Pests in the News

You can also follow Kiwicare news at The Pest Advice Blog This blog contains answers to many of the answers to questions we get at Kiwicare from our customers and information about pests in the news. You can also comment on the articles and ask questions.

• Cockraoches Invade New Zealand Homes
• TV3 Target Tauranga Motel With Cockroaches
• TV3 Target on Pest Controllers 'Trying' to Get Rid of Fleas and Bed Bugs
• Consumer Magazine and TV3 Campell Live Report on Insect Repellent
• Cockroach Infestations Increasing in Auckland and Other Parts of New Zealand
• NZ Argentine Ants form Super Colony
• Cockroaches in Coffee Machines
• National Poisons Centre Report on White-Tailed Spiders and other Venomous Creatures in New Zealand
• Take a Bow Kiwicare
• ACC Spent $11 Million on Claims for Bug Bites 1/3/09
• Fleas and Bed Bugs Bite Kiwis
• Wasp Attack

Cockroaches Invade New Zealand Homes

7th July 2010

There has been a recent surge in cockroach infestations in the warmer parts of New Zealand. Over the last couple of months, a time when sales normally slacken off as colder weather slows cockroaches down, sales of pest control products specifically designed to control cockroaches have increased to record levels. Read more from Voxy and from TVNZ.

TV3 Target Investigates Motels and Finds Cockroach in Kiwicare Cockroach Trap

14th April 2010

I watched TV3's Target program last night with interest. The investigative program carried out a hidden camera survey of four Tauranga Motels. One of the motels was criticised for leaving a Kiwicare Cockroach trap below one of the beds in the unit. The trap had successfully caught a cockroach and this was not a ‘good look’ for the motel. The motel staff should have removed the trap when the unit was occupied or, I would suggest, moved it to a place where it would not be encountered by guests.

I think the program should have applauded the motel for at least being proactive in monitoring for cockroaches and other crawling insects in the units. The Kiwicare Cockroach Traps are BioGro certified organic and provide safe and effective control of cockroaches without the use of insecticides. However, the fact that the cockroach was caught in the trap should have alerted the staff to the infestation and a treatment with NO Cockroaches spray or NO Bugs Super would have given better protection to guests and the reputation of the motel.

Cockroaches are a considerable pest in many parts of the North Island and north of the South Island where cockroaches find the warm and humid climate to their liking. Anyone in these areas it at some risk of encountering pest cockroaches wandering into their homes or workplaces or being brought in on boxes or other goods; I suggest being proactive and using simple NO Cockroach traps to detect and control cockroaches as soon as they enter. If cockroaches are found then a cockroach control program can be done to prevent an infestation establishing.

TV3 Target Program Features Pest Controllers Trying to Get Rid of Fleas and Bed Bugs

2nd February 2010

The TV3 Target program of 26th January 2010 showed three pest control 'professionals' that were called in to deal with fleas in the Target house. The shocking behaviour of one of the 'pesties' is likely to encourage more people to carry out DIY pest control. The advice given by the program was good, saying that pet should be treated and the house sprayed with an insecticide containing an insect growth regulator (IGR) such as Kiwicare NO Fleas Total.

Tonight's program is focused on bed bugs and it to be hoped that the pest technicians involved behave more professionally. The control of bed bugs is difficult because of their habits of hiding in cracks, crevices and seams in very difficult to find places, and because they seem to be resistant or tolerant of some insecticides. As with fleas it is important to use insecticide containing IGR. But the best advice in dealing with bed bugs is to be thorough and persistent.

Consumer Magazine and TV3 Campbell Live Report on Insect Repellent

11th December 2009

A recent report in Consumer Magazine and followed up by a TV3 Campell Live Report tonight 7.00pm compares insect repellents of both the DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) and natural types including Kiwicare's BioGro Certified Organic Safari Wipes.

Consumer Magazine carried out a small test on 4 volunteers and found, unsurprisingly, that products containing DEET products like Kiwicare's Safari Roll-On and Safari Stick give good repellency over several hours.

Kiwicare BioGro Certified Organic Wipes "repelled the mozzies well for a short time after application but a bite was recorded within an hour." As Kiwicare recommends "If you prefer to use a natural product, you need to reapply it regularly."

For more information on the Kiwicare Safari Range of insect repellents go here.

The NZ Herald Reports Cockroach Plague

It has been reported in the NZ Herald (18th August 2009) that breeding conditions have been particularly good for cockroaches in Auckland and other parts of New Zealand this winter. Cockroaches prefer damp moist conditions and when cold weather induces the cockroaches to move indoors they find the warmth and food that they require for breeding.

