Watch Out for These 3 Summertime Pests

Ant prevention is similar to cockroach prevention, and shares some similarities with fly prevention as well. The same exclusion tactics used for cockroaches, like caulking any cracks and crevices on the outside of the facility, will work for ants. Don’t forget to trim the trees and other vegetation that may touch the building exterior and provide access to the building. The only difference is that ants can fit through even smaller gaps, so it’s essential to pay close attention to openings in your building’s exterior. Regular sanitation and garbage removal will also help remove attractants that draw ants.

Flies

In terms of filthiness, flies are even worse than cockroaches—they’re twice as filthy and are often nicknamed the microbial dispenser. They spend most of their time feeding on garbage and organic material, and then will go straight from these areas to land on another food source. When they do so, they transfer thousands of potentially disease-spreading pathogens just like cockroaches.

One type of fly that is frequently overlooked is the drain fly, which is appropriately named after its tendency to feed and breed in drains where organic material has not been completely washed away. These little flies will look like gnats in the air and can move from drain to drain in a facility if the problem is not resolved quickly. Keeping drains clean and free of debris is the only way to keep them from making your facility their new home.

Like both cockroaches and ants, proper sanitation will eliminate many of the attractants that draw flies inside. It is important to install screens over windows and avoid leaving doors open for extended periods of time. Often flies get in by simply flying through the front door, especially if the building has a negative air pressure. Installing automatic doors, air curtains, maintaining positive air pressure, and fly lights can help greatly decrease the likelihood of a rogue fly finding its way inside of a facility.

While all three of these pests have similar habits, and can be prevented using some of the same methods, each poses its own challenge to food processing facilities. Cleanliness and maintenance can make a huge difference in the battle against summer pests, but a full IPM program is the best way to make sure your facility is prepared for pests during the season they’re most active.

 Dr. Siddiqi, director of quality systems for Orkin, is a board-certified entomologist with more than 35 years in the industry. Reach him at [email protected].