94% of Americans say that they care about their lawn’s appearance. But the effort it takes sometimes to produce such a healthy lawn can seem out of reach, especially for busy professionals.

If you put even a bit of dedication into this project of lawn maintenance, your lush lawn will become a source of pride and a beautiful backdrop for outdoor enjoyment.

Then you will be able to invite people to your backyard parties without any compunction. How do you begin though? 

Well, we have laid out some tips below that you can add to your weekly list of things to do for lawn care, so keep reading. 

Soil Preparation

The foundation for a healthy lawn begins with proper soil preparation. Start by conducting a soil test to determine its pH level and nutrient content. 

Not sure how to take the pH level of your soil? Consider hiring landscapers or lawn services for this task. It’s important to start with a good base layer, otherwise, all your other efforts in lawn care will be for naught. 

If the pH level is too acidic or alkaline, amend the soil accordingly by adding lime or sulfur. Additionally, consider aerating the soil to improve its structure. It will also allow for better water and nutrient absorption (more on this below).

Again, make sure to do these tasks slowly over time. No need to get it all done in one weekend.

Choosing the Right Grass

Not every kind of grass will do well in every kind of climate or soil environment. That’s why you need to spend some time choosing the right grass.

Factors such as climate, sunlight exposure, and intended usage should be considered.

Cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and fescue thrive in northern regions with cold winters. While warm-season grasses like Bermuda grass and zoysia grass are better suited for southern climates with hot summers.

Research the grass varieties that are well-adapted to your specific region. This will help you meet your lawn’s needs in terms of durability and shade tolerance.

Another positive thing about choosing the right grass is that you will have to do less maintenance on it as it will be able to survive without much help or duress. If you are the lazier kind of homeowner, this should be music to your ears. 

Regular Mowing

Hire someone to mow your lawn weekly or have one of your children do it. Set your mower blade at the recommended height for your grass type. Ensure you do not cut more than one-third of the grass blade length at a time.

This promotes healthier root growth and prevents stress on the grass. It also reduces weed invasion.

Avoid mowing when the grass is wet to prevent clumping and uneven cutting. Alternate the mowing direction each time to avoid compacting the soil in the same patterns and promote upright growth.

Watering Techniques

Watering your lawn correctly is essential to keep it hydrated and vibrant. Deep and infrequent watering is preferable to frequent shallow watering. This is because it encourages the grassroots to grow deeper into the soil.

Watering in the early morning is ideal, as it allows the grass to dry during the day and minimizes the risk of disease.

To determine the right amount of water, use the “catch can” method. Place several empty cans around your lawn. Then measure the water collected after a designated watering session.

Aim for approximately one inch of water per week, including rainfall. Adjust the watering schedule as necessary based on weather conditions and the grass’s appearance.

Fertilization and Weed Control

Regular fertilization is essential for providing the necessary nutrients to your lawn. Choose a high-quality slow-release fertilizer. Apply it according to the recommended schedule for your grass type.

This will ensure a consistent and balanced nutrient supply, promoting healthy growth and vibrant color.

Weed control is also crucial in maintaining a pristine lawn. Implement pre-emergent herbicides in early spring to prevent weed seeds from germinating.

Spot-treat existing weeds with targeted herbicides or manually remove them, taking care to get the entire root system.

Aeration and Overseeding

Over time, lawns can become compacted, which restricts root growth and hinders nutrient absorption. This is even more true if you hold regular parties, have guests over, or your children and pets run amok on the lawns all week long. 

Aeration helps alleviate compaction by creating small holes in the soil, allowing air, water, and nutrients to reach the grassroots more effectively. Consider aerating your lawn annually or biennially, depending on the soil condition and usage.

Overseeding is the process of spreading grass seeds over existing turf to fill in bare patches and improve density. It helps rejuvenate thinning areas and enhances the overall appearance of your lawn.

Choose high-quality grass seeds that are compatible with your existing grass type. Follow the recommended seeding rates for optimal results.

