PestWest

PestWest Flying Insect Science

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Technical

Product Overview
Food Contamination and Legal Risks
Siting and Usage Guide
Surveying a Premises
Positioning of Fly Control Units
Why Use UV light

Product Overview
There are two main types of electric fly control units on the market - Electronic Fly Killers and Electronic Glue Trap units. Both use Ultraviolet light from special lamps to attract flying insects.

Electronic Fly Killers
Kill the insects by electrocuting them as they fly through a high-voltage killing grid. As the insects come into contact with the grid, the current passes through their body instantly killing it. The dead insect is caught in a tray suspended immediately below the grid.

Electronic Glue Traps
Catch the flying insects on a Glue board where they quickly die. Glue traps have many advantages, such as silent operation, lower cost, ease of installation and the ability to keep the boards for permanent record purposes. They are also more effective against the smaller sizes of flying insects.

Servicing Units
One of the main reasons why fly control units need to be replaced is that they are not kept clean. Make sure a maintenance or cleaning program is put in place or employ a pest control company to do this for you.

Industry good practice often requires that production is halted in areas where servicing is being carried out, therefore a shorter shutdown period is a great advantage to the production manager.

PestWest units can be maintained without removing screws or using tools, making them easier and quicker to service. All parts are easy to remove providing easy access to change the UV lamps.

Standard practice in the food industry forbids small loose items in a production area in case they get into the food. Loose screws or other fittings are a constant threat to production. All PestWest models are designed so that the screws and other fittings remain attached to the body when servicing.

Construction materials
PestWest use the highest quality components and materials in the manufacture of their units, this ensures reliability and long life.

Zintec-plated steel, which is powder-coated in polyester paint after forming, to provide 100% coverage, is used for production of the White lacquered units.

PestWest Stainless Steel models are manufactured using highest quality 316 or 304 grade steel.

Types of UVA lamps
UV light is invisible to humans and therefore it is easy to assume that all blue light lamps offer similar performance. The UVA emitted from the lamp is what attracts the fly. Therefore it is important only to use high quality UV lamps.

All PestWest units are fitted with Sylvania Quantum BL UV lamps, 100% more effective and 40% more powerful than standard lamps.

PestWest only supply lamps that have the highest output of UV light.

Shatterproof lamps
In some environments, especially in food preparation areas, foreign matter such as broken glass is highly undesirable. In these areas, it is necessary to use shatterproof lamps.

The choice of material for this shatterproofing is important as few materials are available which will transmit UV effectively and yet possess the necessary properties to protect against glass escape should the lamp break. PestWest coat all their quantum BL UV lamps with Teflon® G shatter resistant coating.

Using fly control products which are fitted with Quantum BL shatter resistant lamps with Teflon® G fluoropolymer coating as standard, or as replacements provides the easiest and safest solution for significantly reducing the risks of contamination from glass breakages.

Lamp Life
Ultraviolet light is invisible to humans and deteriorates over a short period of time, usually around 12 months. Blue light will still be emitted from the lamp, but this will not attract the insects.

Just because a lamp lights up, doesn't mean that it is producing enough of the correct range of UV to attract flying insects.

It is therefore important to change lamps at least every 12 months, preferably at the onset of warmer weather.

Glue Boards
The PestWest Chameleon Electronic Glue trap range are fitted with some of the largest sized glue boards on the market. This is due to the introduction of the patented PestWest Reflectobakt™ sleeves. These sleeves stop the UV light emitted by the lamps from drying the glue used on the board, making them more effective at controlling all sizes of flying insects for longer, up-to 8 weeks, dependant on level of insect infestation. The sleeves also allows the units to be ultra-slim in design as the boards can be positioned closer to the lamps.

The Chameleon range use the same sized glue boards and UV lamps, except Chameleon 4x4 range, which use larger double sided boards.

PestWest offer a range of full-size adhesive boards for its Chameleon range of glue traps. Including a black board to effectively hide the catch which now includes a food attractant lure, and a grey board with reference grid matrix to make monitoring and counting of insects easier.

