This blog post takes a look at pests that can attract other pests in to your home or workplace. 

Pests that attract more pests

We all know that there are items in our homes and our workplaces that attract pests and can be easily contaminated by these unwanted guests, but what if I told you that pests can attract more pests and even pests of a different kind into your space? 

The Concern: Hive Mentality

A pest can be defined quite simply as a creature that competes for your food and water, and which spreads diseases and can be destructive to your living or workspace. That being said we need cognisant of the fact that some insects have a nesting nature, meaning that they all contribute to the survival of their nest by means of a team effort, examples of these types of pests are ants and termites. 

In other words, there is never just one of these insects. The hive mentality of these insects ensures that they are always connected to the hive and working together for the good of the colony. That's just another way of saying that should you see one of these pests, there is a good chance you have an infestation on your hands, and when they find harborage, food, and water there can be major consequences. 

Now that we know about hive mentality, we can turn our attention to how certain pests attract other types of pests. This can be in one of two ways; the different pests are attracted to the same things or, when a certain pest dies, other pests will be attracted to the carcass as food, or as somewhere to lay their eggs.

Let's dive into some examples and what you can do to minimise the risks of infestations. Just like humans, pests need harborage, food, and water to survive. With different conditions come different pests. For example, dark, warm, and damp conditions are ideal for cockroaches, rats and mice. That's a medley nobody will enjoy and will require many resources to eradicate the problem.

So how do pests attract other pests?

Understanding what pests need to survive allows us to see which other types of pests may be unintentionally invited. Leaving optimal living conditions aside, when pests die they create other potential concerns. Allow me to paint this vivid picture for you. You had a rodent issue at your site, you chose a great pest control company like Rentokil, and your rodent issue has dramatically improved, however, there is a strong smell coming from behind one of your shelves. You find a rat that has died from ingesting poison.

Your first thought might be "awesome the product and service are working as it should", but the smell of the dead rodent has attracted other unwanted guests such as flies. The decaying flesh has probably also piqued the interest of cockroaches and the ants who will scavenge what they can from the carcass.

This is one main reason why an integrated pest management programme is so important and should not be overlooked. Flies are attracted to the smell of the dead rodent and will lay their eggs on the carcass which will bring on further fly issues once the maggots hatch. Cockroaches are carnivorous, and it's not every day that they get to feast on something that could at some point be their natural predator, and the ants will take whatever they can get. 

Pest Mitigation

Each pest will have its specific attractant and preferences - just like you and me - but the basics are the same; living space, food and water. If we want to manage pest control in an integrated manner we need to ensure that we minimise these possibilities for pests, which means they will have no desire to be in your space.

Keeping areas hygienic, neat, tidy, and well lit can reduce the risk of pests finding harborage. When you do this for one pest, we do this for all pests.  Housekeeping, stock rotations, and limiting food and water sources (waste area turn around time, kitchen and preparation area clean up, fat traps, leaking taps, and even open drains) is vital to your success in limiting unwanted guests from being enticed to stay on your premises. 

Keep in mind that pests have senses like you and I, the only difference is preference. What smells terrible to us may be the most wonderful attractant for them.  

Key Takeways:

• There is never just one pest 
• There are two ways that pests attract other pests. They are either attracted to the same food and water sources, or they are attracted to the remains of other pests
• Ensure you have an integrated pest management programme in place that covers you for all pests and potential risks 
• Clean, well lit and high movement areas are unlikely to harbour pests which can, in turn, contribute to lower levels of overall infestation 
• Pests have the same needs as us, if we can minimise harbourage, food and water, there will be no reason for pests to stay 

By using an online pest management system, such as myRentokil, you can receive tailored real-time information, facilitating a proactive approach to pest prevention and control. Find out more about this service in our blog post: myRentokil Explained. Or contact a member of our team of pest control experts to discuss your needs and to book your free pest risk assessment survey.

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