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Pests and insects

Pests and insects can cause bites that can be painful. Find out about different pests, how to treat bites, and how to prevent pests in your home.

Pest control

Prevention, control and treatment measures to use with different pests.

Bed bugs

If you are waking up feeling itchy, bed bugs may be the problem. Bed bugs are small insects that feed on the blood of sleeping people and animals at night. During the day they hide in dry, dark places.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are a common household pest in Aotearoa New Zealand. They thrive in unhealthy environments and can transmit a number of diseases. Most native cockroaches are not dangerous, and they are very important to our environment.

Fleas

Fleas are very common in Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly with cats and dogs. While they are a nuisance, they can also spread disease.

Head lice (nits)

Head lice (nits) are very common. They are a nuisance but are not a risk to public health. Head lice are small insects that lay their eggs (nits) on strands of hair.

Mosquitoes

In Aotearoa New Zealand, mosquitoes are a nuisance. But mosquitoes from overseas can spread serious diseases. We can help stop these diseases spreading to NZ by stopping exotic mosquitoes from arriving and stopping them from breeding if they do arrive. Mosquitoes are often most active at dawn, around late afternoon and just after dusk.

Lice

Lice are commonly referred to as 'nits', which are actually louse eggs. While lice are a public health nuisance, they are not a public health risk. The louse species present in New Zealand are not cause for great concern, but they can be annoying.

Rats and mice

Rats and mice are a pain, but they can also carry disease. There are some simple steps you can take to control these pests, and keep you and your whānau safe. It is best to use a combination of methods to control rodents.

Sandflies

Sandflies are common insects in Aotearoa New Zealand. While the ones we get are a nuisance they are not a public health risk. The kinds that bite do not carry infectious diseases.

Spiders

Only some spiders are able to bite humans. There are 3 species of spider to avoid — the katipō, the redback and the whitetailed spider.

Ticks

Ticks are parasites that need blood to survive and reproduce. They feed off a range of hosts including mammals, reptiles, birds and amphibians. They may pose public health and biosecurity risks. This is because they can carry and spread human and animal diseases.