As the weather cools down, hungry and cold pests are looking for food, warmth and shelter, and your hospitality venue ticks all the boxes! Learn more about how to keep your business compliant and safe from uninvited pests this autumn in today’s Hivemind blog.
What questions will this article answer?
Why do hospitality venues attract pests in autumn?
As the weather cools down in autumn, pests seek out warmth and shelter to survive the harsh winter conditions.
Rodents
Rodents are noisy, hungry and unhygienic, and leave a huge mess behind.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches spread diseases and chew through food packaging with their sharp teeth.
Ants
Ants contaminate surfaces and their bites can sting and trigger allergies.
Integrated pest management for hospitality venues
A personalised pest management program for your venue can be accessed easily by logging into our 24/7 online portal.
Choose Allstate for tailored and effective hospitality pest management
We’re available 24/7 for urgent advice and modern, innovative and safe pest control management to all suburbs of Adelaide.
Why do hospitality venues attract pests in autumn?
Though most pests usually have peak active seasons, hospitality venues unfortunately don’t get a break from the ongoing threat of a pest outbreak.
As the weather cools down in autumn, pests seek out warmth and shelter to survive the harsh winter conditions.
With hospitality venues having an abundance of food resources, water and shelter, it’s no wonder that they’ll be an ideal target for hungry, cold pests such as rodents, cockroaches and ants.
Unfortunately, this means your venue could be at risk of breaching government health and safety standards and turn away guests, patrons and employees alike, unless you take the necessary steps to keep the pests away.
Rodents
They’re noisy, hungry and unhygienic, and leave a huge mess behind.
Rats and mice are a feared pest in homes and hospitality venues alike. With their ever-growing teeth, they’ll constantly gnaw at not only food supplies, but also walls, electrical wiring and timber furniture, resulting in costly damage.
In addition to this, their fur, saliva and droppings contain a range of nasty germs and diseases – not the items that you’d want on your menu!
Signs of a rodent infestation
- As nocturnal pests, you’ll be more likely to see rodents in the evenings, when hosting your evening and nighttime guests
- Rodent droppings look like black rice grains, ranging from 3-18mm long
- Look for food scraps and crumbs lying scattered around, and spilled food from ripped packaging
- Listen out for squeaking, thumping, scratching and gnawing sounds coming from your roof and walls
Stop a rodent rampage at your venue
- Maintain excellent hygiene standards, including frequent handwashing and thoroughly cleaning your venue, including surfaces, dining and preparation areas
- Regularly inspect and cover all access points on your roof. Check vents and chimneys, and underneath doors as well
- Ensure that waste is properly stored and covered
- Regular yard maintenance removes hiding spots for rodents, so if you have plants, trees and shrubs, keep them well trimmed. Keep lawns mowed and tidy and remove piles of vegetation
Professional rodent management
Allstate uses targeted rodent baits and physical traps to control rowdy rodents at your venue.
Worried about rats in your kitchen? Speak to an expert today.
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Cockroaches
Known for spreading diseases, the sight of cockroaches is a worrying sign for hospitality venues. With their strong jaws and sharp teeth, cockroaches also cause damage by chewing through food packaging and even dining furniture. By contaminating clean surfaces, your patrons and employees could face health risks such as diarrhoea and gastroenteritis from being at your venue.
How to spot a cockroach outbreak
- You notice cockroaches scurrying around, especially in the evenings, as they are nocturnal
- Cockroach droppings resemble black coffee grounds
- You see moulted outer skins scattered around the floor
- Eggs are normally well hidden, but are dark brown coloured and up to 11mm long
Avoiding a cockroach contamination
- Practice proper food preparation, handling and storage
- Keep all surfaces and floors clean and disinfect regularly, including kitchen stovetops, ovens, microwaves,
- refrigerators, freezers, cupboards, pantries, preparation benches, sinks, dining tables and chairs, floors and toilets
- Practice proper waste management, ensuring that rubbish is stored in tightly sealed bags and bins
- Keep equipment and containers off the floor
- Inspect the building regularly for leaks in plumbing and fix them quickly
- Seal off all potential entry points
Professional cockroach management
Our highly trained Allstate pest control technicians use a combination of cockroach insecticide sprays, control dust and gel baits to deter creepy cockroaches from your venue.
Ants
From stovetops to toilet seats, ants march far and wide to forage for food. They encounter many different types of bacteria, viruses and bugs on their adventures and spread them all over your venue if left unchecked. What’s more, their bites can sting and trigger allergies.
Identifying an ant outbreak
- You notice ants marching along well-defined trails
- Carpenter ants nest in timber structures and will leave behind piles of wood shavings on the floor, also known as frass
Tips to keep ants away from your venue
- Practice proper food storage, keep supplies tightly sealed inside cupboards and pantries
- Clear away food spills and crumbs from floors and surfaces immediately
- Regularly disinfect food preparation and dining areas
- Avoid leaving dirty utensils, dishes and cutlery unwashed in the sink
- Look for potential entry points and seal them
- Mow any outdoor areas regularly and remove fallen or rotten fruit, as well as piles of vegetation
- Check that rubbish bins and skips have properly fitted lids and keep waste sealed in sturdy bags
Professional ant control
At Allstate, our technicians use a combination of chemical baits, targeted insecticide and ant control dust treatments to combat annoying ant outbreaks.
Don’t let an army of ants disturb your guests. Speak to an expert today.
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Integrated pest management for hospitality venues
Managing pests at a busy and often large hospitality venue can seem complex and overwhelming, but it forms a critical part of your ongoing business operations.
With an understanding that every venue is unique in its location, needs and risks, Allstate offers a tailored yet approach to pest management that is ideal for busy hospitality managers and owners.
Our Integrated Pest Management program is designed to keep your venue pest-free and running smoothly for the safety and comfort of guests, patrons and employees alike.
You’ll have a dedicated pest technician who will oversee your venue. Your technician is responsible for assessing your venue for potential risks of pest outbreaks, as well as the integrity of any existing pest control systems.
With this information, they’ll propose a pest management plan and schedule regular inspections to ensure that you remain compliant with Food Safety Standard HACCP and Quality Standard ISO 9001.
All up-to-date recommendations, inspection reports and compliance documentation can be accessed easily at your convenience by logging into our 24/7 online portal. You can also use the portal for fast communication with your pest technician to report new issues.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to Allstate for a comprehensive pest assessment at your venue and avoid getting caught out with a costly infestation.
Choose Allstate for tailored and effective hospitality pest management
With the constant threat of pest outbreaks at hospitality venues, it’s essential to be covered by the most reliable pest management solutions to keep your business running smoothly.
Locally operated since 1986, Allstate has provided high quality pest control services to homes and businesses in all suburbs of Adelaide.
Available 24/7 for urgent advice, our highly trained pest technicians are fully equipped with modern pest-detecting tools and innovative, non-toxic treatments, which can be seamlessly integrated into a personalised pest management program for your venue.
Covered by comprehensive warranty, our pest management program will ensure that your venue stays open for business and compliant to government regulations for the long haul.
