Pest control is a four season problem. Each season brings its own individual pests, each pest follows its own set of seasonal markers. Whether it be rodents coming in from the cold or wasps returning from being dormant to start up in spring.

The four most common pests in Auckland are mice, rats, ants and cockroaches. The complete list of pests is much greater including: fleas, flies, weevil, Indian meal moth, birds, cats, rabbits, opossums, carpet beetle, bed bugs, wood boring insects, spiders, mites, stored product pests, silver fish, mosquitos and wasps. This list is not exhaustive and includes New Zealand pests. Other countries have a much more extensive list of pests: from skunks to Ground hogs.

Many pests can be controlled without the services of a pest control technician. Some fly spray may clean up an ant problem. A broom may be all that is needed to shoo out a mouse. Many people in Auckland, or New Zealand in fact, will try the DIY way first before calling a pest control company. Unfortunately this simply doesn’t always work. Persistant ants will not be stopped by fly spray and breeding mice will not be put off easily. The cost of trying multiple DIY products can sometimes become more expensive than paying a pest control professional. This is where pest control services become needed.

In domestic pest control, there is a common thought that a pest control technician will just bomb the whole place or come in and fumigate everything. Good pest control is quite the opposite. The best solution is to use as little as possible of the safest possible product to control as much as possible.

In commercial pest control the solution is often quite different to domestic problems because the environment is so different. Integrated pest management is mixed with good site assessments to give solutions that get results and fit in with the needs of individual industries. The industries that most commonly need pest control include: the food industry, the medical and health care industry, hospitality, goods and services, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, transport and logistics, utilities, retail and general business. This list is  by no means exhaustive and unfortunately no business is ruled out from needing pest control. Pests will not consult the above list or any list before entering a premise.

Effective commercial pest control must bear in mind both the reputation of the customer and the solution that will control the problem with minimal disruption. A treatment with no stand down time is should be sought over one that requires stand down periods. This is where integrated pest management can often save down time by combining less toxic treatments with changing the environment to make it less suitable to pests.

For more information on both commercial and domestic pest control services in the Auckland region visit www.pestcontrol.net.nz