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SUMMER PEST CONTROL FOR RESTAURANTS

SUMMER PEST CONTROL FOR RESTAURANTS

by | Jan 5, 2026 | Blog, Rats

Summer is the peak season for rodents, flies and cockroaches, but you certainly don’t want them dining at your restaurant. Check out this Hivemind blog and to learn more about summer pest control for restaurants, while staying compliant with food standards.

What questions will this article answer?

The top 3 summer restaurant pests you need to watch out for

While the constant threat of many different pests is high in any food venue, there are 3 that stand out in summer: flies, cockroaches and rodents. Why? Because along with the ample variety of food sources available, the increased heat and humidity provide ideal conditions for breeding and survival.

Flies

Flies have unhygienic foraging habits which lead to contamination of food, preparation and dining areas. They can spread a range of unsavoury and even dangerous germs such as salmonella and parasitic worms. Worse, you might notice creamy maggots crawling over your waste disposal areas during peak breeding season.

 

Cockroaches

Fast, nimble and clever at hiding, cockroaches are notorious for carrying a range of diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid fever, resulting in diarrhoea and food poisoning – not the ideal dining experience that you want for your customers. If left unchecked, an army of cockroaches can even cause physical damage to your restaurant by chewing through fabric, paper, furniture and plastic items.

 

Rodents

Being most active in the evenings, scurrying rodents can cause irrecoverable reputation damage in a restaurant. Not only do they contaminate food supplies, but they also gnaw away at walls, pipes, timber furniture, and electrical conduits. This can lead to an increased risk in power supply interruptions and fire hazards.

Preventing pests in restaurants

In Australia, every hospitality facility is required to comply with Standard 3.2.2 – Food Safety Practices and General Requirements, which states that pests must be stopped from entering and living in your premises and business vehicles. Any restaurants in breach of these requirements could face hefty fines and penalties.

Although these consequences can be quite serious, the good news is that pest outbreaks are completely avoidable if you are proactive, vigilant and understand pest behaviour.

Here’s some ways that you can keep flies, rodents and cockroaches away from your restaurant:

  • Clean your property daily, including all indoor and outdoor areas, as well as an associated vehicles
  • Regularly inspect your property to identify and seal over all holes, gaps and access points, including roofing, walls, ceilings, floors and plumbing
  • Keep windows and doors closed when possible
  • Install weather strips, self-closing or air curtains at doors
  • Install and maintain mesh screens on doors and windows
  • Ensure that food is kept well away from pest control devices
  • Install pest control devices at entrances and exits
  • Keep food preparation areas enclosed, and only prepare low-risk items in open areas
  • Where possible, use small servery openings which can be closed and secured
  • Keep food displays enclosed behind protective guards, fridges or cabinets
  • Ensure that unused food and waste is stored securely
  • Dispose rubbish regularly
  • Fix plumbing problems promptly
  • Educate staff on maintaining hygiene standards and reporting pest sightings
  • Rotate stored food supplies regularly
  • Seek professional commercial pest control advice

Keep damaging pests away from your restaurant. Get expert advice today.

or

8371 1277

Professional summer pest control for restaurants

Reducing the likelihood of a summer pest infestation at your restaurant starts with identifying, assessing and eliminating the risks which are unique to your venue.

 

Which pests do I need to worry about?

The first step is to carefully analyse the environment around your site to get an idea of which types of pests may be lurking, or likely to be a problem, in your restaurant.

 

How can I stop pests from entering?

We’ll then draw on our understanding of pest behaviour to prevent them from coming inside by using targeted treatments and highlighting specific areas that require regular inspections. This can include less frequented areas, such as behind and underneath appliances, inside cupboards, as well as packaging.

 

Where should I put the pest control for commercial kitchens?

Our team will work closely with you to determine the best locations to install pest control devices and apply treatments while maintaining a safe distance away from food, dining and preparation areas. These designated spots will be clearly marked on a site map.

 

How long will the pest control be effective?

Depending on the types of pests and their activity, your restaurant’s location, food handling and pest control methods, the timing of regular inspections, monitoring and replenishment of treatments will differ between venues.

