Most Common Pests in Restaurants

When it comes to restaurant pests, there are some pest that are more common than others. Some of the most common pests include:

• Cockroaches: These ugly bugs are some of the most feared by restaurant owners because they are full of bacteria and germs. They can also trigger allergens and allergy symptoms.
• Rodents: Along with being unsettling and unsightly, rodents can cause damage to packaging, structures, equipment, and restaurant products.
• Files: Flies can come into your restaurant through open windows, doors, and other openings in buildings. They are both irritating and hard to control. Some files bite, too. They tend to thrive in drains, trash receptacles, and grow in excess populations during the hotter months of the year.
• Stinging Pests: If you have an outdoor eating or waiting area, stinging pests can cause serious issues. Along with scaring your customers away, insect stings are painful and could trigger an allergic reaction.
• Ants: There are many ant species that can pose issues for restaurant owners. The first step is to properly identify the ant present and eliminate all potential food sources and possible entry points.
• Stored Product Pests: These are the pests that can be broken into four distinctive groups, which include scavengers, internal feeders, secondary pests, and external feeders. The external feeders include moths and beetles that will feed on processed grains. The internal feeders will create larvae inside the kernels of various seeds and grains, with weevils being the most common pest seen. And scavengers will feed on the damaged grains that are left by the other pests, with the secondary pests resulting in damages to the food packages.

How to Get Rid of Pests in a Restaurant

Restaurants are supposed to provide guests with a safe and comfortable environment. Unfortunately, insects can change all this rather quickly. The consequences of a bug infestation can be devastating for your restaurant and as mentioned above, pests can damage your reputation. Having an out of control pest problem can result in the loss of customers, and possible closure due to lack of revenue and closure by local health departments. The good news is there are some tips you can use to get rid of pests in your restaurants.

Some methods to prevent pets include:

• Closing all openings into the restaurant, which includes around wiring, drainpipes, vents, and more to keep bugs away.
• Keep all doors and windows closed when possible. Investing in an air curtain can be an easy and cost-effective way to get rid of flying pest in your restaurant. Installing door sweeps can also be effective.
• Keep your garbage cans and dumpster clean. Regularly maintain and clean garbage cans and dumpsters in your restaurant with soap, water and disinfectants. This can go a long way at keeping pests away
• Keep the kitchen area clean to keep bugs away. It is best to clean the kitchen as often as possible for the best results.
• Keep foods covered and clean up any spilled food right away and dispose of the trash or garbage often.
• Clean all areas of a table thoroughly once guests have finished their meal and left the dining area.

If you follow the above tips, there is a good chance that you will be able to prevent bugs from coming into your restaurant.

Cost of a Pest Exterminator for Restaurants

It is not advisable or recommended to conduct professional restaurant pest control services on your own. For commercial areas and restaurants, a qualified and licensed pest exterminator professional is recommended. The cost of the pest control solutions you need will be based on the type of pest problem you are dealing with, along with how severe the problem is. Other factors that will determine the protocols to be used in your restaurant are the restaurant’s size, the number of treatments needed initially and management and employee’s willingness to implement and utilize an effective preventative restaurant pest control program. It will also depend on the company that you hire. As a business owner and restaurant owner, you know hiring right is a key to success. A reliable pest exterminator professional is an essential member of your restaurant’s team.

In most areas, the initial restaurant pest control treatment will range between $50 and $200. If you have to have monthly treatments to help manage the pest problem you are dealing with, you will probably have to pay between $120 and $170 each month. This will include treatment for stored food pests, rodents, cockroaches, flies, and ants. Your exterminator professional will provide you with information on all of the services they have provided to you for each visit.

Professional exterminators use a combination of methods to detect the entrances that pests use to get inside your restaurant and business. With help from our expert exterminators, you can prevent and put an end to your pest problem for good!