Pests are not just annoying. They are Business Killers. Roaches carry Salmonella. Flies carry E. Coli. Mice chew through electrical wires and burn the building down. If a customer sees one roach, they tell 10 friends. If a Health Inspector sees one roach, they close you down.
You cannot just “spray poison.” That is illegal near food. You need IPM (Integrated Pest Management). In 2026, the game has changed. It’s not just about traps; it’s about Data.
If you see one roach, you have a thousand. Pest control is not about “spraying.” It is about Exclusion and Sanitation.
This guide covers the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles recommended by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). We will explain how to seal your building (Air Curtains) and why UV Fly Lights are mandatory near the back door.
The 2026 Shift: IoT & Remote Monitoring
- The Old Way: Inspector checks traps once a month.
- The New Way: Smart Traps (IoT) send a text message to your phone the second a rodent enters.
- Why It Matters: FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) now requires “Preventative Controls.” Knowing you have a mouse instantly vs 30 days later is the difference between an open restaurant and a closed one. In this guide, I will explain the Physics of Exclusion, why Fly Lights are often installed wrong, and how an Air Curtain is your best investment.
1. The Strategy: Exclusion (Keep them Out)
The best way to kill a pest is to never let it enter. IPM focuses on mechanical barriers.
The Problem: The Back Door
- Cooks leave the back door propped open to “smoke” or “get fresh air.”
- Result: A highway for flies and rats.
The Solution: The Air Curtain (Fly Fan)
- Mechanism: A high-velocity fan mounted above the door frame.
- Physics: It shoots a curtain of air straight down.
- Function: Flies cannot fly through the turbulence. Dust cannot enter. Heating/Cooling is retained.
- ROI: It stops 90% of flying insects. It lowers HVAC costs.
- Mandate: Install a “Micro Switch” so the fan turns on automatically when the door opens.
The Door Sweep
- Problem: A mouse can squeeze through a gap the size of a dime (1/4 inch).
- Check: Look at the bottom of your back door during the day. Do you see sunlight? If yes, you have mice.
- Fix: Install a Heavy Duty Brush Sweep.
2. Fly Control: Zappers vs. Glue Boards
The “Zapper” (High Voltage)
- Mechanism: UV light attracts the fly. Voltage grid explodes it.
- The Sound: ZZZT.
- The Risk: Exploding Parts. When a fly explodes, microscopic bug parts (legs, wings, bacteria) are flung up to 5 feet away.
- Rule: NEVER install a Zapper near food prep areas.
The Glue Board (The Silent Killer)
- Mechanism: UV light attracts. Sticky pad traps.
- Benefit: Silent. Sanitary. You can count the bodies to track activity.
- Placement:
- Low: Flies hang out low (3-5 feet off the ground).
- Away from Windows: Sunlight overpowers the UV bulb.
- NOT facing the door: If you point the light out the door, you are inviting flies in from the street.
3. Chemical Warfare: Resistance Management
“Chef, the spray isn’t working anymore.” Pests evolve fast. If you use the same poison (Pyrethroids) every month, the survivors breed super-bugs.
The Rotation: Professional exterminators rotate the “Mode of Action” every quarter.
- Month 1-3: Neurotoxin.
- Month 4-6: Growth Regulator (IGF) - Stops eggs from hatching.
- Month 7-9: Desiccant (diatomaceous earth) - Dries them out.
Baits vs. Sprays:
- Gels/Baits: Better. The roach eats it, goes back to the nest, dies, and other roaches eat him (cannibalism). The poison spreads.
- Sprays: Only kill the one you hit.
4. Rodents: The Trapping Game
Poison Blocks:
- Outside only. Put them in tamper-proof black boxes around the perimeter.
- NEVER Inside. Why? If a rat eats poison inside, it crawls into your wall void and dies. It rots for 3 weeks. The smell is unbearable, and you can’t find the body without a sledgehammer.
Snap Traps / Tin Cats:
- Inside only. Mechanical traps.
- Placement: Along the walls (Rodents have poor eyesight; they hug the baseboards).
5. Drain Flies: The Slime Eaters
“We have tiny moth-looking flies in the bar.” Those are Drain Flies. They do not come from outside. They breed in the “Bio-Film” (Slime) inside your drain pipes.
The Fix:
- Bleach? No. Bleach flows right past the slime.
- Enzymes? YES. You need a thick “Drain Gel” (bacteria eater). Pour it down at night. It clings to the pipe and eats the slime nest.
- Brush: Use a long drain brush to mechanically scrub the slime.
Top Commercial Pest Control Recommendations
Fight the war on three fronts: Air, Light, and Water.
1. Best Barrier (The Air Defense): Curtron Pest-Pro Air Curtain
- Best For: The Back Door, Delivery Entrances.
- Why It Wins: It creates a wall of air that flies physically cannot penetrate. It also keeps your AC inside.
- Function: Install a “Micro Switch” so it turns on automatically when the door opens.
2. Best Fly Trap (The Silent Killer): Gardner GT-180 Slimline
- Best For: Kitchens, Prep Areas.
- Why It Wins: It uses UV light to attract insects to a sticky glue board. No “Zapping” sound. No exploding bug parts landing in the soup.
- Capacity: Huge glue board surface area.
3. Best Drain Treatment (The Slime Eater): Noble Chemical Drain Gel
- Best For: Bar Drains, Floor Drains.
- Why It Wins: Bleach just flows past the problem. This thick gel clings to the pipe walls, eating the organic “bio-film” where drain flies lay eggs.
- Usage: Pour it down at closing time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Should I put electric bug zappers in the kitchen? A: No. When a fly hits the zapper, it explodes, flinging bacteria and bug parts up to 5 feet. Use UV Glue Board traps instead, which capture flies silently and sanitarily.
Q: How do Air Curtains work? A: They shoot a high-velocity stream of air down the doorway, creating an invisible wall that flies cannot fly through. They are essential for back doors.
Q: How do I get rid of drain flies? A: Bleach won’t work. You need an Enzyme Drain Gel to eat the organic “bio-film” slime in the pipes where the flies lay their eggs.
Final Summary
If you want to Stop Entry, buy Curtron. If you want to Kill Flies, buy Gardner.