Small flies in food premises can be a major public health concern. The flies will feed, breed, and live in contaminated areas then fly to land on food or food surfaces, transporting pathogens and increasing the risk of foodborne illness in humans. The most common small flies are the drain fly, the fruit fly and phorid flies.
Prevention is really the key to successful small fly management in food manufacturing facilities. It only takes two fruit flies to mate, and fertilized females can lay up to 500 eggs per fertilization. As a result, small fly problems can get out of hand quickly. Small flies do not just breed and feed in drains and grease traps. They more commonly breed and feed in cracks and crevices if food residue accumulates there. This means that dealing with existing and potential breeding sites in a building is the key to safe, effective and long-term small fly control.
PCT’s Invade Bio Products are designed specifically to control small fly breeding sites in and around food areas. PCT Invade Bio products contain premium natural, non-pathogenic microbes that digest the scum and larvae where flies breed. Invade Bio products are much more effective than traditional pesticides (which they only cull out emerged adults) for controlling small fly problems and are easier to use. The spore-formed microbes in Invade products are superior in that they are more resistant to chemical cleaning agents. When the spores are in contact with their food source (the target organic matter/scum), they generate bacterial colonies. These bacteria then digest organic matter and the fly larvae. They also contain natural citrus oil for extra power and pleasant smell.
The range of PCT Invade products include;
Invade Bio Drain is a gelled formula which is packaged as a convenient ready to squeeze and pour product. It coats the sides of drains, digests the scum and controls the drain and fruit flies that breed there. It is used at 100ml per drain and does not need dilution.
Invade Bio Foam it is a concentrate of foaming agents, microbes and citrus that is diluted 30 ml to one litre of water. It is used in a hand foamer to foam cracks and crevices, clean down food establishment equipment where food resides build up and where small flies breed. Also for use in a power foamer to push thick foam up to 3m down a drain. The microbes feed on the scum, bacteria and larvae resulting in rapid control.
Invade Bio Foam Hot Spot is a ready to use foam in a convenient pressure can. It contains odour eliminating microbes, citrus oil and a foaming agent. It’s great for foaming cracks, crevices, drains and beverage line bundles under ice machines and more.
PCT’s Invade Bio products can be incorporated in a food safety program including drain and grease trap treatment, hard surface cleaning and deodorising, septic and waste treatment, and carpet and fabric care.
The IPM tactics approach includes inspection, educating, cleaning, reducing harbourages and monitoring. The trapping of adult flies with lures will monitor the success of a control program and can also reduce the population quickly. This includes flies which may come in from outside or which are brought in with produce. Catching these flies before they have an opportunity to lay eggs is beneficial. Small traps with lures may be used to help pinpoint breeding areas. The PCT range of lures contain non-toxic attractants that lure flies and are therefore ideal for placement in traps. These traps may be sticky glue boards treated with PCT’s Invite Fruit Fly Lure, or jar/cup style traps containing PCT’s Invite Liquid Lure attractant. In most cases, they need to be placed in areas of most fly activity such as under a bar. It is important for your clients not to disturb these traps and to follow any instructions you may give them with regard to checking traps or replacing or refilling them.
The PCT range of Invite lures and pheromones in addition to lures for small fly management includes Invite Cockroach Gel Lure and Invite Moth Lure Gel. These can be used on glueboards or in other traps for monitoring cockroach activity and stored product moth activity respectively.