Pest Control in Food Premises

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are common insects that can be found in almost any place in a structure.  They prefer a warm and damp environment.  Look for them in or near water pipes, cracks and crevices, in kitchen cabinets and cupboards, behind and around fridges and stoves, near and in garbage containers, in cardboard and around appliances such as proofers, microwave ovens, toasters, coffee machines.

Behaviour

Cockroaches are nocturnal, they like to come out at night.  Cockroaches may appear in the day time if there is a heavy infestation, if they are disturbed, or if there has been a recent pest control treatment.

Food

• Cockroaches can eat almost anything a person eats including starchy foods like cereals or pasta, meat, beverages, as well as, paper, leather, plants or glue in book bindings.
• A few grains of sugar can keep them alive for days.
• Cockroaches need a water supply to survive.

Identification and Life Cycle

1. Egg – Eggs are stored in an egg case. Each female can lay between 7 and 15 egg cases per lifetime which contains between 16 and 38 eggs each.
2. Nymph – Nymphs look like small adults. They shed their skin 5 to 7 times before adulthood.
3. Adult – Adult cockroaches can live from several months to 2 years.

Types and Sizes of Cockroaches

Control Measures

The best method of controlling these pests is through integrated pest management.  This can include preventative practices, monitoring, closing up holes in walls and floors, and responsible application of pesticides.  Licensed pest control companies can be found by doing an internet search.  If you choose to correct the pest problem on your own several steps need to be taken. By using a combination of these steps, they may eliminate the infestation.

1. Cleaning: Keep storage areas tidy and keep food in sealed containers.  Clean grease, dirt, food crumbs and
   garbage from all areas.
2. Caulk, seal and repair: Repair cracks, crevices and openings around pipes, in cupboards, on walls, ceilings and floors to prevent cockroaches from entering or hiding in your premises.   Use non-toxic caulking and steel wool to seal holes and a fine mesh screen to cover ducts or vents.
3. Monitor: Look for signs of a cockroach infestation such as actual sightings of live and dead cockroaches, feces that look like grains of pepper, and egg cases.
4. Glue Boards: Glue boards placed in areas where you see cockroach activity can be effective.  Cockroaches will walk on the glue board and become trapped.  Glue boards can be purchased at your local hardware store.
5. Bait Stations: Bait stations are discs 5 cm in diameter which contain poisoned bait food.  Openings are located around the disc to allow cockroaches to enter.  Cockroaches are killed after they eat the poison, some may take up to 3 days to die.  Bait stations can last up to 6 months.
6. Insecticides: Insecticides are chemicals used to kill cockroaches.  Insecticides can be purchased, but read the label carefully before applying any insecticide and follow the directions and precautions.  Spraying should only be done in cracks, crevices, and holes and not the entire surface.  The area that is sprayed should be adequately ventilated. Insecticides should not be applied or stored near food that can be exposed.  Children and pets should be kept away from areas that are sprayed and where insecticides are stored.

Mice

“House” mice generally stay within 10 to 30 feet of their nests.  They can live anywhere throughout a structure, but the main areas include: inside walls, in between floors and cupboards or under counters.  Signs of a mouse infestation may include any of the following:  mouse droppings, tracks or footprints, gnaw marks, rub marks, burrows, runways or damaged goods including food.

Mice have good senses except for sight as they can not see clearly beyond six inches (15 cm).  Mice are capable of squeezing through an opening as small as 1/4 of an inch or 6 mm in diameter.  They are excellent climbers and can run up most roughened walls.  Mice can swim, jump approximately twelve inches high (30.5 cm) and can jump down from about eight feet high (2.5 m).

A mouse needs about 1/10 ounce (2.8 grams) of dry food and 1/20 ounce (1.5 ml) of water every day.  Mice are nibblers and eat only small amounts of food at any one time or place.  One mouse will produce about 50 droppings each day.  A mouse will normally live less than a year.

Identification

Rats

Rats can live in burrows (nests) under or near ground level, usually around buildings.  Rats are excellent swimmers, climbers and jumpers.

Rats may travel up to 100 feet from their burrows.  They are essentially night travelers but can be seen during the day, especially in heavy infestations.  Rats are creatures of habit and will travel the same pathways to and from their burrows.  They prefer tight, narrow, dark pathways that run along the side of buildings or fences but occasionally runways through tall grass may be seen.  Signs of a rodent infestation may include any of the following: actual sightings of rats, rat droppings, holes or burrows in the ground, bite marks on wood, concrete, vegetables or garbage containers, tracks or pathways.

Identification

Control Measures

The best method of controlling these pests is through integrated pest management.  This can include preventative practices, monitoring, closing up holes in walls and floors, and responsible application of pesticides.  Licensed pest control companies can be found by doing an internet search.  If you choose to correct the pest problem on your own several steps need to be taken. By using a combination of these steps, they may eliminate the mouse infestation.

If you chose to try to control the rats on your own, then the following should be done.

1. Identify the type of infestation, the area used for shelter and the possible food sources.
2. Eliminate food sources by using tight fitting containers for food storage. Dispose of food wastes and garbage into plastic bags and put into tight containers made of metal or heavy plastic with lids.
3. Maintain good housekeeping and remove harbourage materials such as boxes, unused materials, and old equipment. Eliminate living areas and breeding sites.
4. Rodent proof the home by using tight seals or caulking and other structural barriers such as metal screening placed over dryer vents or other ventilation openings.
5. The house mouse can be easily trapped by using spring traps that are baited. Bait traps with rolled oats, peanut butter, bread, cheese, chocolate, or lightly cooked bacon.  These baits should be placed in areas the mouse travels most or where mouse droppings are seen.  Multi-catch traps and glue boards can also be used to catch mice.
6. Rat traps should be placed in areas near the burrow or on the pathway at a 90o angle with the trigger towards a solid object. Bacon, fresh tomato or peanut butter can be used for bait.  The bait can be tied to the trigger with a piece of thread Rodenticides are poisonous bait which are used to kill rodents.
7. Rodenticides should be used with caution. Bait stations are the places where rodenticides are used.  Before using the poisons, read the instructions carefully.  Poisons should be clearly labelled and kept in a safe and dry place.  All unused bait should be carefully thrown out with other wastes.
8. Place mouse traps or bait stations in areas close to where the rodents live or where droppings are found so traps are accessible (approximately 2 feet apart).
9. Check traps daily and remove mice as soon as possible. Dead rodents should be picked up with a plastic bag or gloves, placed into a bag and put out for garbage pick-up.  Rubber gloves should be worn when handling or cleaning up droppings. For a full list of safety precautions when cleaning heavy infestations visit cdc.gov/rodents/cleaning/index.html
10. Due to the poison, some rats may become confused and appear to wander during the day. In general, rats will die in their burrows.  Dead rodents should be picked up with a plastic bag or gloves and put out for garbage pick-up.
11. Monitor and evaluate the success of your efforts, other strategies may need to be used in order to find the one that works best for your situation.