Reflectobakt™ Sleeves
Reflectobakt™ sleeves (patented) are a new innovation from PestWest and are fitted into all the Chameleon range of glue board units. These sleeves are positioned at the back of the lamp and shield the glue board from the drying effect of the UV light. This makes the boards more efficient for longer periods against all sizes of flying insects, including smaller ones which may be missed by traditonal electronic fly killers.

Transformers and power source
PestWest manufacture their own unique reliable transformers, for use in Electronic Fly Killers, as the importance of this power source, which runs the high-voltage killing grid, cannot be overestimated. For electric fly killers to work, they need high-voltage current to power the killing grid.

Problems with a transformer will mean that the unit will not work effectively.

PestWest use an AC mains powered transformer to power the killing grid as this will clear the grid of insect bodies, and provide long-term reliability.

DC powered killing grids, may be inadequate to clear the grid of insect parts and the machines will get very dirty due to the electrostatic effects, it produces. To reduce costs, some manufacturers incorporate a capacitor into the transformer design. The different discharge characteristics produced by these can result in parts of flies being ejected from the fly killer.
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Food Contamination Risks and Legal Issues
Flying insects are a major source of contamination. They live and breed in dirty conditions and are highly mobile. They also benefit from the apathy of customers, who will tolerate the presence of a few flies while they will not accept the presence of a single cockroach.

A recent professional pest management survey showed that flying insects pose a greater risk to food premises than do cockroaches, rats and mice combined. Yet the food industry spends far more on crawling insect and rodent control than it does on fly control.

Flying insect control is a part of HACCP, "due diligence" and good food hygiene practice.

Food Standards Code which is given legal force through the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Act1991 states that "food business must take all practicable measures to prevent pests entering the food premises ...[and] to eradicate and prevent the harbourage of pests on the food premises".

Fly control is a legal requirement in restaurants and an absolute necessity in food production and packaging plants.

Risks for Customers
In any food establishments, such as restaurants, fast-food outlets and shops, the cost of the bad publicity following a court summons or citation for hygiene offences is far greater than the cost of installing and maintaining a proper flying insect control programme.

Supermarkets are main distributors of food manufacturers and they are becoming more and more aware that most of their contamination is brought in from outside. One survey from a prestigious source has shown that 96% of contamination comes from goods delivered from suppliers.

Because supermarkets have to protect their reputations, they often set their own standards to be followed by suppliers. They also monitor standards by regular inspections.

Flying insect control for packaging suppliers is also very important. Contaminated packaging is a major risk for food producers and packers. The biggest danger of contamination to a packet of food often lies where the packet is manufactured, not filled.
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Siting and Usage Guide

Place a unit near the flying insect entry point e.g. open window or door
Site units away from sensitive areas, to attract flies away from exposed food
Use glue board units to protect food preparation areas
Hang or mount units where they are easily accessible for servicing
Avoid placing units where they may interfere with traffic e.g. fork lift trucks
Avoid placing units where they might be a hazard to staff
Avoid placing Electronic Fly Killers near draughty areas to avoid insects being blown out of the catchtray
Do not place units near air blower outlets as flying insects will not enter strong air currents
Units should be kept on 24 hours per day
Units should be independently wired so that they are not switched off with any other general lighting
Ceiling-suspended units should have as short a hang as possible
Use stainless steel units in areas of high humidity
In areas where water is sprayed select the Nemesis splash-proof model or 4x4Ex
The 4x4Ex is designed for dusty areas where an explosion rating is required
If smaller flying insects are a problem use Electronic Glue Trap units
The Sundew Electronic Glue Traps are ideal when a discreet unit is required such as in a restaurant, bar or in public areas such as hotel foyers
Change boards in glue traps when full, usually between 2 and 8 weeks depending on level of infestation. If board becomes full in short periods, consider additional units and check proofing of building
Replace lamps at least every 12 months - or more often in sensitive areas or ones with high ambient sunlight
Regularly wipe down and clean fly control units to maintain appearance and ensure long life
Electronic Fly Killers are useful in areas where a low level of servicing is required
Electronic Glue Traps are useful where small flying insects are present or near food

