and larvae effectively controlling the entire nest and colony.

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How do the long term residual surface sprays work?
Every time ants pass over the treated areas they pick up minute traces of the dermal poison, eventually killing themselves.

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How does the No Ants Outdoors Prills work?
Once the poison has been soaked into the soil by hosing, approximately 50-75mm deep, the ants once again die by dermal contact as they track through or over the poisoned soil areas.

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Why not use just one product?
Because Ants are usually present in such HUGE NUMBERS, there are MANY FEEDING STATIONS, several DIFFERENT COLONIES, and many DIFFERENT TRAFFIC ROUTES. Occasionally it is possible to achieve control using just one product, however this is normally the exception rather than the rule.

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What makes No Ants Gel so extremely effective?
There are MANY SPECIES of ants. Some are CARBOHYDRATE feeders, others prefer PROTEIN foods. Kiwicare has developed a revolutionary gel bait which combines all the advantages of both proteins and carbohydrate attractants at the same time retaining all of the excellent ant control and killing qualities. It also eliminates all bait shyness.

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NO Borer

Can I really rid my home of borer?
YES YOU CAN. THOROUGHNESS is always the key to effective control. Treat all infested areas including furniture thoroughly with Kiwicare long-term protection 'Ready To Use and Concentrates'. If any new flight holes appear, treat these areas again before sealing or painting over. Treat the roofs and sub floor areas also with NO Bugs - Bug Bombs or Borafume fumigator

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When is the right time to treat for borer?
Borer can be effectively treated at anytime of the year provided that the appropriate products and methods are used.

Treatment of the affected timber can be done all year round and NO Bugs Borer Bombs and Borafume Fumigators are best used during the flight season of the adult beetles - between September and April.

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How do I know which product to use?
For small accessible areas including furniture No Borer Injector Spray is ideal. For larger areas such as barns, sheds, floors etc. No Borer Ready To Use or Concentrate is the way to go.

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How effective are the fumigators?
No Bugs Bug Bombs or Borafume are exceedingly effective if used during the flight season which is September - April in NZ. For use in ENCLOSED SITUATIONS only, we strongly recommend that they be used each flight season for at least three consecutive years (see borer life cycle). They should also be used in conjunction with long term residual treatment with ready to use or concentrates.

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How long does the fumigation last?
Full activity is maintained until the premises/house is aired, and then up to three to five days mild residual action.

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For how long will the fluid work?
No Borer Ready to Use and No Borer concentrates will last for many years (if not exposed to UV light). Deep inside the wood '2mm plus' borer larvae and beetles are controlled by dermal contact or oral ingestion effectively breaking the three year borer cycle.

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Can I paint or varnish after treatment?
Yes you can, fill up the holes before painting or varnishing. If you are mixing your own borer concentrate ALWAYS USE TURPS.

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How long do borer live?
2-3 years inside the wood as larvae, 2-4 weeks as adult borer beetles on the surface.

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How do I treat large, badly infested doors and furniture?
Large badly infested areas can be effectively treated using cheesecloth or linen soaked in No Borer fluid. Vigorous rubbing over the infested area creates capillary action driving the fluid deep into the holes and behind the varnish. ALWAYS WEAR RUBBER GLOVES.

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How much product will I need?
1 Litre of Ready to Use or mixed material will treat and protect up to 5 sq metres of unsealed timber.

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NO Bugs Borafume Fumigator

Do the fumes create a film or coating on household items?
No. The NO Bugs Borafume Fumigator emits a white vapour which lands on surfaces as an insecticidal residue.

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How long before fumigation commences?
There is an allowance of 1 to 2 minutes to vacate before the unit releases jets of fumes.

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Is it dangerous to use?
When used as directed on the label No Bugs Borafume Fumigator presents no hazard. It is important that the plastic outer canister be placed on a brick or metal oven tray before activation.

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How long does the treatment take?
It is recommended the home should be vacated for at least three hours, and then allow a further period of 30 minutes for thorough airing/ventilation.

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Is the active ingredient harmful to humans?
No. However the product may cause skin and eye irritation. Hence we recommend that the home be vacated for at least three hours.

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What about our household pets?
We recommend that pets, fish and household plants be removed from the home during treatment. Fish tanks can also be effectively sealed using cling film wrap.

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What about food?
Food should not be left on benches or around the house. Return food to the refrigerator and ensure that all other food containers in the pantry are sealed tightly.

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How does it affect the environment?
No Bugs Borafume Fumigator is biodegradable and will not accumulate in the environment.

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NO Cockroaches

Can I get rid of cockroaches?
Yes you can. With a combination of baits, traps and residual surface treatment it is possible for you to eliminate cockroaches from your home or workplace, and keep them away.

