Warmer weather means that your restaurant will be serving more diners. While your cooking methods have been perfected, your pest management procedures may require some brushing up.
According to the National Pest Management Association, pharaoh ants can spread many diseases, including salmonella and streptococcus pyogenes. This underscores the importance of proper commercial pest control. After all, if your establishment is home to any critters or insects, someone is bound to notice, and once the word spreads, recovering your reputation will be incredibly difficult.
The NPMA pointed out that pharaoh ants are common in commercial food settings. They prefer humid areas with quick access to food and water sources. To make matters worse, their nests are usually located in areas that are hard to reach - behind walls, under floors and more. Incorporating pest prevention methods in the everyday routines at the restaurant can help you avoid this headache altogether.
The University of Florida's Department of Entomology & Nematology noted that colonies tend to be large. Though there have been groups that only consist of a few dozen, numbers can be as large as several hundred thousand. Eggs grow into adult ants in about 38 days. They prefer areas with a relative humidity of around 80 percent and temperatures around 80 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Knowing this, you should pay special attention to these areas in the restaurant.
Keeping your restaurant free of these bugs with preventative measures can be easy and should be practiced regularly to keep away other pests as well. Food should be stored away in airtight containers and preparation surfaces should be carefully cleaned each night. If there's time, areas that may be prone to pharaoh ant infestations should be checked nightly too.
Keeping your restaurant free of these bugs with preventative measures can be easy and should be practiced regularly to keep away other pests as well. Food should be stored away in airtight containers and preparation surfaces should be carefully cleaned each night. If there's time, areas that may be prone to pharaoh ant infestations should be checked nightly too.
Your pest prevention efforts don't end there. Walk the perimeter of the restaurant and look for any branches or bushes that touch the establishment. These can be paths that lead straight into the venue. Trimming these or cutting them down entirely can help reduce the chances of pharaoh ants infesting your restaurant.
If you suspect or have identified a pharaoh ant infestation, reach out to pest control services such as Abell Pest Control as soon as possible. These insects are difficult to eradicate and taking action early on is your best chance of getting rid of these bugs.