New Zealand Pests

Rats

There are three kinds of rats in New Zealand, the kiore (Rattusexulans) which is the smallest, the Norway rat (Rattusnorvegicus, also called the brown rat) which is the biggest and the ship rat (Rattusrattus — also called the common rat or black rat) which is the most common. Both Norway rat and ship rats like to live near humans and can be found in houses, waterways and at tips. Ship rats will climb through cracks in walls and holes in ceilings and make their home in roofs. Norway rats will enter through structures foundations and may dig burrows under floors. Both species are neophobic — this is the fear of novel stimuli and manifests as avoidance of new food or situations. Just because you have never seen them, does not mean they are not present!

House Fly

Flies are common in homes and commercial environments. Houseflies pass through four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The life expectancy of a housefly is generally 15 to 30 days and depends upon temperature and living conditions. Flies dwelling in warm homes and laboratories develop faster and live longer than their counterparts in the wild. The housefly's brief life cycle allows them to multiply quickly if left uncontrolled. Houseflies are known to carry more than 100 diseases, including tuberculosis and cholera. They transmit diseases both by feeding and by carrying pathogens on their feet and mouths...

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are a common household pest in New Zealand. While they are only a low-level health risk, cockroaches thrive in unhealthy environments and they can transmit a number of diseases. Cockroaches prefer damp, dark places. They are often found inside walls, behind household appliances and in cupboards. Cockroaches thrive in warm and damp conditions and will dehydrate if the environment is too dry. However, they can survive in extreme conditions for short periods of time. Cockroaches can survive months without food and up to 4 weeks without water. This makes them very difficult to get rid of.

Spider

New Zealand is home to about 2500 kinds of spiders, most of them harmless to people. Only some spiders are capable of biting humans. There are three species of spiders in New Zealand that should be avoided the Katipo, the Redback and the White-tailed Spider.

Ants

There are about 40 species of ant found in New Zealand. Ants are social insects that can form colonies of many thousands of individuals. Foraging worker ants will search for food and are often found in trails running into homes, particularly kitchens and larders where they find and contaminate food. Ants form nests in dry, warm, underground spaces outside, often below paving, concrete, driveways, stones etc and are most active in warm weather.