Professional pest control companies have reported an increase in calls to deal with cockroaches and sales of Kiwicare cockroach fumigators, baits, sprays and traps for the do-it-yourself control of these pests has been increasing.

You can find great advice on how to eradicate cockroaches using Kiwicare products here.

NZ Argentine Ants form a Super Colony

It has been reported in the NZ Herald that the Argentine Ants in New Zealand are so closely related that they could be said to be a super-colony. Their genetic relatedness means that nests cooperate and do not fight among themselves. Ants from different nests recognise each other and may even move from nest to nest.

Argentine ant nests contain many queens and the queens will forage along with worker ants. It is this habit that makes it easy to accidentally spread the ants by transporting queens along with workers in boxes, plant pots, cars etc, as we move around the country.

Argentine Ants are listed in the top 100 invasive species by the World Conservation Union. These small (3mm) brown ants have spread through much of NZ since their introduction my man in 1990. They are found in many parts of the North Island and as far south as Christchurch in the South Island.

These ants are pests of our homes and workplaces getting into larder cupboards, fridges, work surfaces, and causing a nuisance. But their more serious threat may come from their habit of attacking and wiping out other insects in their territory. This makes them a threat to our native insects and other invertebrates.

Fight back against these pests and learn how to identify them. Click here to learn more.

Cockroaches in Coffee Machines

TV3's Campbell Live programme of 18th May 2009 reported that coffee machine service engineers reported that they find cockroach infestations in a large percentage (>10%) of café coffee machines. This highlights the preference of cockroaches for hot moist places with plenty of nooks and crannies to hide and lay their eggs and egg cases.

Cockroaches love to squeeze into places to hide during the day. They are normally only active at night and the café owners had no idea that their coffee espresso machines were home to these disease carrying beetles. If you see a cockroach during the day it suggests you have a large infestation.

To learn how to eradicate a cockroach infestation click here.

National Poisons Centre Report on White-Tailed Spiders and other Venomous Creatures in New Zealand

The National Poison Centre has published a report in the New Zealand Medical Journal that the Whitetail is mistakenly blamed for causing narcotising ulcers.

A Dominion Post report (4th March 2009) on this publication has caused something of a reaction from people that are convinced they have been bitten by White tails and have suffered serious pain and ulceration as a result.

It is clear that more work is required to answer the question of what causes the ulcerations and what role if any the White tail spiders play.

Take a Bow Kiwicare

A Kiwicare customer recently added a comment about Kiwicare Customer Service to the February 2009 Newsletter of her Working Solutions business consultancy company.

"I had a nice surprise earlier this month.  Two years ago I emailed the Kiwicare company, who market the NO Range of pest and weed control products.  I contacted them because I had a rodent problem.  I don’t want to go into it, I’ve banned the experience to the recesses of my mind and you don’t want to go there.  But Kiwicare were really helpful.  Friendly, chatty, quick responses by email with information and support."

"Two years later and just a few weeks ago I received another email from the National Sales Manager, who had been cleaning out his in box and thought he’d just get in touch to see how the story ended.  That was nice enough.  In addition however he offered me the choice of a free product from their range which he would post to me as a gesture of thanks for using their products."

"Wow.  I was pleased with their customer service at the beginning.  To be contacted two years later is impressive.  To be offered a freebie has converted me to a loyal customer who will buy their brand above others next time.  And I’ve told heaps of my friends about the experience (and I’m happy to be promoting them in this newsletter!!)  Take a bow Kiwicare."

ACC Spent $11 Million on Claims for Bug Bites 1/3/09

It was reported recently in the Sunday Star Times that ACC have paid out over $11 million in the last four years on claims for bites and stings from wasps, bees, spiders, fleas, bed bugs etc. Most of the payments were for infections and allergies induced by the bites.

Fleas and Bed Bugs Bite Kiwis

Recently, fleas and bed bugs have hit the headlines in several parts of the country. The recent high temperatures provide ideal conditions for rapid breeding and the holidays mean that returning travellers find ravenous fleas or bed bugs waiting for them when they enter their homes. The adult fleas and flea pupae will detect the returning people by heat and vibrations and will leap onto them so that they can have a feed of blood.

Bed bugs on the other hand wait for night time to feed on their unsuspecting victims. Attracted by the body heat and carbon dioxide in our breath they will emerge from their hiding places around the bedroom and crawl onto people to get their blood meals.

Taranaki News

Bed bugs hiding in the seems of a bed headboard. These are much more common insect pests than many people are prepared to admit.

Wasps Attack

The Sunday Star Times recently reported on an incident involving a wasps nest. This is a timely reminder that wasps can be a real threat to the life of some individuals that become hyper sensitive to the stings.