Flies, ants and food pests
Targeted interventions in retail, food plants, collective catering and tourism. Flies, blowflies, pharaoh and Argentine ants, fruit flies and drain gnats.
"Professional kitchens and food processing areas are the main critical point for crawling and flying insects."
Biology & life cycle
House fly (Musca domestica): 4 stages, 7–10 day cycle at 25–30 °C. Female lays up to 500 eggs. An adult can carry over 100 pathogen species.
Pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis): 1.5–2 mm, prefers 27–29 °C and high humidity. Forms satellite colonies (hundreds of thousands of individuals, multiple queens).
Argentine ant (Linepithema humile): invasive Mediterranean species with kilometre-scale super-colonies.
Fruit fly (Drosophila spp.): develops in 8–10 days in fermented residues.
Where they develop
Flies: waste areas, drains, kitchens, warehouses, loading bays, near livestock.
Blowflies: cured meats, rind cheeses, meat processing.
Pharaoh ants: cavities, skirting, electrical boxes, false ceilings.
Fruit flies: drains, damp pools, bar trays, forgotten fruit, empty bottles.
Diseases & risks
Flies: mechanical vectors of Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Shigella, Listeria, S. aureus and 100+ pathogens.
Campylobacteriosis: in Italy in 2024 the most frequent zoonosis.
Pharaoh ants: carry pathogens in healthcare settings — feared in hospitals as they colonise IV lines and wounds.
Blowflies: cause myiasis — devastating for Italian cured product curing.
Cases in Italy
Italy 2024:
• Campylobacteriosis: top zoonosis.
• Salmonellosis: 2,637 cases.
• Insect alerts in food plants: top 3 causes of ASL business suspension.
• A single fly during IFS/BRC inspection = major non-conformity.
How to recognise the infestation
Constant kitchen buzz; worm-like fly larvae in bins, drains; ant trails along skirting; clouds of gnats over fruit; dark ceiling spots near lights; yellowish egg masses on curing meats/cheeses.
Call us for a site visit
Every infestation has its own species, biology and intervention strategy. Don't improvise: contact us for a free site visit. Within 48 working hours you receive a precise technical assessment and a transparent quote, drafted by Dr. Marco Tarducci and the Hygiene Care team.
📞 Phone · 💬 WhatsApp · ✉️ Email — all contacts at the bottom of the page.
Our approach
• UV-LED glue traps in food areas.
• Gel baits for ants with delayed-action ingredients hitting the whole colony.
• Drain treatment with biotech microorganisms.
• Residual insecticides low-impact on external perimeters.
• IPM mapping with monthly monitoring.
Seasonality
Flies and fruit flies April to October peak July–August; pharaoh ants year-round in heated environments; blowflies peaks in summer and early September.
Noticed any of the symptoms above? Don't wait.
Site visit is free and for urgent cases we intervene within 24–48 working hours. The sooner we act, the faster the resolution.
● Consultation request
Let's talk.
Fill in the form: a technician will get back to you within 24 working hours with an initial assessment and an indicative quote.
Via degli Artigiani 27
Via degli Artigiani 27 — 50055 Lastra a Signa (FI), Italy