Pest and Disease Management

Keeping pests and diseases at bay is crucial for maintaining a healthy lawn. Regularly inspect your lawn for signs of pests such as grubs, chinch bugs, or armyworms. Mole management is also crucial in this regard.

If an infestation is detected, contact pest control services immediately so they can treat the affected areas promptly with appropriate insecticides and fungicides. 

Diseases like Brown Patch or Dollar Spot can also affect the health and appearance of your lawn.

Proper watering, regular mowing, and avoiding excess nitrogen fertilization can help prevent the occurrence of diseases. 

Maintenance and Seasonal Care

Proactive lawn maintenance is essential throughout the year. Rake up leaves and debris regularly to prevent suffocation of the grass. Trim tree branches or shrubs that shade the lawn excessively to allow adequate sunlight penetration.

In autumn, conduct a thorough lawn cleanup, removing fallen leaves and debris. Consider overseeding and aerating during this time to prepare the lawn for the coming winter and promote healthy regrowth in the spring.

Lawn Edging and Borders

Adding defined edges and borders to your lawn not only enhances its overall appearance but also helps with maintenance. Use a spade or an edging tool to create clean lines along the edges of your lawn, separating it from flower beds, sidewalks, or driveways.

This prevents grass from encroaching into unwanted areas and gives your lawn a polished, well-maintained look.

Consider using natural materials like bricks, pavers, or decorative stones to create attractive borders. These materials not only provide a neat separation but also add visual interest and definition to your lawn.

Proper Weed Management

Weeds can quickly take over an otherwise healthy lawn if not properly managed. Then you will have a dandelion field in your home, rather than a green lawn.

Hand-pulling weeds is effective for small infestations, ensuring you remove the entire root system to prevent regrowth.

For larger weed problems, consider using selective herbicides that target specific types of weeds while leaving your grass unharmed. Follow the instructions carefully, apply the herbicides as directed, and avoid spraying on windy days to prevent drift and accidental damage to desirable plants.

Make sure to put up a sign on your lawn informing everyone that you are using insecticides, pesticides, or fungicides on your lawn. This way your neighbor’s pets or children will stay away from the lawn and not get sick from the chemicals. 

Regular Lawn Inspections

Performing regular inspections of your lawn allows you to identify issues early on and take appropriate action. Keep an eye out for signs of pests, diseases, or nutrient deficiencies.

Look for yellowing patches, discolored grass, thinning areas, or any unusual patterns that may indicate an underlying problem.

If you notice any abnormalities, consult with lawn care professionals or your local agricultural extension office for guidance. They can help diagnose the issue and recommend the most effective solutions to restore the health of your lawn.

Environmental Considerations

While maintaining a healthy lawn, it is important to be mindful of environmental impacts and sustainable practices. Minimize the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides by adopting organic alternatives.

Organic fertilizers, compost, and natural pest control methods can promote a healthier ecosystem and reduce the risk of chemical runoff into water sources.

Practice water conservation by adjusting your watering schedule based on weather conditions and utilizing efficient irrigation systems such as drip irrigation or smart controllers. Collect rainwater in barrels to use for watering during dry periods.

A Healthy Lawn Is Within Your Reach

With dedication and a commitment to regular maintenance, your healthy lawn will become the envy of the neighborhood. Your neighbors will then come and ask you for guidance on how to improve their lawns. 

If you are still searching for pest control services, then contact Amco Ranger today. Schedule your free no-obligation inspection. We are ready to help you protect your family, home, and yard from unwanted pests.

Has your beautiful, green lawn been ruined by crisscrossing lines of unseemly dirt mounds?

Unfortunately, these raised ridges are a sure sign of a lawn mole invasion. It’s one of the most frustrating occurrences for those who take their lawn care seriously.

Fortunately, even if you have lawn moles, there are measures you can take to get rid of them.

Whether you’re taking preventative caution to keep lawn moles out or trying to get rid of moles that have already taken up residence, read on to learn how to get rid of moles in your yard.

