Restaurant Opening Paused by Fruit Flies in Matawan, NJ
Challenge
As this restaurant owner in Matawan, NJ was getting ready to reopen he noticed a large number of fruit flies in the sink area of his kitchen. Concerned, he called Cowleys for help and we were sent out to inspect.
When we inspected the area of infestation we spotted several fruit flies hovering close to the grease trap. Fruit flies usually harbor within close proximity to their breeding habitat. We examined the grease trap and located the main nest of dark-eyed fruit flies.
Dark-eyed fruit flies are brown with dark eyes and are a little more difficult to control than regular fruit flies. They thrive in moist, smelly organic debris that is out of sight. They are most common in bars, restaurants, and delis where they breed under equipment, near drains, sinks, and beverage taps where water can settle and allow a buildup of organic matter. Additionally, dark-eyed fruit flies can carry around bacteria from one place to another and contaminate food.
The best way to prevent a fruit fly infestation is proper sanitation. Regular cleaning of all floor drains and grease traps will drastically reduce the possibility of infestation — which is exactly what we told the owner who immediately began cleaning the area. In the meantime, we began our treatment.
Solution
First, we removed all the debris and used a heavy-duty brush to thoroughly scrub every single one of the floor drains and the grease trap. After scrubbing, we applied a liquid application that removes the bad bacteria from the drain, which in turn, eliminates the fruit fly's breeding habitat. Finally, we applied a bio-foam solution that removes the organic build-up, odors, and scum in the drain.
