What are the common kitchen pests to watch out for?
- Ants
- Cockroaches
- Rodents
The kitchen is the place where food is prepared. Where there is food around, there is the risk of pests attraction, especially if pests have easy access to your kitchen. Whether it’s a kitchen in your home, restaurant, office, or school, it’s important to know the common kitchen pests to watch out for. Take steps to prevent annoying, damaging, and costly pest infestions by implementing high standards of sanitation and hygiene. Keep on reading to learn more!
Ants
Ants are one of the most common household pests, and they can be commonly found in the kitchen. Ants are known for liking the sugar content of food, which is why you might find them near sweet foods, such as syrups! Since these pests need water, they might also be found near the sink.
Here are some of the reasons why you might find them in your kitchen:
- Having sugary and sticky food items
- Excess moisture source
- Improperly stored food
- Uncovered garbage
Unfortunately, ants are capable of causing food contamination and spreading diseases like Salmonella, E. coli, and Shigella. For this reason, you don’t want ants to come and go in your kitchen, especially if you have a food business.
Ants leave scent trails behind when they go through places as this allows them to follow each other. That’s why you will often see them walk in lines. You can follow the trail to find out where they’re coming from. You’ll need the help of a pest management team to find and get rid of the ant colony.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches can be found in poorly cleaned and sanitized kitchens, and can be a reason for your health code violation if you’re managing a restaurant. But how do they get into your kitchen?
Here are some of the things that can attract cockroaches:
- Food debris
- Moisture
- Clutter
- Warmth and heat
Cockroaches can hitchhike in deliveries and also get inside holes that give them access to your kitchen. They look for a steady supply of food and water to survive. Cockroaches are problematic because they can spread disease-causing pathogens. Their droppings can leave dark stains and trigger asthma attacks, too.
One of the most effective ways to prevent a cockroach infestation is to properly store food and practice proper cleaning. If you already have a cockroach problem, a pest management team can help you solve the problem effectively.
Rodents
Mice and rats are commonly found in kitchens since they’re also enticed by food and nesting options in this area! They can climb and squeeze themselves into small openings to get into your kitchen. Whether it’s through holes or gaps in walls, floors, or windows, they will find a way to get in for the following reasons:
- Food and water source
- Food debris
- Nesting location
Some of the usual food sources of rodents in your kitchen include grains, rice, and cereal which can be found in your cupboards. However, they don’t have a preference of where they will get their food from, so garbage is just fine too. Rodents also attracted to dark and damp areas, so they might gather under the sink.
Urine and feces from rodents can be a cause of food and water contamination. Rodents can also spread pathogens, such as leptospirosis and salmonella. Rodents also carry smaller pests with them, such as ticks, fleas, and mites. They like to gnaw and can cause damage to your kitchen.
To get rid of rodents in your kitchen, store all food properly and get rid of nesting materials, such as cardboard, paper, fabric, or rugs. Seal entry points so they can’t come in. Pest control teams will help you remove rodents if you have an infestation.
Key Takeaway
These common kitchen pests to watch out for may be small or look harmless, but they can cause many problems for you and others, such as contaminating food and water, spreading diseases, and causing damage to property!
The three things that will attract them to your kitchen are food, water, and a place for nesting, so make sure to implement higher standards when it comes to hygiene and sanitation and seal all entry points!
If you presently have a pest infestation in your kitchen, call us here at Topbest, so we can help you! As an experienced pest control and management company, we only use safe and effective methods to get rid of pests for good. We also offer FREE pest consultation in the Philippines.