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Surveying A Premises
One of the most difficult aspects when placing flying insect control units is deciding on how many units should be placed in any premises and where they will give the best performance. The following notes will help:

Food production and packaging facilities survey

Useful information to obtain:

What is the approximate area of the site?
Where are the doors and windows, etc. to the outside of the building and how often are they opened?
Are there any flying insect breeding sites nearby, e.g. stock farms, chicken rearing sheds, waste dumps, water?
Does the site give off an odour that may be attractive to flying insects e.g. jam, confectionery, animal waste?
How high are the convenient hanging points for suspended fly control units, which are the most economical to use? If possible avoid using excessive chain lengths especially near doors where wind and draughts can cause problems.
Where are the critical areas of contamination within the plant? In a food factory, it is generally where the ingredients or processed food are exposed
Make note of the areas where there is a lot of wash water present or likely to be present and decide whether a splash-proof unit is necessary.
In areas of high dust content enquire whether the plant machinery is "explosion- proofed". If so install a unit with an appropriate IP rating e.g. 4x4Ex.
Note areas where there is high humidity or there is a corrosive atmosphere, install stainless steel units.
Where doors and window proofing is installed, check they are intact and kept closed
Wrapping and packaging areas are particularly vulnerable and should be carefully protected

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Positioning Of Fly Control Units

Large food stores and supermarkets
Many of the principles given in the food company section will apply when surveying large food stores and supermarkets, however, because this is fly control in the public eye, there are some differences.

Use large commercial EFK's units in storage areas and other sections, which are not in public view.

Cover main public entry doors with a suspended unit, as this is probably the main entry point for flies.

The main critical areas in a food store are where there is open food. It is advisable to use glue traps in this type of layout because they are silent, discreet and have no chance of insect fall out. In open food areas, especially around the fruit, vegetable and salad counters, fruit flies (Drosophila) are likely to be concentrated. Glue flytraps are far superior to the electronic type in catching this small fly. If possible, fit a unit in a low position in the area where this produce is displayed.

Use black glue boards in public areas as they hide the catch.

Smaller premises e.g. restaurants, fast-food outlets and food shops
Protect the doors where the flies are likely to enter especially back doors where the garbage cans are kept.

Try not to hang units over open food areas. However, if there is no choice because of the lack of space, use an appropriate glue trap.

Try to site the units so that they are not facing a window through which sunlight comes. It is better that they are at right angles to it so that they are not competing with output from the sun.

Hang units to attract the insects away from the food.

In public eating areas the Sundew range is the best type to use as the blue light of the UV lamp is less visible and the unit is discreet.

Because glue traps are particularly effective against smaller sized insects e.g. fruit / beer flies (Drosophila), they may be placed lower in height.
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Why Use UV Light?
Ultra-violet light is invisible to humans. It is the light, which has a wavelength between 100 and 400 nanometres (nm).

450 - 500 nm (Blue light)
500 - 560 nm (Green light)
600 - 650 nm (Orange light)
650 - 700 nm (Red light)

Fluorescent lamps may give out light but there is no guarantee that the light is in the correct range. The lamps used for fly control have a special internal coating, which when the lamp is lit, give off Ultraviolet light. This coating deteriorates over a short period of time, usually around a year, when this happens; the UV is insufficient to attract flies. The lamps, however, can still give off normal, visible light for a long length of time.

Which is why it's important to change UV lamps at least every 12 months or at the onset of warmer weather, when the insect activity is increasing.

Ultra-violet light is generally subdivided into 3 Categories:
UVA = 315 - 400nm
UVB = 280 - 315nm
UVC = 100 - 280nm

It is the UVA wavelengths that are used in electrical flytraps. Research has shown that the optimum range for attracting flying insects is 350 - 370 nm.

A high output of light in the UV range is the most important feature of successful flytraps.
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