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How do I get rid of cockroaches and keep them away?
First use a combination of NO Cockroaches Gel Bait and NO Cockroach Traps to kill and remove the adult cockroaches. This leaves the smaller immature cockroaches which can be controlled and prevented from reaching sexual maturity by using a combination of surface and crack and crevice treatments. Treat the cracks and crevices (e.g. behind cookers, fridges, freezers, bathroom units, under sinks etc.) with NO Bugs Crack and Crevice Spray, NO Cockroach Concentrate or Ready to Use, NO Bugs Super Concentrate or Ready to Use. These products will flush out and kill your cockroaches and remain effective for several weeks so that when any eggs hatch the young cockroaches will be killed before maturity.

Continue to use these residual surface sprays on a regular basis to prevent re infestation. Traps can be used to monitor for any further influxes of cockroaches. So always keep some in place and check them regularly.

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How do Cockroach Traps work?
NO Cockroach Traps are a safe and non-toxic way to catch and remove cockroaches. A bait in the form of a pill is placed in the middle of a board covered in a special adhesive. The cockroaches are attracted to the bait and find themselves trapped. The traps should be placed in any areas where cockroaches have been seen such as behind fridges or below sink units. They can be used safely in food preparation areas.

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Why should I use NO Cockroaches Gel Bait?
NO Cockroaches Gel Bait is your first weapon in the war on cockroaches. Cockroaches feed on the bait and will die. Also, as cockroaches are cannibalistic the cockroaches that eat the dead individuals will also die.

The gel bait is designed to be highly attractive to cockroaches of all NZ pest species and Will quickly knockdown the active insects that you otherwise would see around your property.

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Can I use a Bug Bomb to control cockroaches?
Yes. The Kiwicare NO Bugs Bug Bomb will give a quick knockdown of active cockroaches and other insects. But it should always be used in combination with baits, traps and residual surface treatments. We would recommend NO Cockroaches Fumigator for quick knockdown of cockroach numbers.

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NO Fleas

Where have the fleas come from?
Most of the fleas that bite humans are cat, dog or bird fleas. Cat fleas are the most likely as they readily change their diet to human blood but dog and bird fleas will bite us if there are none of their natural hosts about.
More information.....

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NO Rats and Mice

Why should I use Kiwicare NO Rats and Mice?
Safety, efficacy, cost efficiency, convenience.

Kiwicare NO Rats and Mice Weatherproof Bait Blocks and NO Rats and Mice Bait with Tracking Powder contain coumatetralyl which is a first generation anticoagulant which has a lower risk of secondary poisoning and is slower to build up in the environment. The weatherproof blocks will remain effective even in damp areas and the tracking powder is effective even when rodents are not inclined to eat the bait.

Our Natural NO Rats is non-toxic to animals other than rodents and is totally safe.

Kiwicare also produces a range of rodent traps to effectively catch and remove rats or mice without the use of baits.

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Are electronic devices effective against rodents?

There are many electronic devices that claim to control rodents and other pests. These variously produce electromagnetic, ultra-sonic or other output that are claimed to be detected by rodents and other pests. There is some evidence that these devices can have a deterrent effect, i.e. reduce the likelihood of pests entering an area. However, there is little chance that these devices can induce pests to vacate where they have made their home.
Rodents are famously neo-phobic, i.e. they are wary of new things in their environment. So they may change their behaviour when a device is used and for a couple of weeks their presence will be less obvious. But, rodents will get used to new things within about two weeks and learn to ignore them if they do not do any harm.
Rodenticides and traps are much more effective and less costly than electronic devices.

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How safe are Kiwicare No Rats and Mice Baits?
EXTREMELY SAFE! With Vitamin K as an antidote, they do not pose a fatal threat from secondary poisoning as do many other baits.

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What is secondary poisoning?
Secondary poisoning is caused by cats, dogs, goats, poultry and fish eating the dead rodents. Ultimately, humans can also be affected.

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Why are Kiwicare baits so safe?
Kiwicare No Rats and Mice baits are first generation rodenticides and are multiple dose anticoagulants which thin down the blood to excess.

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How do I know which bait is best for me?
For EXTERIOR, DAMP or DIFFICULT to access areas such as roof voids, sub floors or drains, always use Weatherproof Bait Blocks. For INTERIOR, DRY ACCESSIBLE areas, use either weather proof bait blocks or bait and tracking powder. Traps can be used in areas where no poisons are acceptable or in combination with baits so that rodent bodies can be removed.

Natural NO Rats is a novel new product that is only deadly to rodents. It does not contain a toxin, but is made from a cellulose that rodents are unable to digest. This is an effective way of controlling rodents where no toxins can be used. It is safe around pets and other animals.

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How do the combination baits work?
Kiwicare innovative bait and tracking powders work by doubling as normal cereal feed baits with the additional clinging qualities of a tracking powder, achieving speeding ingestion and control via the rodents constant grooming habits.

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Will it control rats and mice?
Yes. All Kiwicare baits and blocks will control both rats and mice.

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How do I know how much bait to use?
Always keep topping up the bait stations until feeding stops.

