Meath accounts for fourth highest number of pest insect callouts so far this year
One of Ireland’s leading pest control provider, is warning businesses of the top pests that they should be aware of when reopening. Businesses that have been temporarily vacated as a result of the lockdown period face the threat of a pest infestation due to their buildings remaining undisturbed and unguarded for an extended period. Different pest infestations can pose a variety of threats to any business.
Rentokil says Meath is among the top four counties which have accounted for pest insect callouts so far this year with Dublin (30% of callouts), Cork (8%), Kildare (6%), and Meath (6%).
Rentokil says a variety of pest insects also pose a threat to businesses. Ants, wasps, flies and cockroaches in particular have been more active during the warm summer months, when the insects breed and multiply. Empty businesses with food or water residue present will likely have attracted them and may as result be home to infestations. These pest insects can lay dozens of eggs at a time, so a small problem can quickly become a large one.
Rodents, say Rentokil, can cause significant damage to properties and assets. Rats and mice spend extended periods of time every day grinding down their teeth on surrounding objects, and as a result, they can chew through utility lines, electrical wires, support beams and other key infrastructure.
The presence of rodents in a business also poses a serious reputational risk, as well as the health risk posed by the spread of disease through their bodily fluids and excrement.
The top four counties which have accounted for rodent callouts so far this year are: Dublin (29% of callouts), Kerry (16%), Galway (11%), and Cork (9%).
Richard Faulkner, Advanced Technical Field Consultant for Rentokil said “As businesses begin to gradually re-open, we would encourage owners and employees to be mindful of the presence of certain pests and the threats posed by them. Rodents and certain pest insects will have made homes in buildings that lay vacant during the lockdown period, and as a result, some businesses may be facing an infestation upon reopening. There are a number of dangers posed by certain pests, in terms of property damage, as well as reputational and health risks”.
Rentokil advises businesses to explore unmanned, non-toxic pest control solutions, such as PestConnect, a digital solution which provides 24 hour protection from rodents. Through a system of infrared sensors, it detects and then captures or humanely kills rodents using automatically deployed bait stations and traps. The company is advising business owners to utilise digital pest control solutions in place of poisons, due to recent changes in national rules prohibiting the use of toxic baiting