Methods for Getting Rid of Lawn Moles

Before we get into the hows and whys, here are the most common methods for riding your lawn of moles:

• Use a mole repellant
• Eliminate the moles’ food source
• Don’t overwater your lawn
• Use mole traps
• Use mole bait and poison.
• Plant mole-repellant plants and flowers
• Use ultrasonic mole-repellant stakes
• Try wind-chimes

Most of these methods can be quickly done by homeowners. However, if you’ve tried one or more of these without success, consider contacting an experienced pest control company.

Sometimes even the best DIY homeowner needs a little professional backup.

Eliminate Mole Food Sources

One of the most effective ways to get rid of moles is to make your lawn an undesirable home. How do you do this? Eliminate their food source.

While moles do feed on plant-destroying pests like grubs, they also eat beneficial insects like earthworms. As they pursue these food sources, moles tear through your plants’ root systems, causing extensive damage and unattractive mounding.

Removing earthworms may not be the best for your growing garden, but eliminating grubs is. Grubs are the larval form of most beetles. 

They add little to no value to your lawn and garden, so finding ways to limit them will help you in more ways than one.

Limit the moles’ food supply and eliminate grubs by heading to your local hardware store and grabbing products labeled to control ants, grubs, mole crickets, and other “lawn insects.”

As you starve the moles of their food source, they will move on to “greener pastures”…literally.

Avoid Over-Watering

Another helpful thing to realize is that earthworms are attracted to moist gardens and lawns. Over-watering your lawn and garden may attract more earthworms than needed, increasing your mole problem.

Earthworms and moles are especially drawn to moist lawns surrounded by otherwise dry areas. Most lawns thrive with only about 1 inch of water per week.

This amount can come from either rain or irrigation. If your lawn is getting more than 1 inch of water per week, re-assess the amount of moisture and adjust your watering habits.

Use Mole Repellant

Using lawn mole repellants is effective for mole management before or after they take up residence in your yard. Repellant granules, ready-to-sprays, and repellant stakes placed in-ground are all detestable to moles.

The main ingredient in most of these repellants is castor oil, a scent and taste that moles can’t stand. If you already have a mole infestation, apply these repellants monthly.

Typically, moles will relocate quickly once you have repellants in place; the castor oil permeates their homes.

Killing Moles

For all the animal lovers out there, we list killing lawn moles as a potential last resort. Unfortunately, if the previously listed methods are ineffective, you may need to kill these pests.

Trapping and baiting are the two ways to kill lawn moles.

Spring and fall are the best times to trap and bait lawn moles. Early spring trapping or baiting gives the added benefit of eliminating pregnant female moles.

Traps and bait need to be placed in a mole’s active runway.

You can recognize active mole runways as they run around the perimeter of your yard. If you’re unsure which are active runways, poke a finger-sized hole through one of the dirt tracks in your yard. If it is an active runway, the mole will have that hole repaired in 1-2 days.

Then you know you’ve found the right place to put bait or traps.

Using Mole Traps

One of the benefits of using traps for killing moles is the assurance that it’s working. You can see the evidence each time a trap is filled.

There are a variety of mole traps. Some include a messier spear design, and others are hands-free and draw no blood. There are also scissor traps, choker traps, or harpoon traps. The choice is yours based on preference or availability.

Live traps do exist for mole removal but require you to relocate the trapped mole. This can be tricky and, in some states, illegal. Make sure you know your state laws about pest or mole relocation before choosing the traps.

If you’re unsure which is best or which is which, talk to a reliable pest control company, and they can advise you. 

Using Mole Bait

Mole bait is placed in the active mole runways, simulating their food source (earthworms and grubs). Sprinkle or place the baited grubs or earthworms inside the mole tracks or just outside, where they are easily findable by the moles.

Moles will die within 12-24 hours of consumption. This usually happens inside their tracks where they feed, so you may not see when the moles die.

One common mole bait is the rodenticide warfarin. This chemical causes any rodents that ingest it to bleed internally. This bait is made for moles and placed in a worm-flavored gel that you can inject directly into the active mole track.

Injecting the rodenticide into the active track helps reduce the chance of another animal ingesting the poison.