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Are Kiwicare baits approved?
All Kiwicare products are registered with M.A.F. Pesticides Board. Blocks 2970. Baits 2999. Kiwicare weatherproof bait blocks are also approved for use in meat, fish and game processing areas: category type C.

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Do the rodents go outside for water or to die?
Often they do, but not always. Where they die is always the great unknown question. Dazed or dopey rodents wandering the place are often the first indications that your rodent control programme is working. Normal control time is 3 - 7 days.

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NO Spiders

Can I really rid my house of spiders?
Quite simply - Yes. Kiwicare NO Spiders Concentrate or NO Spiders Ready to Use can be used very effectively both inside and outside the home. Also, Kiwicare NO Bugs Super Concentrate or NO Bugs Super Ready to Use are good broad spectrum insecticides that will control spiders along with a host of other crawling bugs.

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How do you apply it?
Simply mix into water, then use any normal garden pressure sprayer on a fine mist setting. Apply the spray to all areas frequented by spiders, paying particular attention to all exposed beams, lights and light sensors around all windows and doors, all sofits and gutter down pipes, ventilators and drains, plus any other cracks or crevices in which spiders live and breed.

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Does it stain?
No. There are no staining or smell problems if one uses the water base mixtures. However, should you decide to use turps or kerosene as a carrier instead of water, there will be a turps smell for a few hours. Care should be taken to avoid over spraying onto glass.

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Is it safe to spray onto plants?
Yes, provided the product is mixed into water. It is ideal for use against spider mites and other insects in conifers and ornamentals.

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Will it harm fish or animals?
Care must always be taken when applying the product. Cover all fish pools or tanks, remove birds and animals from the area only while applying the spray.

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How long will it last?
In areas not subject to ultra violet exposure, 6 months plus is a realistic expectation. The weather side of the house is usually the first to fail. Interior treatment will last considerably longer. The Turps/Kerosene bases will give a quicker kill and much longer protection than the water base. (Precautions for kerosene base - see advice above).

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How soon can I apply No Spiders after painting?
Allow a minimum of 4/5 days for the paint to cure before spraying.

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How much do I need to treat my house?
5/6 litres of mixed material is usually adequate to treat an average sized house.

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When is the right time to spray for Spiders?
Whenever they pose a problem. Normally Spring, Summer, Autumn.
WARNING: - Always wear rubber gloves when handling or spraying the product.

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NO Possums

What is NO Possums Cholecalciferol Gel Bait?
NO Possums Cholecalciferol Gel Bait is a new long life bait for the control of possums. The novel patented formulation has been developed to remain highly palatable and effective for more than two years, even in extreme weather conditions. The bait will only need to be replaced when it has been eaten by possums or rats and it has done its job.

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What is Cholecalciferol?
Cholecalciferol is known better as Vitamin D3. It has been used as a rodenticide for many years and is useful for controlling possums as it is even more toxic to them and poses a lower risk of secondary poisoning than 1080 or the anti-coagulants often used for controlling possums and rodents.

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How is NO Possums Cholecalciferol a safer option?
NO Possums Cholecalciferol Gel Bait is safer than other baits because it poses a lower risk of secondary poisoning i.e. where non-target animals, such as dogs, eat the possums or rats killed with cholecalciferol there is a much reduced risk to the non-target. However, as with all toxic baits, it must be kept out of reach of non-target animals directly.

NO Possums does contain Bitrex which is a deterrent to many non-target animals but some animals (particularly dogs such as Labradors) may not be deterred.

As NO Possums is a gel formulation there is a lower risk of spillage from the dedicated bait station.

Cholecalciferol is of low toxicity to birds and is of low eco-toxicity.

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How do I use NO Possums?
NO Possums is supplied in a 'margarine' pottle that fits into the Kiwicare dedicated bait stations. The bait stations should be screwed to a tree or post where possums are suspected.

If there is no access to the area for dogs, stock or other at risk animals the station should be fixed to a tree or post at a height of approx. 30cm above the ground where possums travel . Then possums can stand and feed at the station comfortably.

If there is access to the area by dogs, stock or other non-target animals the station MUST be sited out of reach above 2 metres and above a branch or other platform on which possums can stand and comfortably feed at the station.

NO Possums can be used to eradicate possums from an area. The 'rule of thumb' for the number of stations/baits required is one per hectare. However, the number is dependent on the density of possums. NO Possums can be very effectively be used to protect pasture or other areas from possums moving into the area by using it as a buffer along a boundary. Depending on the pressure for the possum population the stations can be sited 25-100m apart.

 

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I bought some NO Possums bait but it appears to be out of date is this correct?

NO Possums was originally registered with only 12 months shelf life in error. This was corrected by the NZFSA to 36 months from date of manufacture. Although an effort was made to correct all product already in shops some early batches may still have the 12 months from date of manufacture on the packaging. NO Possums is officially saleable 36 months from date of manufacture and will then be expected to viable in the field for up to 26 months.

More information on using NO Possums.....