In many cases of reported hotel pest sightings, there might have been some red flags that were missed before guests spied the offending creatures. In addition to avoiding guest complaints, spotting early signs of pests may help hotels avoid the development of more serious infestations. That’s because many types of pests can reproduce quickly, hide easily and may spread between rooms without detection. The nocturnal nature of some pests can also make it hard to detect their presence.
Here are some indicators that pests could be lurking in your hotel:
- Small brown spots or blood specks on bed sheets could signal the presence of bed bugs. Another bed bug sign is discarded skin left behind. Of course, reported bite symptoms warrant a close inspection for the pests.
- Gnawing marks or damage to furniture, structures, walls, woodwork or equipment could indicate that insects or wildlife are active.
- Holes, tears or other damage to food packaging containers could mean rodents have visited. Likewise, eggs, larvae or pupae in or around food products could mean that food product pests have settled in. Also look for webbing on boxes, containers, under shelves or in corners that are close to food storage.
- Shed skin or exoskeletons found on floors, shelving, window sills or in cabinets or cracks could be a sign of various insect issues. Discarded wings could be a sign of termites or ants.
- Spider webs found near windows, doors, light fixtures or in corners mean that spiders, or the insects that provide primary food sources for spiders, are in the area.
- Droppings, which may be found behind appliances, in cabinets and closets, or in attics and crawl spaces can mean a rodent or wildlife presence.
- Piles of wood shavings can be a sign of wood-nesting carpenter ants, while mud tubes can signal termite activity. Often found along cracks, under flooring, near baseboards or on pipes and plumbing fixtures, mud tubes are usually about the diameter of a drinking straw and have a flat appearance. Hollow wood can also indicate termite or carpenter ant activity.
- If your hotel has roof or exterior damage, birds or wildlife may be the culprits. If you see small piles of debris, those may have been left behind by rodents or wildlife.
- Unusual odors, especially sharp or musty ones, can be a sign of pests, such as rodents and cockroaches.
- If guests or workers report hearing scratching or rustling noises behind walls or in ceilings overhead, suspect that rodents or wildlife may be present. Disturbed garbage or trash cans also mean that rodents or wildlife have been searching for food.
- Greasy smudge marks on walls or floorboards may have been made by rodents.
A professional commercial pest control plan from a company with experience in serving hotels can help with regular inspections and proactive measures. Terminix® Commercial will even help educate your hotel staff on how to recognize pest activity and how to avoid factors that may contribute to a conducive environment for pest infestations. You don’t have to wait for pests and guests to meet to learn that your hotel has a pest issue. A professional commercial pest control partner can help you avoid pest problems, often before they see the light of day.