Other mole baits contain zinc phosphide. When eaten by the mole, phosphine gas is released, which kills the mole within hours.

As with any pest poison, these products are also potentially harmful to humans. Read the handling directions carefully and avoid contact with the skin or mouth.

Do You Have Moles or Voles?

Most homeowners have heard of moles as runway-causing pests, but they fail to recognize another garden threat: the vole. Voles may sound similar to moles, but they are easily distinguishable. 

Voles are small, mouse-like creatures. Their runways and tracks do not mound above ground as moles do.

Vole tracks appear as surface-level dirt tracks running through lawns. They are created by the voles continuously running over the path and eating the blades of grass around the track.

Moles are larger, around 6-8 inches long. Moles have long snouts and large paddle-like front claws used for digging. 

Mole tracks mound above ground and sometimes appear like tiny volcanoes sticking above the ground.

Getting rid of voles vs. moles can be slightly different, so identifying which pest you have is essential. Keep in mind that other lawn pests may include gophers or pocket gophers. 

With some education, you can quickly identify which is which and move forward with the best removal plan.

Other Signs You Have Lawn Moles

Along with above-ground tracks or tunnels is one sign you have moles. But there are other indications that your pest problem is due to lawn moles.

Uneven Surfaces Where the Ground Sinks In

Mole tunnels can cave in when it rains, or people step on them. Their tunneling can cause your lawn to look bumpy or uneven.

Above-Ground Tunnels with “Rooms” or Larger Mounds of Dirt at the Ends

In addition to digging tunnels, moles create actual rooms underground. These are used for things like food storage and consumption. This is unique to moles and can help homeowners differentiate between moles and voles.

Dead Grass

Unlike voles, moles do not eat your grass. However, dead grass is a common sign of a mole infestation as their tunneling and digging often kill the grass around their tunnels and uproots other plants.

Molehills

When moles burrow and dig for food in your yard, they leave behind volcano-shaped piles of soil 2-6 inches high, especially at the entrances to their tracks.

Dealing With a Lawn Mole Infestation

When all is said and done, even your best efforts may not be enough to rid your lawn of a mole infestation. Fortunately, you needn’t go it alone. 

Our team of experienced and expert professionals has been helping homeowners handle pest problems for 50 years. With Amco Ranger, your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.

Contact us today and let our team answer any questions about pest control for your home. We’re also happy to give you a free quote so you are fully informed about what mole removal may entail.

Don’t let lawn moles destroy the beautiful lawn and garden you’ve worked so hard to cultivate. Give Amco Ranger a call today!

A single pair of mice can produce around 8,000 mice in a year. This is one of many reasons why you don’t want to have mice in your home. But the many available mouse traps are not very humane. 

How can you humanely get rid of mice? The trick mainly involves prevention. But there are a few humane ways you can solve a rodent infestation if prevention is no longer an option. 

Keep reading and learn more about how it works below.

Store Your Food Safely

If you want to avoid a mouse problem, you need to take better care of your food. Mice have amazing noses and they can smell food from long distances away. Many people leave food lying around because they don’t know any better.

Do you have open bags of chips sitting around? What about bowls of fruit or food that hasn’t been packaged well? All of this is a disaster waiting to happen. 

Once mice smell that food, they’ll try anything to squeeze into your house. Don’t be surprised if you start hearing mice scuttling around your house soon after. Crumbs are very attractive to mice as well.

Leaving a few crumbs on your kitchen counter or the floor will attract mice from all around. This is why it is important to keep your home as clean as possible if you’re worried about mice. All your food should be stored inside cabinets or sealed containers. 

This is important for everything from potato chips and cereal to leftovers.

The Details

Sweeping under your furniture can help too. There are likely old crumbs of food under your furniture.

They might not be noticeable to you, but they are very noticeable to mice. You should also be wary of your garbage. Suppose you forgot to close the lid to your trash can. 

This might not seem like a big deal. But it can cause a mouse infestation in no time. You’ll then have to call a pest control service or try to tackle the problem yourself. 

