FDBusiness.com

Rentokil has launched its latest innovation in pest management – the Rentokil Fly Box. Designed to be installed in or outside commercial food premises, the box contains a mixture of pheromones and insecticide to attract and eliminate flies from waste and refuge areas.

The Rentokil Fly Box’s unique design is underpinned by research from Rentokil’s Global Science Centre, which revealed that flies are attracted to areas of high colour contrast. Trialling several colour combinations, scientists found the contrast between black and white to be most effective, with 90% of flies migrating to a black box when set against a white background. Beyond attracting flies visually, the Rentokil Fly Box contains a mixture of appealing sugar-rich foods and lethal insecticide, which will extinguish most flies on entry. The box also replicates the pheromones produced by other flies to entice them.

Flies pose significant hygiene and reputational risks to food retailers and manufacturers. Their presence is off-putting to customers, and they are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, particularly the salmonella infection. To avoid falling foul of flies, food retailers and manufactures should have a comprehensive pest strategy in place, with numerous lines of defence. The new Rentokil Fly Box provides a business’ first line of defence, combatting flies before they even enter the premises.

Dr Colm Moore, Area Technical Manager UK, Ireland and The Baltics, describes the Rentokil Fly Box’s benefits: “Previously fly treatments for refuse areas have relied on insecticide sprays. The problem with this method is that removing the waste ends the treatment. The Rentokil Fly Box enables us to effectively fix insecticide to commonly affected areas, ensuring that flies are constantly being eradicated. Businesses will save money through reduced infestations, while ensuring their reputation for impeccable hygiene remains intact.”

“Dr Moore continues: “It is vital that food manufacturers, retailers and restaurateurs take appropriate due diligence when it comes to flies. Typically, we see significant increases in fly populations during the summer months, as they enter the most prolific period of their breeding cycle. This year we can expect to see larger increases, and earlier, as we have had very little cold weather, which suppresses breeding activity and fly populations.”

“While the presence of flies can inflict reputational damage, it’s equally important that businesses are environmentally responsible in their pest control strategies. The Rentokil Fly Box presents a way of eliminating unwanted fly species while ensuring that unnecessary chemicals do not enter the ecosystem or impact non-target species.”