1.
CockroachesThere is no insect, other than the housefly, that is more easily recognized and detested than the cockroach. Cockroaches have been shown to transmit diseases including pathogenic foodborne bacteria such as salmonella, Vibrio cholerae, Staphylococcus aureus, and others both in the insect’s gut and on its exterior surface.
Detection: Each species has specific habitat preferences, although any species could be found in a food plant building. A good way to detect cockroaches is to enter a darkened production or storage area, turn on the lights, and quickly look for roaches scurrying back into hiding. Cockroaches also may be found by inspecting inside electrical junction boxes, receptacles, and control panels, or by looking behind objects and in floor drains. Glue traps often are a good monitoring device; some come equipped with a pheromone attractant. The use of flushing gases (a number of pyrethroid aerosol products are very good for this purpose) is a common method of driving them out in the open. These materials are so highly repellant that a single squirt into a suspect crack or crevice can cause the roaches to come boiling out into the light. Also, look for droppings and egg cases that indicate their presence.
Control of cockroaches starts with elimination of harborage (especially cardboard boxes that could harbor the insects or their eggs cases). This is done by sealing and filling cracks and crevices and maintaining a sealed, smooth surface throughout the plant in production and nonproduction areas. Seal junction boxes, receptacles, and control panels. Seal openings around conduits and pipes where they pass through walls and ceilings. Inspect incoming shipments (packaging, ingredients, etc.) and reject infested shipments. Chemical control requires that EPA-permitted insecticides be used in the food plant. These products are generally formulated as sprays, aerosols, or dusts. Dry powders and dusts, such as boric acid and insecticide powders, take advantage of the cockroaches’ habit of preening themselves. It is important to understand that no pesticide can be used in a food processing plant unless EPA has approved such use.
2.
Flying insectsThe most common flying insects are the housefly and fruit fly. A single housefly has been estimated to carry up to 3.6 million bacteria. Flies transmit disease by spending part of their life in direct contact with or in close contact to fecal matter or decaying material. Flies must liquefy their food before ingestion, so they secrete salvia (often called vomitus) on surfaces. The movement of flies fro
m unwholesome food sources to fresh food products, processing equipment, and other surfaces provides many opportunities to transmit disease-causing bacteria.
Removal and elimination of breeding sites is a key to fly control. This primarily involves the availability of garbage. Garbage must be located away from doors and removed frequently, and waste disposal areas must be properly maintained. Next, flies must be excluded from entering the food processing facility. This includes using air curtains (air screens) and/or doors that close automatically.
Electrocution traps with blue fluorescent light traps are effective in reducing flying insects, including flies. One drawback to these electrocution traps is that they literally cause the fly to explode, throwing aerosolized fly matter into the air. Because those particles can drift down some distance from the trap, it is best to place these traps away from food-handling areas, or well removed from food-handling surfaces in those areas. Blue-lighted sticky traps, baited jug traps and strips, or sticky ribbons are a safer alternative in these areas. Dead flies should be removed from traps at regular intervals. Catch basins of electrocution traps or jug traps and strips should be cleaned daily. Sticky devices should be replaced at least once a week. Other commercial methods utilize insecticidal sprays or fogs to suppress flies, but exclusion should be the main line of defense.
Pests of stored products
These primarily include insects that use the food as both nourishment and a habitat. They are usually small insects that infest and destroy foods during all stages of their life cycles. This group includes beetles, weevils, borers, and moths. Stored product pests are not generally associated with disease, as are cockroaches and flies, but they are considered a major food contaminant. As a group, they prefer dry products such as cereal grains and flours, but other foods such as nuts and dried fruits may be infested, as well.
Weevils infest stored grain and cause economic losses worldwide. The life cycle for most weevils is four to five months, and they can infest nearly every cereal grain. Flour moths lay their eggs in flour or meal where the larva destroys the product, and they are important grain pests. A variety of beetles can infest foods and food ingredients. These include grain beetles, flour beetles, and others.
Prevention: The purchase of quality, pest-free grain and food ingredients is the first step to prevention.
Regular cleaning of storage areas and processing equipment to remove ingredient spills and accumulated dust is also important. Fumigation of empty storage bins with phosphine, ethylene oxide, or carbonyl sulfide are effective control options for stored product pests. Similarly, fumigation may be used in facilities when processing operations are over for the day.
3.
RodentsRodents include rats and mice. They must be controlled in and around a food plant because rats and mice carry and transmit disease, and they can cause significant economic losses by damaging food containers, contaminating food with rodent droppings, and consuming food. Two major species of rats are found in and around human habitation: the Norway rat and the roof rat. The common mouse species prevalent around human population in the U.S. is the house mouse.
Both rats and mice reproduce rapidly, rats having 20 offspring per year and mice up to 35 young per year. Both mammals are primarily nocturnal, but they leave behind several signs of infestation.
Signs of rodents
1. Droppings — Fecal matter is a sign of rodent presence, and the amount of it can indicate the extent of the infestation.
2. Visual sightings — Seeing rats or mice often indicates a serious and probably well-established infestation, but most experts believe that visual sightings are the least reliable indicators.
3. Noises — Shrill squeaks, gnawing sounds, and scurrying sounds could be caused by rodents.
4. Smudge marks — Rodents emit oily lipid material from their fur and leave greasy smudges at entry points and frequent travel paths. Rat smudge marks are often more noticeable than those left by mice.
5. Tracks — Coating the area around suspected entry points and travel ways with talc, chalk, or flour can detect tracks and tail marks to identify locations for bait station or trap placement.
