All posts in “filth”

Clutter

Clutter in and around your home

Clutter in and around your home is an open ended invitation to come hang out if your a pests. Don’t allow cluttered areas because they are ideal in hiding pests including, scorpions, rodents and cockroaches. The ideal yard is free from trash, trees and bushes are away from structure and block walls and water is only on plants and not excessive. Wood is OK as long as it is on some type of raised platform and I would prefer it to not be against a block wall. The wood needs to breath and not hold moisture.

If your not using the wood its better to throw it out. Throw away trash, my theory is if you haven’t touched it in a year throw is out. Watch for cockroaches under garbage cans and don’t allow water to accumulate in containers which might promote mosquitoes. Mow the grass and keep the weeds down – We do weed treatments. 480-831-9328.

Clutter

Hoarding collecting

Hoarding collecting

Hoarding collecting, clutter, junk, trash or just way to much stuff. The problem with this is often the amount collected. To much often hides other issues like cockroaches and rodents. With filth comes secondary pest infestation, after cockroaches and rodents may come parasites and flies. If you know me at all, flies are the biggest yuck factor.

This disease is known as compulsive hoarding by excessive acquisition (collecting). And an inability or unwillingness to discard large quantities of objects that cover the living areas of the home and cause significant distress or impairment. I’ve only had to deal with once so far, a mobile home packed to the gills and impossible to actually get under control without a significant clean-up.

Hoarding collecting

What are the common pest issues in restaurants?

 

There are always issues with occasional invaders within building but lets just focus on the Top 2 – Flies and Cockroaches

 

Flies – the first and foremost most important is the inspection, after you decide on which species it then can treated. Each pest we deal with has unique and often times complex life cycles which must be addressed. House flies are common in building but are usually an issue with door being left open, while Fruit flies are a result of ripening fruits or decaying organic matter. So lets look at a few:

House flies – is there animal waste or garbage outside which could bring this pest to your door? If this is a home its easy to reduce house flies by just removing or cleaning up animal waste. If this is a restaurant, just how close is the garbage or dumpster? Is the lid closed, this in itself could reduce flies and scavenging birds and animals.

Fruit flies – Drains are the biggest culprit, they need to be clean and screens should be in place. Just pouring bleach into a drain will never work, the scum collects on the sidewalls and just pouring bleach will only maybe touch the surface of the scum. Phorid flies prefer areas like cracks and crevices and are similar to Fruit flies in liking decaying organic matter. The product of choice should be a scum eater, like a bio agent. I love those products because they eat grease which often builds up in somewhat hidden areas. Don’t forget areas like mops or kitchen equipment.

Bottle or Flesh flies, if you encounter these it is often associated with dead rodents or decaying matter.

Cockroaches – both German and American can create some issues within restaurants. American or lots of people call them Sewer Roaches, usually associated with drains and grease traps. So keeping the place clean is essential. German Roaches are probably those ones that cause the most sleepness nights to owners, they can be brought in via boxes or materials and can quickly set up shop. Cleaniness is important but these roaches are experts at muliplying and taking advantage of every single opportunity. If you see one there are probably hundreds, just take my advice and call a Pro right away. You need the right tools and the knowledge and you need to get a handle on this ASAP.

Don’t forget it is about the inspection, followed up by detection and then treatment and prevention. (BASF flies Smartsolutions guide)

 

Photo by PPMA

Photo by PPMA

 

 

Drains can be a cause of filth flies.

Drains can be a cause of filth flies.

 

probestpestmanagementIMAG0281     When cleaning, it is important to get to all the out of the way places. Why is that important, because bugs are going to hide in areas where it is dark and has lots of food potential. This drain has serious and potential problems just waiting to happen, filth flies are just one that could cause a serious and buggy problem. . The problem is that the water pipe is broken and allowing the water to drip outside the drain box. If this is the soda machine overflow pipe then all the sugars are going to cause even more issues. Time to get into the mess and fix it properly.

How the bugs get in? Part 3

How the bugs get in? Part 3 – This part will talk about keeping them out.

 

I watch a lot of those Police, Forensic, True Detective type shows and I think the reason I do this is because I like to figure out the clues. I think “if I was a bug how would I get in”? Then I use those clues to come up with the plan of attack, without the inspection there would be no clues, no insights and no plan of attack.

So from Part 1 and Part 2, we see the problem and now my recommendations to stop the American (sewer) Roaches from continuing to get into the facility. Install screens and make sure to put water into the S-trap or P-traps whatever you may call it. I also noticed a grease trap outside the back door, after I had made this observation it became obvious where these roaches were spending their time.

    There is plenty of room inside the lids and the top and sides for roaches to hide and disgusting as it may be plenty of food for them to eat – remember what they need to survive – food, shelter and water – the trifecta for roaches. So that P-trap or S-trap becomes essential in keeping gases and them out of the building. They also have drain net or baskets to keep foreign debris from getting into the grease trap, I once saw a fork and drinking glass inside a grease trap – no idea how that worked itself way down into that trap.

Book em Dano I mean Keith!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just the facts please…. provide info to expedite the treatment!

Just the facts please…. provide info to expedite the treatment!

Today I received a new lead from an online referral site and I’ll tell you I love getting referrals but I need more information. So here is a list of things to tell the bug guy when they show up at your home.

  1. When you call the office please tell the receptionist what you’re experiencing, for example are you being bitten. It is really important to answer the questions like Who, what, where,  when, why and how. To me its almost like being a detective, we need all the information so that we can make an intelligent recommendation on treatment.
  2. After receiving the information the technician comes up with the treatment plan and discusses this with the homeowner.
  3. We have talked about this before but before the technician arrives please reduce clutter and vacuum the area (if you have a bag vacuum please throw it away). I remember years ago in Florida, someone had vacuumed and put the entire vacuum with bag into the closet. I was amazed at the numbers of fleas in the closet and elsewhere in the home, but they were concentrated within that closet.
  4. A lot of the treatment plans may include a followup visit – remember this occurrence took time to build up and probably will take time to completely solve it. Don’t think for one minute that we are magicians and can make this outbreak disappear overnight, won’t happen…. This usually surprises me the most, even after discussing this with some customers they are upset that they still might see the occasional roach or two. I learned many years ago, we attempt to eradicate at least 97% on the first visit to get control but depending on a variety of circumstances this number may change. Sanitation is a leading cause of failure, if the place has grease or oil everywhere all the pesticide in the world won’t change the outcome. The pesticide will lose it efficacy and the roaches will have plenty to eat and not be affected by the product.
  5. Work with the technician and follow any advice, he has probably seen it all so it won’t be a big surprise to him. Clean behind the stove and refrigerator yearly, pay particular attention to the fan motor (warm and probably close to the overflow pan).

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