What’s bugging Aucklanders?

Auckland is reaching peak pest, as optimum weather conditions see rodent and insect populations ‘‘explode’’ and take cover indoors.

A bug expert warns that cricket swarms, such as those recently experienced in Northland, are ‘‘very likely’’ for Auckland.

North Shore’s Cheryl Roos said she’s been plagued by rats, crickets and ants in the last week.

‘‘The ants have been pouring in and no amount of ant poison has stopped them.’’

She said the over-abundance of rodents has made hunting a breeze for her pet cat.

It was cockroaches and crickets for Janine Pringle from Sunnynook.

‘‘A real pain however our puppy thinks they are fabulous to play with.’’

Jayne Walton from Torbay was rudely woken by a six-inch stick insect that crawled over her face while sleeping.

Katrina Mora from Browns Bay said this is the first summer she’s been afflicted by the ‘‘flying cockroach variety’’.

An insect expert said the warmer, wetter climate is blame for the outbreak.

‘‘We’ve had hot weather and that means the insects are moving around a lot more and mating a lot more,’’ said Grace Hall, entomologist for Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research.

She said a range of insects tend to emerge in mass numbers once temperatures reach a critical range, or sweet spot, between 22-25 degrees Celsius.

And according to Niwa, the mercury has hit that sweet spot at least 12 days since the beginning of February.

Bug King exterminators director Mark McDonald said insects and rodents are driven by three things; food, water and somewhere to live.

He said the sodden ground encourages ants, cockroaches, crickets and worms to find higher, drier ground - inside houses.

‘‘Combined with that you’ve also got plenty of food and water around at the moment, which means that populations are exploding.’’

However, Auckland Zoo experts say the influx of creepy crawlies is to be celebrated, not exterminated.

‘‘It’s a good thing - and to be celebrated - because it provides great food for the rest of the ecosystem,’’ said Richard Gibson, curator of the zoo’s ectotherms.

Experts say it’s very likely that Auckland will experience the same cricket swarms recently experienced in Dargaville.