If you’re a small business owner you know that the warm weather usually means an uptick in business. This is especially true if you operate a restaurant, cafe, or other business in the foodservice industry. With summer right around the corner, it’s important to take steps now to help prevent a pest issue before it becomes a real problem. The team at Eagle Pest Services is here to help business owners like you prepare for the warmer weather and the pests that it brings.

Stinging Insects

There’s nothing worse than trying to enjoy a refreshing summertime treat just to be bothered by the threat of pesky stinging insects. For business owners, especially those with outdoor patio spaces, stinging insects can be dangerous for customers. Not to mention this may give them a negative impression of your business.

When designing your businesses’ outdoor space, you can take steps to help rid your patio of stinging insects. Because wasps and bees are attracted to bright colors, consider decorating your patio space with muted, neutral colors. Wasps are predatory and often hunt other insects for food. Fill planters with insect-repelling plants like scented geraniums or citronella grass. This will help keep other insects away so that wasps are less likely to hunt in your outdoor patio space.

Wasps often build their nests under overhangs and inside of cracks in a building’s exterior. As the weather begins to warm, inspect the exterior of your business for any cracks in the bricks, cement sidewalks, building foundation, or siding. If you do come across any cracks or holes that may act as space for wasps to build nests, fill them right away with caulk or cement depending on where the crack is.

Flies & Gnats

Flies and gnats can cause problems for your business both indoors and outdoors. These pesky insects can be a real nuisance to your employees and your customers. This can be particularly dangerous for your business and the safety of your customers as flies are known to transmit pathogens such as salmonella and typhoid.

To help prevent flies from infiltrating your business, keep all fresh foods on display in sealed display cases and wipe down all surfaces multiple times a day. If your business serves fruits, smoothies, ice cream or other sweet treats, make sure you wipe down tables immediately after customers exit to avoid attracting flies. Make sure to empty all trash cans in your business at least once a day since old food can also attract these pests. 

Ants & Roaches

When it comes to your business’s floors, beware of ants and roaches. Out of all of the pests, cockroaches are arguably the most disgusting for a customer to encounter in your business. Ants and roaches are both attracted to the foods in our garbage cans and scraps that fall to the floor. For that reason, to avoid a roach or ant problem this year, make sure you are regularly emptying all garbage cans and sweeping/mopping floors daily.

In outdoor spaces where food is served, ants can be relentless. Make sure any outdoor garbage containers are sealed with a lid to help avoid attracting ants. You’ll also want to rinse off your patio with water regularly. This will not only help rid the space of any food scraps but will also help wash away pollen, dirt and other allergens from the space.

Mosquitoes

One of the most iconic insects that invade with the onset of warm weather is the mosquito. With the arrival of warm weather, your business will most certainly see an increase in patio-dwelling customers and pesky, blood-sucking mosquitoes. While mosquitoes can be difficult to control entirely, you can take steps to help limit the number of mosquitoes present outside of your business. Each day, inspect all outdoor spaces and pour out any standing water that has collected. You can also utilize citronella grass, scented geranium plants, or other mosquito-repelling plants to help rid your space of these annoying little insects.

For all of your business’s pest control needs, contact the professionals at Eagle Pest Services today. With your company reputation on the line, it’s more important than ever to hire a pest management team that knows the ins and outs of pest control. The Eagle Pest Services team works tirelessly to ensure that your business is pest-free and that you are well-educated so you can avoid another infestation. Call us today to schedule a consultation by dialing 1-888-616-8739.