In New Zealand from November through to March borer beetles emerge from their timber feast as small brown beetles that fly off to find a mate. The tell tale flight holes in our wooden weather boards, eaves, panelling, skirting etc. look like someone has being playing darts. The flight holes that you can see are likely to be a fraction of the number of flight holes in places you can’t see; inside the walls, under the floor, in the roof voids. Ideally the timbers should be sprayed on these interior surfaces with a Borer fluid but in many situations access is not possible. Control of borer can be achieved using NO Borer bombs and fumigators. These products release a vapour into the spaces which knock down adult beetles and stop them laying eggs back on the timbers. Released once (or preferably twice a season) in sub floors, affected rooms, roof voids and other inaccessible spaces over four or five consecutive years will greatly reduce the damage done to timbers.
How to Use Bombs and Fumigators
These products work in enclosed spaces. The better sealed the space the more effective the products will be or the fewer bombs and fumigators are required. There are two types of bomb or fumigator; aerosols with a click down activation trigger and water activated vapour fumigators.
- NO Bugs Bug Bomb or NO Bugs Borafume Fumigator – Read the instructions on the can and calculate the number of aerosols or fumigators you need for the areas you need to treat. The average house will need three for the rooms and one or two for roof voids. Sub-floors will depend on the height above the ground.
- Cover or remove fish and fish tanks. Have all people and pets vacate the areas.
- Close all doors and windows except those you will exit via. Seal any other ventilation points.
- Place all the aerosols or fumigators to be used on stable surfaces in the centre of the spaces to be treated. Fumigators get quite hot so place them on a heat resistant surface.
- Plan the order in which you well set them off and retreat from the areas so that you can set them off in sequence and exit the building after the final bomb is activated. Fumigators should have the fumigator foil wrapping opened and the correct amount of water added to the plastic reservoir cup.
- Aerosols – Set the bombs off by clicking down the activator firmly. The bomb should emit at stream of vapour. Depending on the temperature and humidity you may see the vapour more or less.
Water Activated Fumigators – Place the fumigator in the water taking care to put the fumigator in the correct way up. The fumigator will emit vapour after approximately 1-2 minutes. - Close and lock doors behind you as you exit.
- Stay out of the treated areas for at least 2-3 hours for the aerosol and at least 3 hours with the fumigator. Stay out longer if possible.
- Return to the house and open doors and windows to fully ventilate the treated areas. Remove any covers that have been placed over vents.
- You should now be free of adult insect pests in the treated areas, but remember that there is no residual effect from these products. We recommend the use of residual surface sprays for ongoing protection from most insect pests. Check out the advice for the pest bothering you on the main Kiwicare website.
“I’m empty and my bug friends have left.”
The Bug Bomb fumed to the Borafume.

could you use it just in a ceiling space not anywhere else and still stay in the house ? could you open the windows below and be ok to stay at home in the house?
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteIf the ceiling space is well sealed off from the living space, i.e. there are no gaps around light fittings etc. and you keep the living space ventilated, then yes you could stay at home in the house.
I have evidence of bora under the house. It is not sealed, however. It there any product that will work for this area>
ReplyDeleteMaureen
I would like to get rid of Bora under the house. However, it is not sealed off. Is there a product that will work?
ReplyDeleteHello Maureen,
ReplyDeleteI the timber under your floor is not sealed than you can apply Kiwicare NO Borer fluid either painted or sprayed on. This will give up to 10 years protection for further borer damage.
Hi i have found bora in our spare bedroom in the door frame of the closet( has no door) can i use a bora bomb just in that room or do i have to put it in the roof? Thanks Courtney
ReplyDeleteHi Courtney,
ReplyDeleteYou could use a Borafume in that room. And/or you can inject the holes with Kiwicare NO Borer Injector, which is an easy to use aerosol with a nozzle. This will kill borer and go on protecting the treated area for years.
Hi just wondering if the 'no bugs bug bomb' is ok to use with a house with pvc window frames?
ReplyDeleteAlso just checking what does it mean about putting the can on a 'protected surface' can just rest it on a piece of card board?
is there any precautions i should take if i'm going to use these in the sub floor or ceiling space?
hi just wondering is the 'no bugs bug bomb' suitable for use in a house with pvc plastic window frames?
