Innovative methods exist to monitor and ensure pest control in food facilities

PestWest

Several innovative methods exist to monitor and ensure pest control in food facilities. For example, some PMPs are leveraging the behavior of house flies as a biosensor for house mice (Mus musculus) activity. Through best-practice placement of ILTs throughout a food facility, combined with detailed glue board assessments of house fly captures, PMPs can infer the extent and possible concentration of house mouse infestations.

How does it work? Decomposing rodent carcasses release fly-attracting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, cadaverine and putrescine. PMPs can deduce probable house mouse mortality and decomposition areas by analyzing the diagnostic “3Ds” — direction, distribution and density — of house flies and other species captured on glue boards.

Additionally, a sudden spike in house fly captures may indicate hidden house mouse infestations, recent mouse deaths and the post-mortem interval, or time of death.

This method provides a non-invasive, behavior-based way to detect house mouse presence, enabling timely intervention and enhancing overall sanitation. By transforming house flies into biosensors and decomposition detectors, PMPs can turn the pestiferous into the pestsnifferous.