“…nothing is worse than walking into a kitchen in the morning and disturbing a cloud of drain flies”
The Green Drain (GD) can help to prevent pest infiltration from unprotected and exposed drains. GD is HACCP certified and is ideal to protect your venue during closures.
It’s an economical, Drain Trap Seal Device that allows water to flow down the drain while preventing Pests, Odours, Harmful Gases and Pathogens from infiltrating your establishment.
What to know and how to prevent
Drain / Bar Fly Infiltration (Drosophila melanogaster)
Bar flies are attracted to sugary substances, as well as sticky and moist areas. Common areas found are behind the bar are beer taps / dried beer, fruit, drains, pipes, cloths, mops, rags, and sweet fruity liquors. Fruit fly larvae can only survive in moist, decaying matter. Each female becomes active only hours after hatching and can lay up to 100 eggs per day.
Moth/ Drain Fly Infiltration (Psychodidae as pictured)
Drain flies feed on decomposing organic matter and sewage. Typical breeding sites include greasy drainpipes in kitchens and bathrooms, drains, moist compost, and septic tanks. Female drain flies deposit anywhere from 30 to 100 eggs per day on the surface of the breeding medium. The larvae and pupae thrive deep within the gelatinous film and extend breathing tubes to the surface. Drain fly eggs can mature to adults in 7 to 28 days. *orkincanada.ca
Counterclockwise from top left: Drain fly (Diptera: Psychodidae) larva, pupa, and adult. Photo credit: Matt Bertone
Life Cycle (48 Hrs)
Drain fly larvae grow and feed in polluted, shallow water or in highly moist organic solids prevalent in drains. The life cycle of drain flies can be completed in one to three weeks. Adults live about two weeks, with old ones dying and new ones emerging.
Preventative Cleaning
Bar flies have a life cycle of 48 hours, so interrupting their breeding pattern and grounds is paramount to stopping them or reducing their numbers. The best way to prevent bar flies is to keep your bar clean, dry and sanitised, this only leaves the drains. Set up a cleaning roster so that all of those places no one likes to clean (dishwasher area, drains, pipes, fridge seals, corners of the bar) get cleaned on a regular basis.
Insects need water to survive and will look for stagnant water to lay their larvae. This is usually the water and sludge found in floor waste drain traps.
Proactive Drain Protection
Professional pest control services work to stop pests, however, leaving drains exposed will only allow these pests to return. The most effective way to prevent pest infestations is to eliminate their breeding places. Inside buildings, this would include cleaning the drainpipes, drain traps and other plumbing system components in an attempt to eliminate the bacterial scum (gelatinous rotting, organic matter) This Biofilm that coats the inner surfaces of plumbing pipes also harbor bacteria and can be a source of pathogen transmissions. It is well researched how drains can transmit pathogens such as Legionella, Listeria, SARS, Dengue, and MERS which are almost impossible to eliminate without harsh chemicals. Using eco-friendly products to maintain drains and grease traps such as bio-enzymatic solutions is preferable. Either way installing GD to seal access out of exposed pipes will provide protection and peace of mind.
Smells, gases or pests of any kind will leave a poor impression of a business and its ability to maintain the establishment hygienically safe. Why Risk It?
No alt text provided for this image
Protect exposed drains & use eco-friendly solutions to maintain your floor drainage system & grease traps. Think of where chemicals end up downstream!