What Is An Occasional Invader?

What is an occasional invader? Occasional invaders are pests that find their way into structures occasionally. Like all pests, they are typically looking for food, warmth, or simply passing through. Most occasional invaders are overwintering pests meaning they can already be inside or will soon try to gain access to your facility since fall is prime season for occasional invader activity.

Once inside a structure they are often found in wall voids, crawl spaces, basements, dark storage rooms or drop ceilings. For example, if a client notices cluster flies emerge inside their office, retail store or restaurant on one of the first warm spring days they’ll assume the flies are coming in from the outside but in fact they are seeing them as they try to leave the building.

Earwigs are considered a nuisance pest in and around commercial properties.

Commercial property owners and managers and their pest management service provider would be wise to regularly inspect drop ceilings and the other areas mentioned earlier for the presence of occasional invaders and other unwanted pests, and conducive conditions (i.e., excess moisture, food waste, cracks or openings in the foundation or walls, etc.) that promote their existence.

Aside from cluster flies, what other pests fall into the occasional invader category? Here is a list:

• Centipedes
• Earwigs
• Pill bugs
• Crickets
• Beetles
• Silverfish
• Ladybugs
• Spiders

Are Occasional Invaders A Threat?

Traditionally occasional invaders are not disease-spreading pests and will not cause any kind of structural damage to your property. They are more of a nuisance than a threat to food safety in commercial facilities but don’t think they can’t cause problems.

Even though instances are rare, occasional invaders can contaminate food products if they gain access to food storage areas and land on unprocessed seeds, grains or flour.

A third-party auditor or inspectors will also not differentiate between a boxelder bug and German cockroach. If a pest is found inside a food processing or distribution facility or restaurant it can lead to points being deducted or in extreme cases a failed audit or inspection, and fines.

Preventing Occasional Invaders From Being An Issue

To keep occasional invaders from gaining access to commercial properties, facility and property managers and their pest management service providers need to focus their efforts on exclusion practices.

Facilities located near agriculture production areas or bodies of water (i.e., streams, rivers, retention ponds, etc.) are more susceptible to occasional invaders since pests, like stink and boxelder bugs, are major threats to agriculture crops.

Identifying and eliminating conducive conditions in adjacent properties to a commercial property is a challenge since access and ownership issues prevent it. That is why hardening your facility through good exclusion and sanitation practices is essential.

Sprague recommends taking the following steps in conjunction with your pest management service provider to prevent occasional invaders for gaining access:

• Strategic placement of light traps (facing the interior of the building) in shipping areas and near loading docks.
• Install screens on windows, and roof and utility vents –make sure the screens do not have tears or openings.
• Install screens with tightly woven mesh to prevent small pests from slipping through and gaining access.
• Adjust exterior lighting in parking lots to attract occasional pests away from structures.
• Ensure there is positive air flow in your facility with air blowing out.
• Maintain the landscape on the exterior of your facility by mowing the grass regularly, trimming shrubs and trees, and eliminating excess vegetation that serve as a food and or harborage source for occasional invaders.

Discover The Sprague Difference

For more information on how Sprague Pest Solutions can assist you establish an effective pest prevention or management program for occasional invades at your commercial property, call 855.805.0755.