Warm weather means it's a busy time for Bay's bug busters

Eddy Staessens, B.O.P No Bugz owner, says the warmer summer season is a busy time for pest control callouts. Photo / George Novak

Bay bug exterminators are in hot demand thanks to warmer humid weather, particularly calls to eradicate fleas, flies, and cockroaches.

Des Smith, owner of Wil-Kil Pest Control was already booked up until the end of January, mainly to eradicate fleas, flies and cockroaches.

Mr Smith said he had also fielded a call to remove some bees from under a Tauranga house.

"Ninety per cent of my callouts are from regulars who I get bookings from year on year. The most common demand is to exterminate cockroaches especially big black ones," he said.

Bookings to eradicate bugs always increased during the summer months.

Neal Courtman, owner of pest exterminating firm The Flyman, said he was "flat out".

"We're just too busy to talk," he said.

Bay Ultra Dry Pest Control owner Eric Wainwright said he was busy but there had been a slower "delayed" start to the summer.

"Last year was phenomenally busy, but this year we had quite a cool November, with below average temperatures for November and the first part of December and lot of wind. When you get those conditions the flies and flea numbers tend to be down a little." The number of his callouts were about one third down compared to same period last year.

"Last year was a record year. We had about three times as many wasp removal phone calls compared to this year," he said.

Mr Wainwright said as the weather heated up and people returned home from their holiday breaks, he expected demand for his services would also surge.

B.O.P. No Bugz owner Eddy Staessens said over the past two months his phone had not stopped ringing.

Pest file
• German and common wasps are very similar in appearance. Both have the characteristic black and yellow coloration. Both species live in large colonies about the size of a soccer ball.
• German wasp nests are grey, Common wasp nests are brown.
• Both colonies can become huge if they manage to survive over winter.
• German wasp Vesputla germanica, measure 12-17mm long (but a queen made be 20mm).
• Its strong black markings, include an arrow-shaped mark down the middle of its abdomen and black spots on either side, yellow legs and black antennae.
• Usually nest underground in soil holes, but can nest in walls and roof spaces.
- Landcare Research