RI, MA EHS Pest Control Blog

Warehouse Must Deal with Insect and Rodent Infestation

A New Hope, MN food warehouse was infested with rodents, insects and birds in July, according to a warning letter issued this month by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA ordered the company, New Wha Ming Trading of MN, Inc. to correct violations within 15 days or explain why it needs more time.

During five visits in July, inspectors noticed live and dead rodents, including several in traps; droppings in 17 locations on food and elsewhere; nesting material and gnawed containers.

Bags of food were stained with urine. There were bird droppings on cans of condensed milk. Insects were found on bags and on a dead rodent.

Owner Weizhen Lin said Wednesday he had not received the FDA letter but the company is "working on the issues."

George Williams,
General Manager

Pest Control, MA ,  Pest Control, RI

Carpenter Ant Swarms Mean Trouble
Location = Belmont, MA

Carpenter Ant colonies start slowly in the first 1-2yrs but they ramp up egg production in year three. By the 4th-5th year they have thousands of ants within the colony and they begin swarming. So if you see large winged ants (black with golden wings) then you know you have a mature colony. How many ant colonies do I have on my property? Recent research indicates that there can be as many as 5-15 colonies on your property & in your home. This amounts to thousands of ants per colony and perhaps as many as 100,000 ants in total. You are probably saying “I do not see that many ants.” You would be correct in this statement. The problem is that you only see about 15% of the ants in the day, the other 85% forage from 10PM-3AM!!!

George E. Williams Jr., A.C.E.
General Manager – Staff Entomologist - Pest Control, MA