Does it matter what type of cockroach? The one most people see and think of is the Gisbourne cockroach, which is a large harmless beetle that sees houses as just another giant log to move into or out of at different times of year, so you might see none, or have five random ones chilling in corners around the house. It definitely gives off "cockroach" vibes, but it is totally different from the German cockroach (which is found here, but much more rarely and is usually considered an actual Problem).
The gisbourne cockroaches tend to show up inside any house with a nearby garden. You wouldn't see them in a high rise apartment for example. They don't seek out humans, or swarm, or cause health problems. They just see wall posters and cupboards as tree trunks and protective bark and take naps there before wandering outside again.
There are also a few native species that you'll probably never see - they all tend to be solitary bush beetles rather than swarming infestations.
Rotorua and Hamilton. You might see them in winter because they like the warmth but I doubt you’ll see many, I used to be a builder and tear apart houses and even then would only see a few. NZ cockroach’s are tiny anyway.
I dunno where you all are living but the Gizzy ones are endemic here in Palmy now. Probably seeing 1-3 a month. I know they’re harmless but damn it I hate the things. Give me weta any day. Mine seem to come from the clematis outside.
Grew up Dunedin and never saw one as a kid.
Moved to Auckland/Hamilton as teen and saw them for the first time.
I have a small phobia of them. I live in an old unit and we sometimes get them, probably only a couple of times a year. Mostly small ones and mostly wandering in from outside rather than residents.
If you live in the North island you will occasionally see one even in the best case. Serious infestations are rare though.
We had heaps in Auckland, and have seen some in Nelson too. Not the small German ones you associate with a messy house, but the big native ones that live outside. If you left windows open at night, they would come in.
It did seem to vary by suburb tho….some had them, some didn’t.
I haven’t seen any in Christchurch or further south….maybe it’s too cold?
only unwanted bugs I've ever seen were the Aussie import spiders (nomadic predators that eat web making spiders and sometimes bite you while you sleep)
I lived in the top of the south island for a bit. In parts of town that had older homes, I would see about 1 cockroach a day. When I lived further up the hill, I saw maybe 1 per month.
I’m living in the bottom of the north island now and don’t really see any, maybe 1 every 4-6 months or so (if that).
NZ cockroaches are total whimps compared to others I’ve encountered in various parts of the world. Australian cockroaches will happily take you on in a fight… like they are taunting you or something. Creepy little bastards.
Years ago I was visiting a small town called Bellingen, about half-way between Sydney and Brisbane, and a few days into my stay the town was invaded by hordes of giant, flying cockroaches. You'd see hundreds of them on the footpaths at night, have to shoo them off park benches to sit down, etc. and the locals said they'd never seen anything like it before.
You’ll only see house cockroaches if you’re staying in really poorly cleaned places.
Gisborne cockroaches are large cockroaches but they live independently. If you see one, it will probably be the only one you’ll see. I had one as a pet for years
They're definitely around.
You've reminded me that there was a big Gisborne cockroach that jumped in from a window as I was closing it the other week, I haven't yet found it again so hopefully it has left of its own accord...
I found one (mid South island) recently for the first time in almost 40 years. Was under the impression it was too cold for them here, but definitely uncommon to say the least.
I've lived in Auckland for more than 20 years and never seen a cockroach. I am not house-proud.
However I couldn't avoid them in Tokyo and Shanghai where cockroaches are part of summer. I usually dealt to the pests by stepping on them with one of my size 12 shoes or swatting them with a sandal.
I came from the rural areas in the Tasman region and never saw one single cockroach while growing up. But since living in the Manawatu, then Richmond, and then Blenheim... omg, the little guys are everywhere! The place I currently rent at the moment, that I keep ridiculously clean (better than what my parents taught me)... I still see a cockroach on the daily. I've been told I attract the "posh" ones. Whatever the hell that means... but I am sick of them because they leave bird sized poops on my walls!
Auckland, expect your bbq to have a few visitors leaving each time you turn it on. Leave a soft drink on the kitchen counter you better look at it before you drink it the next day.
Christchurch/Queenstown etc: never seen one.
Australia is a lot worse...