But you can easily avoid this by closing the trash can’s lid. This makes it much harder for the mice to get into your trash. It will also make your trash less attractive to mice. 

They might not bother with your trash and instead, find an easier target.

Try Live Traps

Many people don’t like the idea of using mousetraps or glue traps. These hurt the mice and they may have an agonizing time before they die. You don’t have to be cruel to get mice out of your house. 

You can instead try live traps. These traps don’t kill the mice once they get trapped. They are small boxes that prevent a mouse from exiting once it enters. 

There is nothing that snaps or smashes a part of the mouse’s body. The mouse will stay safely inside the trap until you go retrieve it. You can then bring the trap outside and open it. 

This allows the mouse to go back into the wild without being harmed or killed. But these traps can turn inhumane if you’re not careful. Keeping a mouse inside the trap for too long will cause it to starve to death. 

It may also die of dehydration. There is a chance that a mouse could die from excessive stress too. You need to check a live trap every hour or so if you want to use it humanely. 

You shouldn’t bother with this trap if you are going to be away from home for several hours or days. The mouse that you trap will be dead within such a long period. 

What You Need to Know

You can increase your chances of catching a mouse by putting food inside to lure the mouse. But you should always keep the trap clean if you aren’t using it. Food residue or crumbs can make the trap a magnet for mice. 

Be careful when cleaning these traps since mice carry diseases. Hosing it down is a good way to do away with any residue inside the trap. You can easily obtain these traps at many hardware stores. 

But don’t confuse live traps with inhumane traps as they look similar. 

Call a Pest Control Service

Suppose you’ve tried everything to get mice out of your house. You may have cleaned up all the crumbs and closed the trash can. You may have tried a variety of live traps too. 

But you still have a mouse problem. You can solve this issue by calling a pest control service. Pest control services know all about mice and how they behave. 

They also know what might be attracting them and where they’re coming from. Pest control services know how to humanely remove mice from any environment. They can prevent the same problem from happening in the future too. 

They are far more effective than any trap or preventative measure. These services work fast too. Your mouse problem should be gone by the end of the day or so.

You can then go back to enjoying your home without any mice getting in the way.

How to Get Rid of Mice Humanely

You don’t have to be cruel to get rid of mice. You can prevent the problem by storing your food properly and closing your trash can lid. You can also try live traps if mice are already inside your home. 

Pest control services are your best option since they are experienced and high-quality. To learn more about these services, check out what we have to offer. 

Once, we turned to a group of Missouri homeowners and asked them to draw us a picture of a termite. Some sketched out white ants, while others doodled something that looked like a housefly. If the average homeowner isn’t sure what a termite looks like, it’s much harder to ensure there aren’t any eating away at their house!

There is one common type of termite that causes destruction in our region. Subterranean termites can nibble away at your foundation until your beautiful home is a husk of splinters and paint.

The first step toward security is education. We’ve created this guide to help our local families and businesses understand what to look for when they suspect they have an unwanted guest lurking in the walls.

Read on to learn about the different types of termites—and what to do if you hear munching from behind the wallpaper.

All About Subterranean Termites

When you look at a subterranean termite, it’s challenging to spot a feature that makes them unique. To the average eye, they resemble ants. Worker termites across all groups and species are nearly identical, making identification based on appearance a challenge.

The trick to quick identification is to assess the termites’ location and the damage they have caused. Naturally, subterranean termites make their nests underground. They construct a series of tunnels that help them to navigate.

To move above ground, subterranean termites construct mud tubes. They thrive in wet spaces, so the moist earth is essential. A mud tube looks like an oblong streak of mud on the ground or the side of a structure.

You can confirm the presence of subterranean termites by examining the wood they’ve consumed. These insects eat softwood, leaving any hardwood behind as they tunnel through. You’ll notice streaks of dirt left behind, which fill the tunnel system.

Take a look at the tunnels. Do they go with the wood grain or against it? Subterranean termites are particular and prefer to go with the grain.

