The importance of including light traps in pest management in the food industry

Nowadays, the importance given to safety has been increasing due to the times we are living in, so the exhaustive care and attention so focused on hygiene has also focused our attention on pests and monitoring and control in the Food Industry. In the United States alone, 3,000 people die each year from pollution

dietary (this according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control). We know very well that pest control is extremely important, since insects or animals can irreversibly damage products and even the reputation of companies. And we say irreversible because, what would happen if a fly was found in a bag of freshly bought bread or landed in the soup you are about to eat? Flies, in addition to giving an unpleasant image to customers, are naturally carriers of pathogens that include agents of foodborne illnesses, as well as viruses, fungi and bacteria; some like ecoli, salmonella, dysentery, worms, among others. And in times like these, when information and opinions are within reach of the

cell phone, companies need to be more careful not to make mistakes that could damage the perception that people may have towards them. Therefore, the rules become even stricter and companies are forced to comply with them as established. That is why there is a lot of talk about Integrated Pest Management, which seeks to combine several strategies that

They constitute physical methods that do not contain toxics or dangerous agents with the most popular chemical control methods. UV-A light traps, within the wide variety of products offered as solutions for pest control in the food industry, are of vital importance, considering the strict safety standards and good manufacturing practices that significantly limit the use of pesticides, in response to the risk of contamination of the food that is produced. And that is why today, these teams are essential in Comprehensive Pest Management programs. UVA Light traps, in conjunction with other control practices, significantly help compliance with the HACCP system, as well as other international food safety standards. The versatility of this equipment allows the monitoring of the diversity and population abundance of flying insects to evaluate seasonality, failures in the airtightness of the facilities, the management of organic waste and eventually the efficiency of chemical control actions, all with a view to redirecting Integrated Pest Management strategies, including sanitary design and maintenance. Additionally, UV-A light traps favor pest control, since they capture all the specimens that are attracted by UV-A radiation at a wavelength between 300 and 400 nanometers and remain adhered to the glue sheets, which have a grid for a more agile count of the captured insects, as well as the analysis of the success or failure of pest control strategies. The effectiveness and efficiency of UV-A light traps is linked to the quality of the light tube (these must emit a greater production of UV-A radiation), the design that allows the diffusion of the radiation and the short space between the tube and the sheet of glue that maximizes capture and saves energy in its operation. UV-A light traps AROD, a leading Latin American company with more than 25 years of experience in the manufacturing of this equipment, uses PHILIPS ACTINIC SECURA light tubes, which produce more UV-A radiation and are also shatterproof, making them completely safe for the food industry. The design of the AROD, BUGSTER UV-A light traps has characteristics that make them ideal for the Food Industry, since its material is food grade aluminum, it has shatterproof tubes, a multi-voltage ballast and is toxic-free. In addition to preserving its touch of elegance and discretion. For a UV-A light trap to give the desired results, it must go hand in hand with proper installation.

This is achieved by defining the places where the equipment must be installed. To do this, it is necessary to consider competition with solar UV-A radiation and the behavioral patterns of pests, including flight ranges. There is no universal rule for their installation, since it depends on the weather and physical conditions, however, we recommend placing them at a height from 0.5 to 1.8 meters. Depending on the existing pest and the type of establishment, we can choose the ideal height. Flies regulate flight height by horizontal patterns in the middle. In this context, it will always be necessary to have good technical support from adequately trained and qualified personnel to take advantage of all the benefits of using AROD UV-A traps. AROD is at your disposal to answer your questions and we also give our absolute trust to our distributors INREP SAC, which has professionals with recognized experience in Integrated Urban Pest Management.