Pest Control 101: Common Black Bugs Found in the Kitchen and How to Dispose of Them

How to stop bugs from infecting your kitchen?

1. Clean the area after using it.
2. Place your food in air-tight containers.
3. Seal all cracks and crevices that allow pests to enter your kitchen.
4. Don’t leave food and water on your pet’s bowl.

 

For many homeowners, the kitchen is one of the areas of their house that should always be in pristine condition and free of germs. They would buy numerous cleaning agents, tools, and even organizers just to ensure the overall neatness and freshness of the space.

In addition to these sanitation measures are the different pest control methods from the pesky rodents and bugs that invade the kitchen.

Such preventive measures regarding the area’s sanitation are only normal and should not be considered as an exaggeration. This is because the kitchen is the area in the house where the food is prepared and stored, meaning it should have a low level of bacteria build-up.

In the Philippines, there are specific insects that are extremely drawn to the kitchen area of a house due to the flavorful meals prepared in it.

But before you call the local pest control in your community, you must first know what these critters are and how to prevent them from invading your kitchen.

Lucky for you, there’s no need to look any further because this article has everything that you need to know about these pesky kitchen invaders.

All there is left for you to do is to keep on reading.

Ants

Unfortunately, the ants found in the Philippines are present throughout the whole year, unlike in other countries where ants only come out every summer.

Even though these tiny critters commonly nest in the garden, they still travel to the inside of the house to hunt for food.

Despite their small size, ants can still cause harm to people by bringing them the discomfort that their bite could inflict. Apart from this, eating food pieces that are contaminated by ants can possibly result in food poisoning.

Cockroaches

Even though cockroaches are not technically black in color, it is still a dark toned insect that often lives and breeds in warm areas like the kitchen.

Aside from the unpleasant odor that they emit which are often absorbed by food products and other items, cockroaches can also cause infectious diseases. Common diseases caused by cockroaches are salmonellosis, gastroenteritis, and typhoid.

What is even more alarming about cockroaches is their ability to breed quickly.

 

Ways to Prevent Pests in the Kitchen

They say that prevention is better than cure; the same thing could be said for maintaining a pest-free kitchen.

To help you out, here are some methods you can do to stop pests from being drawn to your kitchen:

Immediately Clean the Area

Since pests are drawn to the food stored and eaten in the kitchen, it is only normal to clean it after every use. A specific way of practicing this is by wiping right away all of the food crumbs and liquid spills on the dining table, cabinets, and even on the floor.

Leaving the dishes undone in the sink could still draw in pests which is why it is essential to clean the dishes right away and avoid letting it sit exposed for a period of time.

If there is any leftover food from the recent meal, position them right inside the refrigerator to prevent possible contamination.

Another aspect of the kitchen’s cleanliness is the trash bins because the leftover food pieces inside are very inviting to pests. In order to avoid such concerns, it is highly advisable to regularly take out the trash to avoid the wastes from accumulating in the area which could draw in pests.

Choose Your Food Products Based on Their Packaging

As much as possible, purchase food products that are packaged in jars or cans because these containers are extremely difficult for pests to contaminate.

Unfortunately, not all products available in the market are packaged in solid containers. For products like those, it is highly advised to store them in solid and air-tight containers because ants can still tear into plastic packets which food products are commonly stored in.

Check the Area for Possible Entrance   

Ants and cockroaches are small insects that can surely squeeze themselves through tiny cracks and openings.

While doing your regular kitchen clean-up, make sure to keep an eye out for small cracks on the walls where insects could enter. In the event that there is a possible entryway for pests, immediately mend the area.

Regularly Replace the Food and Water in the Pet’s Dish Bowl

Even dog foods are enticing to pests, which is why it is not ideal to let your pet’s food and water for a long time.

Not only will it draw in more pests, but also harm the health of your pet if they accidentally ingest bugs.

 

Key Takeaway

Ants and cockroaches often infest the kitchen due to the food supply stored within the area.

If you want to stop these pesky pests from contaminating your food, just follow the guidelines mentioned earlier and you’re all set to have an ant and cockroach-free kitchen.