Subterranean termites love warm, damp places, making Missouri an ideal place to feed and breed. The most obvious sign that you have an infestation is the presence of mud tunnels on the outside or foundation of your home. Schedule an inspection to confirm the presence of these pests and stop damage in its tracks.

Types of Subterranean Termites

The reason why identifying termites is such a challenge is because termites play different roles, even within a single colony. Think about the different types of bees that sustain life in the hive. Termites have a similar system.

The four types of subterranean termites you might see include workers, swarmers, soldiers, and queens. Each looks slightly different, though they’re all part of the same species. Understanding each type can help you recognize what termites do at stages of their unique lifecycle.

Worker Termites

A worker termite is a worker with a job. Like a commuting human, the worker leaves the nest to support the colony. They seek out sources of food and nutrition, such as the wood in your home.

Other worker termites focus on maintenance tasks. They construct and repair the mud tubes that lead to the food. The workers consume cellulose, so they are highly motivated to complete this essential task.

Swarmer Termites

Much of the time, swarmer termites don’t do much. They don’t even eat. When the time is right, it’s the swarmers’ job to seek out mates so they can establish new colonies.

Swarmer termites are recognizable because they have wings. Because swarmers have such a short and clear-cut task, they die if they’ve been unsuccessful. Thousands of termites might be born, but very few will survive.

In the spring, you might see hundreds or thousands of dead termites on your property. They tend to stay within a 300-foot radius during the mating process. Swarmers resemble winged ants.

Soldier Termites

Soldier termites are always on the defensive. They are larger than workers and physically attack pests that enter the nest. They can also bite humans they perceive as a threat, so watch out.

Soldier termites don’t eat wood, so they aren’t a direct threat to your home. However, soldiers don’t appear without workers. Another part of their job is to stay in contact with workers as they repair systems.

Queen Termites

Queens live a long time (as long as 50 years!), so the queen in your colony is probably the oldest termite present. It’s her job to lay eggs until the next is large and thriving. The worker termites care for the queen, ensuring the colony’s survival.

Queens don’t move much, and you will probably never see one. Even so, a queen’s presence means more workers are being born, and that’s a problem! Schedule an inspection to ensure an end to the queen’s reign.

What Do Different Types of Termites Have in Common?

The one thing that all different termites have in common is a propensity for destruction. The presence of all types of termites signals costly damage to your home. While the specialists at Amco Ranger can help eliminate pests, the best course of action is to prevent infestation altogether.

If you believe your home or business is susceptible to termite infestation, a little prevention goes a long way. A free, no-obligation inspection can save you thousands of dollars in damages. We’ll help you make a plan to ensure hungry insects won’t stand a chance!

Amco Ranger Eliminates All Types of Termites

If you’re hosting subterranean termites, act fast to save your home. All types of termites can contribute to damage that can lead to financial devastation. If you suspect that insects are wreaking havoc on your foundation, it’s time to make a call.

The pest control professionals at Amco Ranger are experts at identifying termites. They can eliminate the problem without disrupting your life. Reach out to schedule your free inspection – we’ll help ease your mind.

No matter how superb your food is, the quality of your service, or the beautiful ambiance, nothing can tear down a successful restaurant faster than a pest problem. 

Common pests are unhygienic and dangerous as many of them carry harmful diseases that could infiltrate your food, and make your patrons ill. In this case, you’re not only facing a doomed reputation, but you could have a potential lawsuit on your hands. 

Pests in restaurants are common, but it’s important to call in restaurant pest control if you can’t keep them at bay. Here are the common culprits and where they tend to hide… 

1. The Common Cockroach 

Is there anywhere that a cockroach cannot infiltrate? The short answer is no. They’re the type of bug that shows up just about everywhere, no matter how clean your home or business is. 

The bad news is that cockroaches carry a ton of bacteria that could spread throughout your restaurant kitchen. They’re also capable of triggering certain allergens and allergies among your patrons. They are a tricky pest to locate because of how swift, sneaky, and quiet they are. 

