Although often an issue for residential properties, centipede infestations can cause serious image problems for restaurants as well when they start appearing in infestation-level quantities. Some restaurants have been plagued by rumors that can hurt business, like about people finding centipedes in their noodles.
But regardless of myths and urban legends, pests like centipedes can cause serious distrust and discomfort in customers who spot the bugs in the dining area, the bathroom or even the kitchen. Additionally, centipedes can bite customers, which, although not dangerous and only about as painful as a bee sting, can still hurt business.
To prevent centipedes from infringing on your business' success, consider calling in pest management services to eliminate the problem and keep your cook space sanitary. Although pest services can come to the rescue for restaurants with insect infestations, sometimes the best course of action can be to identify the problem and nip it in the bud with prevention efforts.
Centipedes rarely have exactly 100 legs, but they may have anywhere between 15 and 177 pairs! Grayish yellow with stripes on their backs, centipedes are most active at night, so they may be hard to spot. Each pair of legs is connected to a different body segment, so their length determines leg number and vice versa.
Normally eating other pests, including flies, cockroaches and spiders, most centipedes originate outdoors. Like many other pests, centipedes are attracted to damp areas, which explains why they're frequently spotted in showers and bathrooms. Although these spots may be temporary havens, centipedes can survive better in closets, pantries and storerooms.
Although centipedes can live for years, they create a relatively small number of offspring - no more than 150. Because they often come indoors from nearby areas, the best way to prevent centipedes from coming to your restaurant is to eliminate potential habitats outside. This can be anything from a concrete slab to the area underneath a garbage can - places that are damp, dark and rotting.
They can also enter through concrete block walls and cracks in the foundation. Owners should take efforts to seal these holes as well as add screens to any uncovered pipes or drains.
One of the best ways to avoid further issues with centipedes is to attack their food source, which is other pests - some that you may not know about. Pest management services can assist restaurants in eliminating all their pests to create an environment where customers will feel comfortable.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
In the summer months, people love to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables. Some even venture to farmers markets where the food is cheaper. However, not only do fruits come home with you, fruit flies may too. Once they've gotten acclimated in your home, they might stay all summer. These pests breed quickly, and tend to spread through whatever food you've got around. They also are happy to join in on any meal you have, be it a sit-down dinner or a barbecue in your backyard. Worst of all, like other flies, they carry disease. Consider these tips on how to prevent fruit flies from coming home with you.