 

What types of pest control are used in restaurants?

At Allstate, we manage rodent, cockroach and fly outbreaks with the following treatments:

  • Tamper-proof bait stations
  • Insecticide sprays or fogging
  • Rodenticide sprays
  • Fly killer units installed at entrances
  • Fly and rodent traps
  • Glue boards
  • Air curtains

Protect your family from wasps. Speak to an expert today.

or

8371 1277

Integrated commercial pest management program online portal

Running a restaurant will keep you busy enough, but learning how to prevent flies in commercial kitchens is yet another task to add to your already long to-do list.

If this sounds like a lot of added pressure to your workload, we hear you. That’s why Allstate’s Integrated Pest Management online portal was created.

 

Pest management at your fingertips

Keeping workplaces safe and compliant without the hassle of bulky paperwork, our innovative online portal can be accessed from anywhere, at any time. You can view compliance documentation, modify your pest management plan, update inspection reports, upload pest sightings and contact your pest technician directly just by logging in.

 

Avoid delays in treating pest outbreaks

This means that you can raise alerts and get a fast response from a pest technician who is familiar with your business and receive accurate advice to resolve problems promptly, before they escalate.

Choose Allstate for reliable restaurant pest control services

Summer’s here, but the pests don’t have to be at your restaurant! With over 35 years’ experience in managing rodents, flies and cockroaches in all suburbs of Adelaide, Allstate has a proven track record of exceptional food service compliance pest control.

Even better, our Integrated Pest Management online portal makes pest control more efficient, convenient and effective than ever, so you can focus on keeping hungry diners happy, all summer long.

Our expert team is ready to help you now

or

8371 1277

HOW TO KEEP FLIES AND WASPS AWAY FROM YOUR BBQ AND OUTDOOR EVENTS

HOW TO KEEP FLIES AND WASPS AWAY FROM YOUR BBQ AND OUTDOOR EVENTS

by | Jan 5, 2026 | Blog, Fleas

Planning backyard parties and lazy days by the barbeque this summer? Make they’re memorable for all the right reasons. In this Hivemind blog, we give you key tips for keeping flies and wasps away from your BBQ and outdoor events.

What questions will this article answer?

What attracts flies and wasps?

With an irresistible array of enticing sights and smells at your next outdoor event or BBQ, flies and wasps are naturally going to be keen to join you… and bring their friends along.

Flies have a keen appetite for sweet and fermented liquids including juice, soft drink, alcohol and syrup, as much as they do for rotting organic waste such as meat, fruit, vegetables, compost and food scraps. They even lay their eggs in rubbish due to the high nutrient density. Flies are also drawn to flowering plants with a sweet, strong scent such as sunflowers, marigolds, zinnias, and lavender, as well as fruit trees, grapevines and berry bushes.

Sunflowers are popular with wasps, who also love bright coloured plants and flowers. Like flies, wasps are highly attracted to sugary drinks and protein rich meats served at BBQs and outdoor events. They also target sweet, fruity or floral scented perfumes. Wasps look for hidden but easily accessible places to build their nests, which could be in your roof or wall cavities, underneath eaves, hanging from a branch, or inside a hollow log.

Don’t let flies and wasps spoil your party. Get expert advice today.

or

8371 1277

How to keep flies and wasps away from your BBQ

There’s never a time when you want flies and wasps hanging around your BBQ or outdoor event, but you can prepare the area beforehand to make it as uninviting for them as possible. Here’s how:

 

Cover your food and rubbish bins

Most flying insects will be able to detect even the faintest of enticing smells at your next outdoor event. Don’t give hungry flies and wasps an opportunity to visit by keeping food and drinks covered wherever possible. We also recommend sealing off and securing waste areas and compost heaps, as well as pet food and water bowls.

 

Use fans

With the added advantage of keeping you and your guests cool, outdoor fans don’t just circulate air. Adjusting your fans to a higher setting will create strong air currents to prevent many flying insects from zooming around at your party, particularly if you position them strategically in places with high fly and wasp activity.

