Owning a restaurant is a lot of work. The last thing you need is a pest infestation. Not only does an infestation suck up vital hours of your time, but it puts your staff and customers at risk. Eating establishments play a vital role in Huntsville as pillars of the community. Protecting your Huntsville restaurant from pests helps keep that pillar strong.
Are Roaches Inside My Restaurant?
One of the most notorious pests in restaurants is cockroaches. Cockroaches are insects that have flattened, oval-shaped bodies with a long set of antennae. There are thousands of species worldwide, but the German cockroach is one of the most common species of cockroach to invade Huntsville restaurants.
German cockroaches are the most problematic type of cockroach in Huntsville; they prefer to live indoors and reproduce rapidly once inside. They are light brown with two darker brown stripes on their backs. They are capable of flying, but usually prefer to scurry close to walls. Some signs of a German cockroach infestation in your Huntsville restaurant include small roach droppings that resemble black pepper, a musty odor, and light brown roach eggs glued to the underside of furniture.
Potential Problems Roach Infestations Could Cause
Cockroaches are more than a nuisance pest. A cockroach infestation in Huntsville can pose a serious threat to your health and the health of your customers. Cockroaches are known to carry and spread over 30 diseases and multiple parasites. Cockroach legs are covered in small hairs that collect particles of every substance they walk across. Cockroaches routinely crawl through sewage, decay, and garbage. When roaches walk across your table or counters, they leave behind this filth. Some illnesses they spread include salmonellosis, gastroenteritis, and typhoid fever.
Salmonellosis is an infection caused by salmonella bacteria; it is often spread via contaminated food and water. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, chills, and abdominal pain.
Gastroenteritis is characterized by intestinal upset that can be viral or bacterial. It is spread through contaminated food, water, and surfaces. The symptoms of gastroenteritis include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever.
Typhoid fever is a bacterial disease caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria. Typhoid is transmitted by other infected people or contaminated food and water. The symptoms of typhoid fever include high fever, headache, belly pain, and either constipation or diarrhea.
Cockroaches can potentially expose your customers and employees to harmful pathogens. Moreover, cockroach sightings can lead to negative reviews and hurt your restaurant’s reputation. Keeping cockroaches out of your restaurant is vital to your success.
Six Tips To Keeping Your Restaurant Pest Free
It is clear to see why any conscientious restaurateur would want to avoid cockroaches. Unfortunately, cockroaches are not the only pest to frequent restaurants. Rodents, ants, flies, and weevils are all common pests found in restaurants. Luckily, these are some easy steps every restaurant owner can take to keep their establishment pest-free:
- Keep food stored in airtight containers.
- Clean surfaces frequently, especially spills.
- Sweep floors daily to avoid crumbs and dust.
- Do not let dishes pile up in the sink.
- Maintain window and door screens.
- Seal cracks and openings with silicone-based caulk.
These six simple tips can prevent unwanted guests in your restaurant. Sometimes prevention is the best form of restaurant pest control.
Commercial Pest Control For Restaurants In Huntsville
If an active infestation is already underway in your Huntsville restaurant, then finding commercial pest control near you is the next step. Huntsville pest control is in good hands with EnviroGuard. At EnviroGuard, we offer exceptional treatments that are eco-friendly. With over 40 years of combined experience, we offer commercial pest control extermination and preventative treatments. Protect your business and your patrons with EnviroGuard today!