ReplyDeletealso what does it mean about resting the can on a protected surface? can i just put it on a piece of cardboard?
are there any special precautions about using the cans in a confined area like the sub floor or roof space?
Hello Jenny,
DeleteYes. The NO Bugs Bug Bomb is safe to use in a home with pvc window frames.
Place the Bug Bomb on a stable surface to set it off to ensure it does not fall over while activated.
Ensure there is a good height above the Bug Bomb so that it is not ejecting the vapour directly onto a delicate surface above. Not usually a problem in a roof void or sub-floor.
I hope that helps.
Kind Regards
David
thanks for the information !
DeleteWhat is your advice for using in the roof space when the house has DVS installed? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHello,
DeleteI advise turning off the DVS while the fumigator is in use because they may circulate the fumigant from the roof to other parts of the house. They could be left on if you wan tot treat the roof void and house, but then the number of fumigators should be calculated appropriately.
David
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI want to set off bora bombs throughout the inside, under the house and in the ceiling. Please advise on the safety of the bora bombs as our water tank (has a lid) is in the ceiling and the condensation vent has a winter mode that circulates air from the ceiling…we also have a heat pump. Should any or all of these be covered as I'm concerned that residue may get into the tank and be blown into our breathing space when the vent and pump are turned on. Apart from our own health we have a little toddler that I'm worried about.
Regards
Mary-Ann
Hello Mary-Ann,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your question.
NO Bugs Borafume fumigators leave very little residue. So long as your water tank is covered it is safe to use in the roof voids. I recommend turning off the air circulation units so that you are not losing fumigant. Once the fumigation is completed and the house ventilated for 30 mins it is safe you and your toddler to re-occupy.
Kind Regards
David
Hi, we have borer under the house I have the no bug bomb that Mitre 10 told us to use. I am just wondering the best way to seal the vents prior to letting the bomb off. We have a lot of vents around the house so really want to make sure it is done properly.
ReplyDeleteAny help is appreciated!
Thanks inadvance
Hello Maria,
DeleteA good way to seal the vents around the sub-floor of a house is to tape some cardboard over them.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards
David
URGENT
ReplyDeleteHi would this work on dust mites
URGENT
ReplyDeleteHi would this work for dust mites
Hello Sepa,
DeleteA Bug Bomb may reduce mite numbers but it is more effective to reduce relative humidity by improving ventilation, vacuuming thoroughly and using a de-humidifier.
Kind Regards
David
Hello Sepa,
DeleteA Bug Bomb may reduce mite numbers but it is more effective to reduce relative humidity by improving ventilation, vacuuming thoroughly and using a de-humidifier.
Kind Regards
David
Hi is there a certain time of year when you use the bombs?
DeleteHello,
DeleteBombs and fumigators can be used at any time of year for control of all sorts of insects and spiders.
However, if it is borer you want to control in New Zealand the best time is between October and March. This is when the adult beetles emerge from the wood.
Kind Regards
David
Hi,
ReplyDeleteIf I use a NO Bugs Borafume fumigator in the hallway will it go into the rooms or does there need to be one in each room?
Also we have high ceilings (older house) so would NO Bugs Bug Bomb work the same as NO Bugs Borafume fumigators against borer?
Thanks
Hello,
DeleteThe vapour from the NO Bugs Borafume will penetrate through the space it has access to over the time of the fumigation. If you leave the doors open to the rooms and you use enough Borafume fumigators of the volume to be fumigated it will work.
The NO Bugs Bug Bombs work in a similar fashion.
Kind Regards
Davod
Thank you 🙂
DeleteIs it safe to let off no bugs bug bomb in a newly painted interior of house.Or how long should I wait ?also if I let the bomb off do i still need to inject the holes.
ReplyDeleteHello,
DeleteYes. You can set off NO Bugs Bug Bombs in a newly painted house. However, I recommend waiting until the paint has dried completely and do not set the bomb off within 2 metres of the new paint.
Yes, you should also inject flight holes as this gives long term protection of many years.
Kind Regards
David