Below is a list of tips to ensure your pets are happy and safe during and after your next pest control treatment. 

Tell your provider 

If you have a pet, tell your provider when you book your pest control service, as they may need to tailor the treatment. Before the treatment begins, always discuss any concerns you may have with the office or with a pest control specialist. 

Before the treatment starts, make sure you remove any water/food bowls, toys or bedding if they are in the treatment area.

Secure your pets 

Pets are often curious and may try to investigate new sounds and smells in their home. Our technicians love meeting your pets; however, sometimes, that curiosity can bring them too close to our treatment and increase the chance of something going wrong.

You will need to keep your pests safely secured while our pest technician is carrying out work. We often recommend leaving your pets with a friend or at a kennel for the day of the treatment. If this isn’t an option for you, close them in a room that isn’t being treated and make sure you use a towel to block any gaps in doorways. For example, if you have a pest problem in your kitchen, you may want to put your them into your garage or bedroom. Make sure cats or dogs can’t sneak back inside if you placed them outside for the treatment. 

Feathery And Fishy Friends

We need to know if you have birds, fish or reptiles kept in tanks or cages inside. Please don’t be upset if we can’t treat a room where you have birds, fish, reptiles or other such pets that can’t be relocated. Our job is to make sure we keep you and your pets safe during pest treatments. 

Ideally, you will relocate them somewhere safe during the treatment. However, this is not always practicable so at the very minimum you need to cover tanks including filters with a nonpermeable fabric. Make sure there are no gaps where air can enter. Be careful when doing this, as if the power is on the heat from the covered motor may create a fire hazard. Make sure any food or equipment you use is put away or covered. 

If you are worried, we recommend calling your veterinarian to ask if the pesticide will react with your pet. Some birds have susceptible respiratory systems and may be prone to problems. 

Important note about rodent treatments

When carrying out rodent control, it’s important that you tell us if you have a dog or if dogs frequent your property. Rodenticide is toxic and harmful to humans and pets. It can be lethal to dogs. THE ANTIDOTE IS VITAMIN K1. If you have a dog, we recommend you check that your local vet has stock. We use lockable tamper-proof stations to hold bait (rodenticide), which are designed to help protect people and pets from accidental exposure to the bait inside. While we take the utmost care to ensure stations are secure and out of reach from pets, we can’t guarantee that your pet won’t access the bait inside. 

Are you still worried? Please speak with A-Jet Pest Control today. They are knowledgeable and always happy to answer any concerns you may have. 

Hire A Professional 

Most importantly, if you have pets avoid doing the treatment yourself. If you don’t know how to apply the pesticide correctly or if you use the wrong amount, you run the risk of unintentionally poisoning your pet. In saying that, no two pest control companies are created equal. If you’re looking for the safest and most effective service, ensure you hire a certified PMANZ (Pest Management Association NZ) technician. If you still have concerns about your pet’s safety, contact A-Jet Pest Control for free advice or a quote. Our founder was the past president of PMANZ, so we know what we’re talking about! 

1. There are thousands of different types of spiders:

In New Zealand alone it’s estimated there are around 2000 different species of Spiders. Some of the most common types are the golden orb web spider, grey house spider, large brown vagrant spider, katipo spider, Avondale spider and White-tailed spider. Spiders range from tiny to gigantic, and the diversity of species can be overwhelming, particularly when trying to get rid of spiders. 

2. Spiders are older than dinosaurs: 

According to the Australian Museum spider fossils have been found dating back more than 380 million years. Meaning spiders have been roaming the earth for at least 150 million years longer than dinosaurs!

3. New Zealand’s spiders are small:

The Nelson cave spider is New Zealand’s largest native spider which can measure up to 13cm in length. For comparison, the world’s largest spider the Goliath Birdeater which is commonly found in northern South America can grow as large as 30cm in length. As spider pest control experts, it’s an easy decision for which one we’d rather take care of! 