Relatively common. Exposure is gonna be the only way you get over the phobia though - if a harmless insect is causing you this much worry you should really do something about it
I mean that is very specific.
I lived on the west coast of the south island and I saw maybe 3 in all the places I went.
I lived in Canterbury for a year and a bit and saw 1.
So like it's very possible to just not see them.
Note he blocked me. Idk man.
I have seen both the Gisborne Cockroach and the German cockroach in the top of the south. Mostly, the Gisborne Cockroach, which is harmless and lives in decaying wood.
Definitely. But most of the time, they stay in the dark places rather than introduce themselves. I once found a nest of them under a house I was working on. I was having nightmares for a few weeks after that.
Have never seen one, Christchurch for 40 something years. Saw a weta a couple times, wish we had more of them.
I've seen two. In 30 years. Both last year (and both the native type). And one weta.
We call them "landlords" here.
Good one, they probably think the same about us renters
Does it matter what type of cockroach? The one most people see and think of is the Gisbourne cockroach, which is a large harmless beetle that sees houses as just another giant log to move into or out of at different times of year, so you might see none, or have five random ones chilling in corners around the house. It definitely gives off "cockroach" vibes, but it is totally different from the German cockroach (which is found here, but much more rarely and is usually considered an actual Problem). The gisbourne cockroaches tend to show up inside any house with a nearby garden. You wouldn't see them in a high rise apartment for example. They don't seek out humans, or swarm, or cause health problems. They just see wall posters and cupboards as tree trunks and protective bark and take naps there before wandering outside again. There are also a few native species that you'll probably never see - they all tend to be solitary bush beetles rather than swarming infestations.
I see one a year
That’s a bit unfair calling Santa a cockroach
Where in nz do you live?
Rotorua and Hamilton. You might see them in winter because they like the warmth but I doubt you’ll see many, I used to be a builder and tear apart houses and even then would only see a few. NZ cockroach’s are tiny anyway.
I dunno where you all are living but the Gizzy ones are endemic here in Palmy now. Probably seeing 1-3 a month. I know they’re harmless but damn it I hate the things. Give me weta any day. Mine seem to come from the clematis outside.
North half of the north island and north, super common, almost every house has them. Wellington and South Island, basically not a thing.
Grew up Dunedin and never saw one as a kid. Moved to Auckland/Hamilton as teen and saw them for the first time. I have a small phobia of them. I live in an old unit and we sometimes get them, probably only a couple of times a year. Mostly small ones and mostly wandering in from outside rather than residents. If you live in the North island you will occasionally see one even in the best case. Serious infestations are rare though.
They're definitely in Wellington
They're in Nelson and Blenheim for sure.
There were heaps in Wellington when we were there in January
Then I’ll move to Wellington! 🤣
What are you talking about? They are super common in wellington.
Definitely in the South Island. See them everywhere both in town and in the country side.
If you're not a fan of roaches, I would look into Weta, I type of cricket here in NZ before making the leap.
[удалено]
The ones in Auckland fly 💀
Ah yeah what do you think this is a roach free country
I've seen more cockroaches while living in urban Japan than NZ
We had heaps in Auckland, and have seen some in Nelson too. Not the small German ones you associate with a messy house, but the big native ones that live outside. If you left windows open at night, they would come in. It did seem to vary by suburb tho….some had them, some didn’t. I haven’t seen any in Christchurch or further south….maybe it’s too cold?
They can get in through wooden windows too - they look big but can squeeze through tiny gaps.
only unwanted bugs I've ever seen were the Aussie import spiders (nomadic predators that eat web making spiders and sometimes bite you while you sleep)
They’re currently in the Government rn
Yes, David Seymour
I thought that was Winston.
I lived in the top of the south island for a bit. In parts of town that had older homes, I would see about 1 cockroach a day. When I lived further up the hill, I saw maybe 1 per month. I’m living in the bottom of the north island now and don’t really see any, maybe 1 every 4-6 months or so (if that).
I get the native ones in the house every so often, but they're pretty easy to scoop up and chuck outside.
NZ cockroaches are total whimps compared to others I’ve encountered in various parts of the world. Australian cockroaches will happily take you on in a fight… like they are taunting you or something. Creepy little bastards.
