If you own and/or operate a restaurant, you should learn about the pests that are known to invade this type of establishment and the steps that you may take to eliminate those pests so that you, your employees, and your customers all remain safe. Pests are especially attracted to restaurants due to the smells, moisture, food products, and shelter spaces that are readily available. Continue reading to learn about the most common pests that invade restaurants and how to eliminate them.
Most Common Pests in Restaurants
While it is possible for any pest to be attracted to restaurants, there are several that are more common than others. The following outlines those pests:
- Cockroaches – These insects are attracted to places that are dark and have a high level of moisture. Additionally, they are attracted to water and food. These pests pose a high risk to food safety in restaurants because of the fact that they harbor and they spread E. coli, dysentery, and Salmonella. In certain locations, a sighting of a cockroach by a health inspector will result in a violation that is considered to be “critical” and the establishment may be forced to close. These insects have been identified as “omnivorous” – and that means that they will consume anything that they are able to in order to survive. The two most common cockroaches that invade restaurants are the German cockroaches and the American cockroaches.
- Rodents – This includes both mice and rats. These pests are known for seeking food, water, and shelter in restaurants. Rats are dangerous as they can pass on up to 35 different diseases to humans. They also contaminate and destroy an amount of food so large each year throughout the world to feed up to 200 million people. Rodents chew through a lot of different materials that are present in restaurants. These include – but are not limited to – wood, vinyl, screens, concrete blocks, and aluminum sheets. A mouse can enter into an opening as small as one-fourth of an inch. A rat only needs one half of inch of an opening to enter. The most common rodents that infest restaurants include the house mouse, the Norway rat, and the roof rat. Inside of restaurants, these pests will live inside of walls, inside of ceilings, in the floors, and in any type of equipment or material that is stored and not disturbed for long periods of time.
- Large Flies – These pests carry in excess of 100 different pathogens that may result in disease in humans. These include – but are not limited to – Salmonella and E. coli. If you see a fly in your establishment, the creatures could be breeding in any area of 1 mile or less from the building. Flies will enter into doors and windows – especially if there is any type of debris or food located near those areas. The most common types of flies that invade restaurants include house flies, bottle flies, blow flies, and flesh flies. These pests feed on garbage, rotting vegetation, human food, and are attracted to decaying garbage areas like trash cans and dumpster areas. Additionally, they are very much attracted to standing water.
- Small Flies – These pests include the red-eyed fruit fly and the dark-eyed fruit fly. They are as small as one-eight of an inch to up to seven-sixteenth of an inch. While these insects are found throughout restaurants, they are mostly in areas with the presence of material that is decaying. If sanitation is poor in the establishment, it will attract the populations of small flies. They typically shelter in biofilms and in sugar snakes that are present within cracks, crevices, drain lines, under soda dispenser machines, and the drains that are present within the floor.
- Ants – Ants are highly social insects and reside within a colony. There are castes within the colony such as “workers” and the “Queen”. If the colony grows to be exceptionally large, there could be two Queens. If disturbed, the one colony can expand into multiple colonies. This is referred to as “budding”. Some ants do not sting, but other ants do sting. In total, worldwide, there are over 8,000 species of ants. Traits include an antenna that is elbowed, very slender waist area, some have wings and may fly, they may be either black or brown. While most live outdoors, it is possible for an infestation to occur indoors. Ants live in many areas. These include within wood, foam insulation, soil around a building, in potted plants, underneath floors, in ceilings, in walls, and around sinks, pipes, and other plumbing-related areas. They feed on predators and a large assortment of foods with sweets and those that are greasy to be among their favorite.
- Crawling Insects – The most common crawling insects include crickets, ground beetles, and insects that are similar in nature. These creatures are attracted to light, debris, and even mulch. These are most commonly seen outdoors in the late summer or the early fall months; however, when outdoor forms of vegetation become dry, the crawling insects are more likely to enter into structures, such as restaurants. They enter inside of restaurants through cracks, doors that are not fitted properly, siding, foundation, and windows. These insects are capable of running, but typically do not fly. Other crawling insects include spiders, plant bugs, and those that are similar.
- Stored Product Pests – These insects include weevils, beetles, and moths. These pests are among the most burdensome to restaurants because they are known for infesting dry goods such as spices, flour, and grains. If you own and/or operate a restaurant, you should always ensure that the food products that are opened in your kitchen are properly stored in an airtight container. Not only will this step aid in preserving those items, but you will find that you have no invading pests within your establishment.
Why are Pests a Problem in Restaurants?
Despite the fact that pests are considered disgusting by your patrons and health inspectors that may come in to grade your restaurant, there are several other problems associated with restaurant pests. These include the following:
- Contamination – Most pests cause surfaces and foods that they come into contact with to become contaminated. This is done by the shedding of the skin and/or fur, the droppings left behind, and any larvae left behind by the pests.
- The Transmission of Disease – Most pests carry pathogens that pose a threat to humans. These include listeria, salmonella, and E. coli.
- Damage to Reputation – If pests become visible in a restaurant, this could quickly damage the establishment’s reputation. Customer will come to not trust to the restaurant and business will fall off.
How to Prevent Pests from Invading Your Restaurant
The good news is, there are many steps that you may take that will aid in preventing pests from invading your restaurant. The following outline these steps”
- Ensure Proper Sanitation – You should make certain that your restaurant is exceptionally clean – especially in areas that have drains, equipment, and areas where food products are stored in the building.
- Potential Entry Points – to ensure that no pest enters into your establishment, you should look around the building on the outside and on the inside and see if you observe any openings that a pest could enter through. If you do see these entry points – and they are larger than the width of a pencil – you should seal them immediately and make any necessary repairs to the area.
- Food Storage – The food that you store in your restaurant should be placed in airtight containers that have a proper seal and they should be kept off of the floor.
- Commercial Pest Management Services – If you find that you have pests in your restaurant, you should make certain that you obtain commercial pest management services. It is better to pay a professional once a month than to handle the expenses associated with having to completely shut down your restaurant. The goal is to make sure that the problem is handled before it is a problem and if the problem is present, that it is done away with before it becomes noticeable by your employees, customers, or those health inspectors that come in and out unannounced to grade your business.
Contact Us
If you want to make sure that your restaurant is pest proof or you need someone to assist you with your pest management needs, we here at All Pest recommend that you contact us now. We are here standing by to assist you. While we are known for our residential services, we also offer commercial pest management services. In fact, we are considered full-service experts as we offer full home inspections, bed bug treatments, commercial pest control, and a wide assortment of warranties and guarantees. If you would like to learn more, just get in touch with us today. In addition to our services, we pride ourselves in excellent customer service and having the most competitive prices in and around Richmond. Call us now at: 765-965-2171