6. Gnawing — Both rats and mice chew and gnaw materials, which is a sure sign of rodent presence. Rats and mice are known to gnaw the insulation of electrical wires, causing fire hazards. Mice are known to cause extensive damage to insulation materials.
7. Urine stains — Both rats and mice leave urine stains that can be detected with long wavelength UV light as a yellow to blue fluorescent spot.
Elimination of harborage is the most effective way to control rodents. This includes removing all general clutter from the food plant and storage areas to eliminate rodent hiding places. Maintain an open, well-kept perimeter around the processing plant to discourage rodent activity. Next, food and water sources must be eliminated. This would include environmental management to reduce or eliminate free water and food sources. Third, rodents must be denied entry into the food plant. This would include filling all structural cracks, screening fan and vent openings, and installing drain covers to prevent rodent entry. It has been shown that a mouse can squeeze through a 1/4-inch hole. Mice and rats are also exceptional climbers, which means openings should be located and closed at all levels in the facility. Next, a physical control system should be included. Physical control systems would include strategically placed poisons, glueboards, bait boxes, ultrasonic devices, and traps.
Toxic baits and concentrates
Primary types are the anticoagulant baits; they are relatively safe to use, inexpensive, and effective. Single- and multi-dose anticoagulant products are available, as are products with active ingredients other than anticoagulants. Prebaiting with similar nonpoisonous bait may be effective if the rodents exhibit bait shyness. Regular rotation of brands and formulations of baits may also deter bait shyness. Poisons may be administered in bait blocks, liquid baits, pelletized baits, or treated grain.
Toxic tracking powders
Tracking powders are designed to kill the rodents when they groom themselves. These powders are placed along rodent travel ways or in burrows.
Trapping
Traps are a safe and effective method of eradication, especially for mice and roof rats. Rodents, especially rats, can become trap shy. Glue traps can also effective, and they may trap roaches as well.
Ultrasonic devices
There is controversy about the effectiveness of using ultrasounds (above 30,000 Hz) to repel rodents. Some devices alter the wavelength and direction of sound, and most are somewhat effective when placed at openings to food plants. Most rodents become used to ultrasonic devices after exposure.
Rodenticides
Rodenticides can be used in food processing plants when placed in secure/tamper-proof stations and restricted to areas where food is not processed (warehouse, storage and service spaces, utility rooms/closet, offices, etc.). Normally three perimeters are established for physical control measures. First, bait stations are positioned at the perimeter of the processing plant fence. Second, the outside wall of the plant should be spotted with bait boxes placed directly against the wall, with entry holes to the boxes parallel to the wall. Boxes should be locked and chained to prevent tampering. Finally, a third perimeter of traps inside the plant should be concentrated at areas of high rodent density and near entrances to the plant. All bait stations should be numbered and inspected once each week. Traps should be inspected daily. Density of bait placements may need to be adjusted upward during the fall when large numbers of rodents seek winter harborage inside buildings. Norway rats most often build their nests in ground burrows. They may be effectively controlled by baits placed directly in their burrows, if that can be done without risk of exposure to non-target animals or tampering. Roof rats present special control problems since they typically nest in overhead areas. Solid and liquid baits should be placed in attics or above drop ceilings. Block baits or traps should be attached to rafters, joists, and sills in open overhead spaces.
4.
Bird pestsSeveral species of birds harbor disease and pose a risk to food plant sanitation. The most common species involved are pigeons, sparrows, and starlings.
Birds pose a threat to the food processor by carrying disease-causing microorganisms, contaminating product areas with excreta, feathers, or external parasites such as mites. The most common microorganism spread by birds is Salmonella. Up to 50 percent of house sparrows were found to contain this microorganism. Campylobacter jejuni has also been readily isolated from wild birds.
The best and most effective means of controlling birds is to eliminate nesting and feeding sites on the building(s) and in the vicinity. This includes initial construction of window, door, and ledge areas to prevent roosting and nesting.
Bird repellent systems work to scare and deter birds from roosting areas.
Scaring devices
Decoys of natural predators, such as owls and hawks, have been used to scare birds, but often become ineffective after birds learn to ignore them.
Sticky pastes
Pastes can be applied to roosting areas to entangle birds and frighten them away.
Electrical wires
Wires that emit a shock to roosting birds can be effective but are difficult to maintain and costly to operate.
Netting
Placing netting or chicken wire over nesting sites such as trusses on a loading dock can be very effective. This has been used extensively to prevent pigeons from roosting on monuments and federal buildings in Washington, D.C.
Entry barriers
Devices designed to block entry to a building, such as automatic doors, vertical plastic strips, even high-velocity air curtains, are available.
Needle strips
Needle strips are applied to ledges, rooflines, and other roosting points. They have been shown to be very effective if installed correctly.
Traps
Traps can effectively remove bird pests. Starlings are the most easily trapped bird pests. Traps can become expensive, because they must be examined regularly so that accidentally trapped nontarget species are not destroyed.
Poisons
Baiting and poisoning of birds is debatable, and this method is usually a last resort when other means of control have failed. Poisons are indiscriminate, having the potential to harm desirable species of birds as well as pest birds. Usually it is recommended that only professional pest control applicators use toxicants for bird pests. Several chemical control agents are commercially available; Avitrol is one of the most commonly used. A fumigant formulation is available for use in warehouse areas.
Original post is found at http://pinoypet.blogspot.com
source: here