 

Use fans

With the added advantage of keeping you and your guests cool, outdoor fans don’t just circulate air. Adjusting your fans to a higher setting will create strong air currents to prevent many flying insects from zooming around at your party, particularly if you position them strategically in places with high fly and wasp activity.

 

Citronella

Unpopular with both flies and wasps, citronella plants have a fresh, distinctive fragrance and add decorative greenery to your backyard. Whether you grow it in a pot and move it around, or you plant it directly in the ground, citronella plants create a natural barrier against many pesky insects.

If gardening isn’t an option for you, the good news is that citronella is also available as an essential oil, which can be mixed with water in a pump bottle and used as a surface spray. You can also burn citronella-laced candles.

 

Natural ways to deter flies and wasps

Besides citronella, there are plenty of other pungent plants which overwhelm the olfactory senses of flies and wasps and create enough confusion to keep them away from your party. These include peppermint, spearmint, basil, thyme, rosemary, lavender, clove and lemongrass.

 

Homemade surface sprays

Mix various household liquids together and apply them as a surface spray at entrances, windows, floors and walls. Try the following combinations to see which works best for you:

  • Tea tree oil and vinegar
  • Hydrogen peroxide and water
  • Mouthwash and water

 

Citrus fruits

Containing strong-smelling compounds which irritate their respiratory systems, zesty citrus fruits such as oranges, limes and lemons are a wonderful fly and wasp deterrent. You can even pierce the fruits with cloves for an added spicy and pungent kick.

Long-term protection against flies and wasps

Even when it’s not party season, you can still take the following steps to make your home and outdoor entertaining areas less welcoming for flies and wasps.

 

Remove damaged wood from your yard

Wasp nests have a tough outer shell made from wood that has been stripped and chewed. You should remove rotten or decayed wooden sleepers, tree trunks, fencing, firewood or furniture lying around in your yard.

 

Replica wasp nests

They say that imitation is the best form of flattery, and in this case, it keeps the wasps at bay! With their strong territorial nature, a scouting wasp trying to scope out a new place for a new nest won’t bother considering your home if they think that there’s already another colony living there.

 

Professional pest control

Don’t put yourself in danger trying to tackle a swarm of aggressive wasps this summer. At Allstate, we’ve got the right equipment, training and knowledge for a safe way to remove wasp nests.

Protect your family from wasps. Speak to an expert today.

or

8371 1277

Professional fly and wasp management

For your own safety, we always recommend staying well away from wasps and any suspected wasp nests – you’re best leaving them for pest control. However, if you’ve tried a range of DIY methods to combat flies and wasps without much success, it’s time to call in the experts.

 

Flies

Though flies tend to be more of a concern in commercial facilities or hospitality venues, you may well find yourself dealing with an unexpected outbreak at home, particularly in summer, which is their peak breeding season. It’s during this time when you’ll find the most female flies buzzing around looking for suitable breeding sites.

At Allstate, our priority when controlling a fly outbreak is to first locate and remove all potential breeding sites. From there, we’ll reduce the fly population quickly by using a combination of fly baits, aerosol sprays, fogging and dusting powder.

 

Wasps

Though they can vary in size, it’s often not hard to spot a wasp nest due to their distinct appearance. They can often grow to around the size of a basketball, have a grey-brown colour and a papery appearance.

Our team will inspect your entire property, including your yard, for all wasp nests, identifying even the smaller, newer ones. Some of them might even be located underground, or in compost heaps.

We’ll then apply a targeted insecticidal dust or foam directly into the entry points on these hives, ideally in the cooler and less active hours of the morning or evening.

Choose Allstate for effective fly and wasp management

With a summer calendar jam-packed with parties, outdoor BBQs and fun in the sun, you won’t have time to waste dealing with frustrating flies and wasps in your yard.

Instead of taking matters into your own hands and risking your safety, Allstate will not only help you get rid of flies and wasps at your outdoor party, but all year round.

Our team of pest control technicians is always ready to handle all types of flying insects with protective clothing, the right equipment and targeted treatments. Whether you’re in a residential, commercial or industrial setting, we’ll come to you in any Adelaide suburb.

Our expert team is ready to help you now

or

8371 1277