Stored Product & Other Pest Control

HEALTH AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
 
OUR TREATMENT METHODS ARE SAFE TO USE,  AS WE FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTION OF PRODUCTS BEING APPLIED, RECOMMENDED BY MANUFACTURES.
 

• IF INTERIOR RESIDUAL BARRIER SPRAY TREATMENT IS BEING USED YOU WILL NEED TO VACATED THE PROPERTY FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE HOURS.

 

• REMOVE CLUTTER FROM AREA TO BE TREATED.

 

• CLEAR OUT PANTRY IF THAT'S WHERE THE INFESTATION IS AND THROW AWAY CONTAMINATED PRODUCTS.

• REMOVE PETS AND BEFORE TREATMENT.

• COVER FISH TANKS AND TURN OFF PUMP.

• COVER ANY ITEMS SUCH AS FOOD AND UTENSILS, FOOD PREP SURFACE, TOYS, BEDDING AND ANY OTHER ITEMS NECESSARY TO PREVENT OVER SPRAY FROM SETTLING ON UNWANTED SURFACES. PULL FURNITURE AWAY FROM WALLS.

 
COST:
 
Starting from $99+GST. Additional cost depending on type of treatment, the level of infestation, problem areas and expected warranty, material used. Every place is different we may treat your property once and you may have a very successful results or you might need ongoing maintenance for heavy infestation so please call to discuss levels of infestation and size of property.
 
For heavy infestations more than one treatment may be required have a look at our family package deals for ongoing maintenance or we can design a programme to suit the severity of infestation on yours and your neighbouring properties. Persistence and patience is the key for effective pest control.
 
Prep Area:
 
If you find signs of infestation in your pantry or kitchen cupboards it may be necessary to check for and discard all contaminated products. Then remove all food stuffs and so we can treat pantry or cupboards with a residual insecticide spray. Leave the cupboard empty for at least 24 hours then wipe down, leave to dry and replace your food stuffs.
 
Biscuit Beetle
 
Biscuit beetles, also known as drugstore beetles, and other insect pests of pantries damage foodstuffs and packaging. Biscuit beetles are a group of insects that are pests of stored products that bore holes in packaging of foodstuffs. They include spider beetles (Australian Spider Beetle and Golden Spider Beetle), weevils, pantry moth and biscuit beetles. They will bore through packaging to feed on and infest grains, cereals, flour, pasta and other starchy food in kitchens, larders, shops, warehouses and mills.
Booklice
 
Booklice are small pale insects that can be difficult to get rid of and keep away because they will infest parts of your home that can be hard to treat. Booklice are also known as Psocids (pronounced sosids). They are a group of tiny pale insects often referred to as booklice because they are often found associated with books and other paper or cardboard, including packaging.
 
Case Moth
 
Case moth larvae destroy carpet and other fibrous material using it to cover themselves in a protective case of fibres. 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.
 
Pantry Moth
 
Pantry moth is a moth whose larvae are pests of stored products such as dried food. They are often a pest in New Zealand kitchens and pantries. 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 webbing that is often the only indication of the spoiled food.
Other pests of dried foods are biscuit beetle, weevils and spider beetles. Small holes in cereal or flour packaging may indicate that these insects have bored their way into your food.
 
Spider Beetle
 
Spider beetles are pests of stored products such as grain, cereals, flour etc. They often bore holes in packaging in a similar way that borer bore holes in timber. Spider beetles are a group of insects that are pests of stored products. They include Australian Spider Beetle and Golden Spider Beetle. They will borer through packaging to feed on and infest grains, cereals, flour, pasta and other starchy food in kitchens, larders, shops, warehouses and mills.
 
Weevils Indoors
 
Weevils are pests of stored products such as grains, cereals, flours and other starchy foods. Weevils will contaminate and infest bulk products in kitchens, pantries, shops, warehouses and mills. Typically you will find small holes drilled in grains and hard foods such as pasta. The weevils are small (5-10mm) non-flying insects that are distinguished by a distinct long snout with a pair of antennae on the side. Weevils can also be pests in the garden where some species attack plants both as larvae and adults.
If the insects are damaging your carpets the larvae are likely to be underneath where they chew through the fibres leaving the upper fibres to come loose and you will see bare patches of carpet appearing.
 
Carpet Beetle
 
Carpet beetle larvae, known as woolly bears, destroy wool carpet and other natural fibres.
The Black Carpet Beetle, the Common Carpet Beetle, the Varied Carpet Beetle (shown), the Furniture Carpet Beetle and a close cousin, the Fur Beetle have all been introduced to New Zealand and are frequently found devouring the woollens and carpets of New Zealand homes.
Larvae are likely to be underneath the carpet where they chew through the fibres leaving the upper fibres to come loose.
 
The carpet beetle larva (grubs often called woolly bears) and several other insect larvae such as hide beetle, larder beetle, clothes moth and case moth, destroy carpet and other natural fibrous material. Carpet beetle, larder beetle and hide beetle are members of a group known as the demisted beetles and are pests of considerable economic importance throughout the world by damaging a wide variety of stored products.
 
Silverfish
 
Silverfish damage paper such as wallpaper and books and are a common nuisance pest in larders, kitchens and bathrooms. They prefer warm, dark, damp areas. Silverfish are insects of a primitive type; flat, wingless, grey in colour with three tail like appendages at the end of the abdomen.Silverfish are nocturnal and very active at night. They run rapidly and their style of movement resembles that of a swimming fish, hence the name silverfish. Feeding on carbohydrates, they can be particularly destructive to anything containing starch. Their diet includes paste, sizing, book bindings, glucose, flour, cereals, glue, starch, papers and fabrics. They can be damaging to books and wallpapers but they are most disliked for their habits of scurrying across carpets and dropping out of ceilings.
Slater’s
 
Slater’s or woodlice are multi-legged garden creatures that usually live in leaf litter but sometimes wander indoors. Slater’s or woodlice are flattened, segmented, shield like creatures with many legs. They usually scavenge on rotting wood and vegetation and live in the garden. However, in high numbers and when they grow too large for the cracks and crevices where they hide, they can move indoors in search of new homes.
 
Treatment methods:
 
Try and identify possible sources of the infestation. Check your kitchen, pantry and nooks and crannies around the house and not just where you have seen the pest or damages caused by them to carpets.
       
We will spray all the cracks and crevices around your home, and the top of the carpet if required. We can also use gas and thermal fogging treatments in certain areas and conditions.
       
Traps and lures 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.
        
Granular treatment to outside perimeter.



Recommendations:
      
If the carpet is so badly damaged it needs replaced be sure to spray the floors and skirting before laying new carpet.
 
If you have found booklice on books or other items that you do not wish to dispose of they can be given a light spray with but ensure the books are thoroughly dried. If the items are valuable it may be inadvisable to spray them and we can use gas treatment. Books can be sealed in a plastic bag and placed in a freezer for 12-24 hours to kill any insects on them.
       
Reducing the relative humidity in your home is the best way to prevent re-infestation. If possible improve the ventilation in your home and use a dehumidifier.
        
Prevention is better than cure - keep flour, rice, polenta, cereals, grains, pulses etc. in sealed containers. 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:
        

• Check and dispose of any infested food stuffs in sealed plastic bags.

       

• Remove all foodstuffs and utensils from the pantry or other affected areas.

 

• Clean affected shelves, drawers and cupboards with mild detergent. Allow to dry thoroughly.

        

• All loose or dried foodstuffs should be placed in airtight containers.

       

• Monitor area and foodstuffs for at least three months. Repeat treatment if necessary.