Mites and Others

Dust Mites

House dust mites (HDM) are microscopic or only just visible to the naked eye on a dark background. Mites are members of the Acari which include the ticks. These creatures do not bite but feed on dust and other detritus which is largely made up of skin flakes. They are associated with asthma as their feces contain proteins that seem to aggravate allergic reactions.

Control of dust mites and their strongly allergenic waste products is best achieved by a combination of approaches:

1. Wash bedding and pillows in a hot wash. Mites will not survive above 55 degrees C.
2. Using a good vacuum cleaner, preferably with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. Such a very fine filter is fine enough to capture mite farces. Vacuum all areas of the house thoroughly and dispose of vacuum bag.
3. Lower the humidity in the house by using a dehumidifier, heat pump/air conditioner or improve ventilation. Dust mites prefer humidity above 50%.
4. Some insecticides and miticides have an effect on reducing mite numbers but should only be used in conjunction with the measures outlined in 1-3.

Pantry Moth, Meal Moth, Weevils, and other pests of the food in your home

There are several pest insects that will infest the dried foods stored in your pantry and around the home. In New Zealand the Meal Moth or Pantry Moth is often found flying around the kitchen. These grey moths lay their eggs on dried stored goods such as flour, cereals, grains etc. The larvae feed on the foodstuff and produce a webbing that is often the only indication of the spoiled food.

Other pests of dried foods are weevils and spider beetles. Small holes in cereal or flour packaging may indicate that these insects have bored their way into your food.

Clothes Moth and Case Moth that damage fibres of clothing and carpets

The Carpet Beetle larva (grubs often called woolly bears) and several other insect larvae such as Clothes Moth and Case Moth, destroy carpet and other fibrous material.

While the clothes moth and carpet beetle larvae eat natural fibres such as wool, the case moth larvae use the fibres of natural or synthetic material to encase themselves in a protective tube of fibres.

Case moth larvae are often not recognised as being alive. They look like small rolled pieces of carpet but you may be able to see the brown head of the larva sticking out one end. The adults are small brown moths, similar to the pantry moth shown above, that often congregate in the upper corners of rooms.

What to look out for

Have you seen your carpet becoming thread bare around the edges? Are fibres of your carpet falling out? If yes, this may indicate that the larvae of Carpet Beetle, Clothes Moth or Case Moth larvae are under the carpet chewing through the fibres.

Are you finding strange little cylinders of fibres around the edge of the carpet, often with a dark brown tip at one end? If so, you may have Case Moth larvae chewing your carpet. These cylinders are the larvae themselves wrapped in carpet fibre, the brown tip is the head of the larva.

Have you found unexplained holes in your favourite woollen sweater? This may indicate an infestation of Clothes Moth or one of its relatives.

Go to the Carpet Beetle Page for information on how to get rid of fibre damaging insect pests. the same treatment will work no matter which insect is causing the damage.

How to get rid of pantry moth and other stored product pests

Prevention is better than cure - keep flour, rice, pollenta, cereals, grains, pulses etc. in sealed containers such as Tupperware. Not only will this prevent infestations by insect or rodent pests it will help keep your foodstuffs fresh for longer.

If you already have an infestation:

1. Check and dispose of any infested food stuffs in sealed plastic bags.
2. Remove all food stuffs and utensils from the pantry or other affected areas.
3. Clean affected shelves, drawers and cupboards with mild detergent. Allow to dry thoroughly.
4. Lightly spray or wipe down shelves, drawers and cupboards with diluted NO Bugs Super Concentrate or undiluted NO Bugs Super Ready to Use. Leave to dry off thoroughly before replacing foodstuffs. All loose or dried food stuffs should be placed in airtight containers.
5. Monitor area and foodstuffs for at least three months. repeat treatment if necessary.

Traps are a useful addition to this control program but are unlikely to eradicate the insects on their own as they catch adults only and leave the larvae infesting the food.

Casual Intruders

There are many other creatures that are sometimes regarded as pests. Pest are animals (or plants) in the 'wrong' place as far as someone is concerned.

Many of the 'creepy crawlies' that are found in the garden can wander into the home where they cause consternation or fear in some occupants. Slaters, woodlice, ground beetles, millipedes, centipedes, harvestmen, and others. Many of these can be prevented from entering or killed by the use of our insecticide range. If you need any help or information on a particular problem contact us.