When it comes to restaurants, a single pest running across the dining room floor is enough to damage your reputation. While word of mouth is said to be the best way to get new customers in a business, it's also the fastest way to spread the word that your restaurant has cockroaches or other types of pests. Folks choosing between going to a restaurant that they've heard has cockroaches and one they've heard nothing about will probably avoid the known trouble spot. This makes being aware of and preventing roaches paramount.
The most common cockroaches in restaurants are the American cockroach, the brown-banded cockroach, and the German cockroach.
American Cockroach
About 4 cm long, the American cockroach emits an odorous secretion that can change the flavor of food. Also, if the population of cockroaches is high in your restaurant, you will be able to smell them. Cockroaches transmit diseases and can cause food poisoning. American cockroaches live in moist areas and prefer warm temperatures.
Brown-Banded Cockroach
A light brown cockroach, the brown-banded cockroach has two light-colored, irregular bands along their wings. When trying to escape, the brown-banded cockroach may jump.
German Cockroach
A small species of cockroach, the German cockroach is between 1 and 1.6 cm long. It can be tan or black and has two parallel streaks running from the head to the base of the wings. It can fly, although just barely, and opts to glide when you disturb it. The German cockroach is not attracted to light.
In addition to risking a bad reputation that could cause a decline in customers, cockroaches cause a number of problems for restaurants, including:
Cockroaches are carriers of bacteria and viruses that can be transmitted to people through food contamination.
Roaches can emit terrible odors that are detectable by humans.
The odor from roaches can change the flavor of food.
The presence of roaches can cause a health inspector to shut your restaurant down.
Leaving your pest control methods to chance is definitely not the best decision for a restaurant! Commercial pest control in Rock Island can protect your company's reputation, prevent cockroach-transmitted diseases and bacteria to your customers and employees, and help you avoid fines and other problems from cockroaches being discovered during health inspections. Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators provides comprehensive commercial pest control in the four Quad Cities as well as, Central & North Central Illinois and Southwest Iowa to reduce your risks and keep your restaurant free from cockroaches and other unwanted pests. Contact us today!