4. Most spiders aren’t venomous:

The thought of spiders may send shivers down your spine, however, it’s important to note most spiders in New Zealand aren’t venomous. There are only 3 species you should avoid are, the katipō, the redback and the white-tailed spider. Interestingly, though they can pack a punch, white-tailed spider bites are not considered poisonous to humans. If you are wanting to identify a type of spider have a look at our blog on this.

5. Masters at hiding:

Spiders have developed remarkable adaptations to blend in with their environment. Some species will mimic other insects such as ants by utilising similar body shapes, colours or movements. By doing this the spider can avoid detections and surprise their prey. 

6. Spiders are everywhere:

This might freak you out, but it’s estimated by a famous arachnologist Norman Platnick that you are never more than 10 feet away from a spider! In good news, most of the time they are hiding away minding their own business.

7. Spiders can grow new body parts:

Spiders possess the remarkable ability to regrow lost body parts. For example, if a spider loses a leg, it can regrow the missing limb during its next moult. This extraordinary power enables spiders to quickly recover from serious injuries. 

8. Spiders have blue blood:

Unlike humans, spiders have blue blood! There is a scientific explanation for this. Humans, use blood to transport oxygen around the body. The oxygen is connected to a molecule that contains irons. This is what gives our blood a red colour. In spiders, the oxygen is bound to a molecule that contains copper which creates the blue colour.  

9. Spiders are astounding hunters:

To live for 380 million years spiders have created innovative ways to catch prey. Not all spiders use webs to catch prey. Some species rely on their speed, agility and senses to catch their food. 

10. Female spiders have a large appetite: 

This isn’t great news for male spiders. Some spider species will eat their male counterparts before, during or after sexual activity. The behaviour of sexual cannibalism is what inspired the name of the black widow spider. 

With these facts in mind, it’s no wonder that spiders are unwanted house guests. If you’re ready to say goodbye to the spiders at your home or office call A-Jet Pest Control today.

Food production for spiders peaks in Spring with the arrival of flies, midges and insects, so you can expect to see more spider web laden side mirrors and room corners to add to your pest control list. Furthermore, White Tail spiders hate the wet and damp conditions outside. They also prey on other spiders so if you are seeing lots of smaller spiders you might be inviting white tails in. Don’t despair, we’ve got a few helpful tips to keep these unwanted 8-legged pests away. 

– 1 –  

Clean the outside of your house aiming to rid of  any and all webs. Take a hose, broom or pressure washer to them, you can never be too sure!

Get the whole family involved to ensure all grime and dirt films are cleared.

– 2 –  

Spring clean inside your house. That’s why they call it Spring cleaning. Nothing should be excluded: door frames, window frames, ceiling, corners, skirting boards, crevices and so on. Be thorough, you’re only going to do it once this year, make it count. Throttle their food source, it’s the vacuum cleaner’s food now.

Which house will it be? Make sure it’s not yours.

– 3 –  

Next you sit back and wait about 10 days for the webs to re-establish signaling where the active spiders are. This is where the spider control experts come in. Depending on the what they find, they are likely to start by administering an external surface treatment which is applied in areas where spiders typically crawl.

Most professional treatments work on residual contact meaning the insect will absorb the product after crawling over it, effectively exterminating it. On the internal surfaces, residual product is usually only applied as required.

Now you leave remaining cobwebs for at least 6 weeks after treatment so that visiting spiders (like our white tailed friends) will come in contact with the product. Webs can then be brushed away with a broom or duster. Don’t use water to clean these surfaces as it will wash the product away.

Who you gonna call?

– 4 –  

Bonus step. No further efforts involved. The above tips will naturally keep away the white tails as you’ve successfully exterminated their food source. Bye spider, we’d prefer you find somewhere else to go about your spider business, I’ve heard camping is quite pleasant this time of year.

White Tails should take advantage of the beautiful outdoors New Zealand has to offer

Easy as! Spring into action this spring by giving us a call if you’d like to go ahead and book in a treatment.