A kitchen can be a space for the family to cook, hang out and catch up. A kitchen should also arguably be the cleanest part of any home. Although this is true, it is sometimes hard to keep a kitchen sanitized with all of the food prep and cooking that goes on in the space. Because of this, kitchens are prone to different insects and unwanted rodents. Some of these pests include ants, cockroaches, mice, flies and pantry pests.
Different common species of ants found in kitchens are odorous house ants, argentine ants and pavement ants. All of these types of ants are drawn to food and moisture, meaning a kitchen is a perfect place for them to be. Odorous plants gravitate toward sweets while the other two species like meats, bread, oils and fats. To see if you have an ant problem in your kitchen, check wall voids, water pipes and the area beneath leaky fixtures. These are all areas of the kitchen that colonies like to invade.
Cockroaches create health violations for commercial kitchens all the time and are probably the most commonly found insect-found restaurants. Although this is true, these pests like to make residential appearances as well. These insects like to hide in cardboard boxes, grocery bags and beverage cartons. Cockroaches seem to pop out at the worst times and can create an uneasy feeling when seen in any kitchen so, it is best to make sure you have routine pest control to make sure they stay out.
House mice are the most common rodents found in a kitchen setting. These pests are drawn by the food and nesting options that kitchen spaces have. When looking for signs that you have a rodent problem in your kitchen, look for different characteristics such as chewed holes in the walls and floor, rodent droppings, chewed holes on food packages and nests made out of fabric and shredded paper. If you see any of these signs, give us a call so we can help stop these pests at their source.
Fruit flies and house flies are the most common species of flies found in residential kitchens. Fruit flies gravitate toward different fruits and vegetables for their food source while house flies prefer a wider array of food. To avoid these different groups of flies, do not leave ripe fruit and vegetables on the counter and do not let any other food sit out overnight.
The most common kinds of pantry pests are merchant grain beetles and Indian meal moths. The beetles can be found eating grains, cereals and products containing corn or corn meal. The moths feed more on dried fruits, nuts and pet food. Signs of these pests include bugs in your cabinets and unpleasant odors coming from the same area.
We here at Waco Pest Control know that a good kitchen is a clean kitchen. No one wants to make their meals in a space that is shared with unwanted pests. If you have any signs of this in your kitchen, give us a call and we will help make sure your kitchen pest free.
Have you ever seen any of these pests in your kitchen?
