- Stop Flies from Frequenting Your Resort
by Patrick T. Copps
Technical Services Manager
Orkin, Inc.
The buzz about your resort should be related to the fun times guests have, not to pests. In addition to being an annoyance, flies can carry disease-causing organisms like E. coli and Salmonella on their bodies that can sicken guests and staff. Guests encounter flies where food and water sources abound, often in three “hot spots” – outdoor areas, around lobbies and entrances, and in resort foodservice facilities.
An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that focuses on proactive sanitation and maintenance techniques can help keep flies away from guests. Work with your pest management professional to review the hot spots on your property and the reasons flies seek them out. Then, implement measures that will deter flies before they become a permanent fixture at your resort.
Hot Spot 1: Outdoor Areas
Flies are often present around the outdoor areas of a resort property, including the pool and patio. With few physical barriers to stop flies, sanitation and facility maintenance efforts will have the biggest impact in these locations. Consider the following “fly attractants:”
- Outdoor trash receptacles provide a prime spot for flies to feed and breed. Line trash cans to keep residue off surfaces and keep them tightly covered. Wash and rotate dumpsters frequently to eliminate fly-attracting odors and food sources.
- Parking lots also can collect food debris, so sweep and wash them regularly as part of your sanitation routine.
- Guests often eat and drink by the pool and unintentionally leave behind crumbs and spills that can attract pests. At the end of the day, hose off the pool deck and furniture.
- Outside landscaping that is attractive to guests can invite flies as well. Adult flies feed on nectar and lay eggs near food material. Limit flowering and fruit-bearing plants to eliminate food sources for adult flies and larvae.
- Lights attract flying insects, so mount fluorescent or mercury vapor lights at least 200 feet from the building to draw flies away from your hotel. Install only sodium vapor lights close to the building since light produced by these fixtures is less attractive to flies.
Hot Spot 2: Lobbies and Entrances
With the frequent opening and closing of doors, lobbies and other entrances can quickly become subject to a fly invasion as guests and staff move in and out. Facility improvements around all entrances can stop flies from entering as uninvited guests.
- Do not prop open doors. Ensure all door frames are sealed with weather-stripping/seals to eliminate gaps.
- Adjust the HVAC system to create a slight positive airflow out of the building when doors are opened. Especially in lobbies with automatic sliding doors, positive airflow can stop pests from tagging along inside behind guests and staff.
- Install additional protection at loading dock entrances by using overhead air curtains or vertically mounting two fans facing outward on either side of the door to drive out flies. Plastic strip doors also can create a barrier to flying pests.
- In areas of high activity, such as entrances to the kitchen and doors from the loading dock, install fly lights that use ultraviolet light to draw flies onto a sticky board. If needed in guest areas, work with your pest management professional to select unobtrusive lights disguised as decorative sconces. Be sure to consult with your pest management professional regarding the placement of all fly lights.
- Just as outside landscaping attracts flies, so will indoor plants. Flies seek out decaying organic matter and mold that develops on over-watered potted plants to lay eggs. Consider using silk arrangements instead of live flowers in the lobby.
Hot Spot 3: Foodservice
Most hotels have at least one dining room, if not multiple restaurants. Add in room service, and the kitchen is open for business 24 hours a day – making a 24-hour diner for flies. Where there’s a constant source of food, good sanitation is the name of the game.
- Clean up spills immediately and take out the trash regularly. Use liners and covers for trash cans. Sweep and mop floors and vacuum all cracks and crevices to remove food residue. Pay close attention to the grease run-off behind appliances and set up a sanitation schedule to clean these hard-to-reach areas.
- Use “organic” cleaners in drains to prevent any residue build up that will encourage drain and fruit fly infestations. Organic cleaners contain bacteria and enzymes that naturally break down the grease and grime found in drains.
- To catch and monitor flying insect activity,
use fly lights, jar traps and pheromone traps, which use attractants and synthetic versions of fly pheromones to draw
them into a sticky trap.
Inspect Your Checkpoints Often
Monitor your program’s effectiveness by reviewing each hot spot regularly with your pest management professional and documenting any problems to ensure follow up. With good communication and proactive inspections, your team can say no to flies before they have the opportunity to make a reservation at your resort.