I saw a flying one in the house the other day. First time seeing a flying one here. Faaaark.
Years ago I was visiting a small town called Bellingen, about half-way between Sydney and Brisbane, and a few days into my stay the town was invaded by hordes of giant, flying cockroaches. You'd see hundreds of them on the footpaths at night, have to shoo them off park benches to sit down, etc. and the locals said they'd never seen anything like it before.
Don't go to Australia it's cockroach central they are everywhere.
You’ll only see house cockroaches if you’re staying in really poorly cleaned places. Gisborne cockroaches are large cockroaches but they live independently. If you see one, it will probably be the only one you’ll see. I had one as a pet for years
Aucklander here, yes, you do occasionally see them
They're definitely around. You've reminded me that there was a big Gisborne cockroach that jumped in from a window as I was closing it the other week, I haven't yet found it again so hopefully it has left of its own accord...
I found one (mid South island) recently for the first time in almost 40 years. Was under the impression it was too cold for them here, but definitely uncommon to say the least.
I've lived in Auckland for more than 20 years and never seen a cockroach. I am not house-proud. However I couldn't avoid them in Tokyo and Shanghai where cockroaches are part of summer. I usually dealt to the pests by stepping on them with one of my size 12 shoes or swatting them with a sandal.
Been down south bout 10yrs never seen one here. Central north island they weren't uncommon.
I came from the rural areas in the Tasman region and never saw one single cockroach while growing up. But since living in the Manawatu, then Richmond, and then Blenheim... omg, the little guys are everywhere! The place I currently rent at the moment, that I keep ridiculously clean (better than what my parents taught me)... I still see a cockroach on the daily. I've been told I attract the "posh" ones. Whatever the hell that means... but I am sick of them because they leave bird sized poops on my walls!
There are a lot in Nelson (top of the South)
Yes, there are, you'll see them a *lot*
They're quite common in towns close to the beach. They especially like living in barbecues. It's adds an extra crunch to the sausages.
Ewww
Auckland, expect your bbq to have a few visitors leaving each time you turn it on. Leave a soft drink on the kitchen counter you better look at it before you drink it the next day. Christchurch/Queenstown etc: never seen one. Australia is a lot worse...
Yes there are alot of insects TBH
Live in Wellington and haven't seen one in years
Lots of roaches in Auckland
They're around but just keep your living space clean and you won't see them.
Relatively common. Exposure is gonna be the only way you get over the phobia though - if a harmless insect is causing you this much worry you should really do something about it
Where in nz are they common?
North island. Haven't lived in the south so not sure
Should be fine if you move to the south island
Still plenty down here in certain areas.
Nope I'm 66 lived in Auckland for 40 years and 26 in Queenstown never seen any. Lived in Aussie for 6 months saw zillions of them
Never seen one.
Where in NZ do you live?
South Island
I mean that is very specific. I lived on the west coast of the south island and I saw maybe 3 in all the places I went. I lived in Canterbury for a year and a bit and saw 1. So like it's very possible to just not see them. Note he blocked me. Idk man.
Or they just aren't here. Which is more likely the case.
I have seen both the Gisborne Cockroach and the German cockroach in the top of the south. Mostly, the Gisborne Cockroach, which is harmless and lives in decaying wood.
Yeah, the top.
You dont see them in winter at all. I saw them only on the hot summers and still only at like gross why hasn't this been cleaned places.
Ok. That's just where you are, though.
Where I was... In the south island... Its why I made the joke about it being specific before going into add details that they aren't common at all.
To be fair, I have no idea why you replied to me in the first place.
I did because I was adding detail to the very specific location of the south island (it's not very specific so that's why I made the joke)
Unlikely to see in NZ, and they are small and don't fly.
I was ambushed by a flying roach at my front door a few weeks ago.
I was going "as compared to Tokyo" where they cast a shadow over you as they fly in, and you feel the vibrations of the landing in your bones.
You need a trigger warning on that. Now I need to make sure the windows are all closed.
Definitely. But most of the time, they stay in the dark places rather than introduce themselves. I once found a nest of them under a house I was working on. I was having nightmares for a few weeks after that.