Improving pest management in pet food mills using accurate monitoring and spatial analysis

Abstract Preventing the presence of pests in the final product of a food company requires appropriate pest management throughout the different stages of production and in all areas of the facility. Sampling and monitoring pests over time and space is therefore very important for implementing a correct pest management programme. In this study, we present the results of monitoring a pet food mill with pheromone traps focussing on moth pests. The main objective was to evaluate if the use of spatial analysis techniques would help to improve pest management applied in response to the monitoring results. Pest management was based on the evaluation of structural aspects of the facility (physical barriers), chemical treatments and cleaning methods (removal of residues). The use of spatial analysis showed that the walls with closed double doors constituted the only effective barrier against pest dispersal. There was no particular direction of pest movement through the facilities. However, the spatial distribution of the pest had two aggregation areas, one constant in the production area and one, sporadically, in the warehouse, both related to the presence of refuges and food resources. The timing and locality of applications of chemical treatments needed adjustment. When cleaning methods were evaluated, hand sweeping was more effective than automatic sweeping. Residue accumulation was directly proportional to pest presence. Results provided by the application of spatial analysis to the monitoring data can help to implement improved pest management protocols in any facility.