They’re also capable of building large families in a small amount of time, leaving you with an infestation before you know it. You need to hire a professional who has the knowledge and tools to locate these creepy critters and take care of an infestation. This way you can prevent them from returning and regulate your kitchen/restaurant hygiene for the long term. 

2. Rodents (Rats and Mice) 

They may not be as common as cockroaches, but rodents pose a big problem when they’ve infiltrated your restaurant and its kitchen. Not only can they get into your stock and demolish it within days, but they can also spread very harmful bacteria throughout your facility, too. 

Rodents are also capable of damaging your packaging, products, equipment, wiring, and other structures. This usually happens through constant gnawing and chewing. Their droppings harbor bacteria and diseases that can make your patrons very ill. 

Fortunately, rodents are much easier to locate so you have a better chance of avoiding an infestation if you call in a pest expert as soon as you notice them!

3. Flies

There are tricky pests to try and control because they’re able to sneak into your premises through open doors, windows, openings, vents, and other cracks and crevices. They’re an annoying pest that tends to carry bacteria that could easily spread throughout your kitchen and restaurant. 

What’s more, they’re also difficult to control in warmer climates, especially during the summer months. However, there are plenty of ways and means to control flies in your restaurant — you just need the help of a local pest expert.    

4. Flying/Stinging Pests 

Similar to flies, these types of pests are difficult to control, especially if your restaurant offers an alfresco dining area. Stinging pests pose a real problem to certain patrons who also might have an allergic reaction to their stings. This tends to up the stakes even more in terms of liability as a restaurant owner.

Such pests might include wasps, hornets, bees, etc. They’re capable of building large nests that can become very tricky to remove once they’re big enough. 

5. Product Pests 

These types of critters are so named because they tend to creep, crawl, and breed inside all your stored products. This includes pantry staples such as rice, flour, cereals, beans, nuts, barley, etc. Again, this poses a huge risk to the health of your patrons and your reputation if you’re serving these cooked products with insects inside them! 

Product pests are also difficult to control as they breed quickly and can contaminate large amounts of product with their eggs and larvae. 

 

 

6. Ants

This list of common restaurant pests would not be complete without mentioning ants. Although, ants are a common problem in many residential and commercial environments — just like cockroaches. 

There is a huge range of ant species, each with its own characteristics. They’re all capable of causing damage to your kitchen, your stock, and your reputation. They breed extremely fast and are difficult to control. As soon as you notice an ant issue, call in a pest expert right away who can help you locate the colony, and set up appropriate control. 

So, with all of the above in mind, where do all of these sneaky pests tend to hide and breed? Here are some of the most common areas: 

• Exterior surroundings outside your restaurant that tend to gather dirt, debris, clutter, and stagnant water 
• Your roof — ceiling cavities can gather dirt, grime, and dust and become a hot spot for insect breeding grounds 
• False ceilings — hanging ceilings create the perfect gap between your roof and the false ceiling that harbors pests such as rodents, cockroaches, and flies 
• Air ducting — your HVAC system is also a hot spot for insect breeding grounds, especially if you neglect to clean and maintain these areas 
• Drainage areas — it goes without saying that commercial drains get dirty, fast. If you don’t clean them on a regular basis, they’ll attract just about every pest in the book 
• Gas stoves — this piece of equipment features plenty of small nooks and crevices that also accumulate grease and grime at a rate of knots. This makes a perfect environment for insects like cockroaches and ants 
• Incoming stock — remember that you cannot count on the cleanliness of your suppliers and their delivery vehicles. Your supplies could harbor plenty of unwanted pests 

At the end of the day, the best thing you can do to protect your business is to keep things as clean and hygienic as possible. Never wait to see if an insect issue will resolve itself. Nine times out of ten, it won’t. It might only get worse!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need Help Getting Rid of Common Pests? 

If you’re a restaurant owner and believe you could have a pest problem, Amco Ranger is here to find the source of your issue with these common pests, and take care of it once and for all. 

As your local pest experts, we have in-depth experience in both residential and commercial settings. Interested in a free quote? Get in touch with us today.