Asian House Geckos: Are they helpful roommates or unwelcome pests?

The Asian House Gecko, has gained a mixed reputation, especially in regions like Mackay, where they show up uninvited. These little reptiles thrive in diverse environments, including urban areas, forests, and even on coconut trees. With their ability to adapt, they flourish in warm, humid climates.

Join us as we explore whether these scaly companions are friends or foes!

Asian house geckos are an introduced species, known for their adaptability, they often appear uninvited in various environments, leading to challenges for residents in Mackay.

A Warm Welcome

Asian House Geckos are enthusiastic party guests. They seek out warm, humid environments, perfectly aligning with the tropical climate of Mackay. Found in homes, commercial buildings, gardens and urban spots, they are eager to showcase their talent as your night-time insect controllers.

A single gecko can consume up to 100 insects a night, including cockroaches and mosquitoes.

However, it's worth mentioning that while they help reduce pest levels, they can also disrupt your sleep with their characteristic loud “Chuck chuck chuck” calls, which often sound more like an alarm clock ringing at 3 AM.

An Unwelcome Visit

These pesky geckos have made their way to Australia, often hitching rides in boats or sneaking into luggage. Not to be confused with our Australian Native geckos, Asian Gecko's are an introduced species and can cause declines in native insects and spiders, and compete with native geckos for resources.

Their adaptability shines in urban areas, where bright lights attract insects, creating what looks like an all-you-can-eat buffet for geckos.

In urban settings, they thrive, while in natural habitats, they face stiff competition from native species.

Approximately 70% of their successful capture of food occurs in bright, artificial light environments. This shift illustrates how urbanization has benefited them but may impede their survival in the wild.

Tread Carefully: The Fear Factor

While Asian House Geckos can be alarming with their loud calls, they may also contribute to numerous problems.

Geckos can be found with various parasites, such as mites, parasitic worms, ticks, and be carries of Salmonella, posing additional health issues to you and your family.

Gecko droppings on a surface, featuring the distinctive brownish-black swirl with white tips representing the urates (solid pee).

This illustrates that while these reptiles may seem like harmless household companions, they can introduce health risks that need consideration for their management when populations become unmanageable.

Asian Geckos: How To Control Them

If you're on a mission to manage the Asian geckos in your home, fear not! There are several strategies to help keep these little critters at bay.

• First things first, you’ll want to cut off their buffet by eliminating their favourite snack—those pesky insects lurking around. You can achieve this by having a regular general pest control treatment by a reputable company like All Things Pest Control. By limiting the amount of Ants, Cockroaches/Silverfish & Webbing Spiders, you're limiting their food source.

  
  

• Maintaining a tidy living space: Regular cleaning ensures you aren't attracting food sources for the Geckos. Any Gecko faeces should be cleaned promptly. As a build up of this in areas your family & pets comes into contact with risks the transmission of infections such as Salmonella or Helminths (i.e. gastrointestinal parasitic ‘worms’).

  
  

• Seal any cracks or crevices where uninvited bugs might sneak in. Key areas include pipework for air conditioning units, plumbing & gas, gaps under doors and damaged fly screens on windows and doors.

  
  
  
  

• Turning off outdoor lights at night can dim the buffet for bugs, which in turn might make your place less appealing to hungry geckos. Pull your blinds so internal lighting isn't drawing bugs and hungry gecko's to your windows.

  
  

• For a more proactive approach, you could also use glue boards in areas where geckos like to hang out. This method can be seen as inhumane and as a friendly warning, it won't discriminate: careful consideration of placement and regular checking is needed to ensure small birds and other native species in the area aren't trapped and killed with this method.

Unsealed air conditioning pipework on a home's exterior provides easy access for pests like geckos. Sealing these gaps is crucial to prevent invasions.

While these tactics can effectively reduce the number of Asian geckos in your home. It’s crucial to remember that complete elimination is nearly impossible.

After all, geckos do have a noble role in keeping insect populations in check. So, aim for a relaxed coexistence by minimizing their presence instead of waging a full-scale war!

Final Thoughts: Roommate or Pest?

The presence of the Asian House Gecko presents an intriguing contradiction. While their ability to control insect populations can be beneficial, their loud calls, sudden appearances and risk of transmitting bacterial diseases & worms can make your home feel less cosy.

If you encounter one in your space, consider: Are they a helpful roommate or an unwelcome pest? Your tolerance for their antics may shape your answer. Whether you choose to coexist with these quirky creatures or gently encourage them to leave, one thing is clear: they are here to stay!

So, keep a watchful eye, stay calm, and perhaps you will find that the geckos are the quirky housemates you never knew you needed!

The northern leaf-tailed gecko, a unique example of Australia's native geckos, showcasing its distinctive textured skin and broad, leaf-like tail on a dark background.

Experienced Pest Control Services in Mackay: Specializing in General pest control treatments, termite inspections, remedial treatments, and barrier installations, All Things Pest Control offers award-winning solutions for residential and commercial needs. Certified and reliable. Call us today!