Housekeeping notes for Hotel Management Studies. By Mr. Niven Nunes. Housekeeping H.O.D. at G.D Ambekar Pratishthan's College Of Management And Technology, Parel, Mumbai. (+91) 7391891189.

2. A Pest is a organism that:
 Competes with humans, domestic animals, desirable plants for food and water.
 Injures humans, domestic animals, desirable plants, structures and possessions.
 Transmits diseases to humans, domestic animals, desirable plants.
 Annoys humans or domestic animals.

3. INSECTS
 COCKROACHES
 TERMITES
 BEETLES
 FLEAS

4. ARTHOPODS
(MEANING: EIGHT LEGGED INSECTS)
 MITES
 TICKS
 SPIDERS

5. MICRO-ORGANISM
 BACTERIA

6. MOLLUSCS
 SNAILS
 SLUGS
 SHIP- WORMS

7. VERTEBRATES
 MICE
(They are smaller compared to other rodents like rats. Tiny, sparrow-sized rodents
with long thin tails.)
 RODENTS
(Includes kangaroo rats, cotton rats, Norway rats, black rats, African pouched rats,
naked mole rats, wood rats, pack rats, Polynesian rats, and many others)

8.  PREVENTION
Keeping a pest from becoming a problem.
 SUPPRESSION
Reducing pest numbers or damage to an acceptable level.
 ERADICATION
Destroying the entire pest population.

10. BED BUGS
Very tiny, about 4-5mm long and 3mm wide. Emit unpleasant odor.
Feeds on blood of humans and animals: severe irritation, loss of sleep, lack of energy.
Leave small bloodstains on bedsheets or walls.
Hides in crevices of bed, furniture, wallpapers etc.
Most active in night/ dark.
TREATMENT
FUMIGATION APPLICATION OF
KEROSENE
POURING BOILING WATER

11. Beetles are a nuisance because of their ability to damage stored food and property. These
pests can damage:
 Clothes
 Crops
 Decor
 Furniture
 Packaged goods
Three types of Beetles:
 Biscuit Beetles
 Carpet Beetles
 Furniture Beetles

12.  Brown in colour.
 Yellow hairs on body.
 Around 2-3½ mm long.
 They infest on cereals.
TREATMENT:
• Keep foodstuffs sealed always.
• Keep areas and storage surfaces, shelves clean.
• Throw away infested food.
• Keep pantry areas cleaned, Vacuum regularly.
• Seek experts.

13.  Around 2-4mm long, convex body.
 Brown or Black in color with yellow or white scales on the back.
 Attacks furs, carpets, leather and wool.
 Hides under Carpets, skirting boards and wardrobe areas.
TREATMENT:
 Regular vacuum cleaning of fluff and dust is essential to control them.
 Insecticide powder to be sprayed on the affected areas.

14.  Makes its home in crevices and cracks of furniture of unpolished
wood.
 First sign of its infestation: small piles of yellowish bore dust beneath the
furniture.
TREATMENT:
• Unpolished wood must be treated with anti-woodworm polish, varnish or lacquer.
• The crevices of the furniture should be sprayed with anti-woodworm sprays.
• Incase of bad infestation of the funirture, its better to destroy the furniture by
burning it.
 Seek expert advice.

15.  Silvery/ Greyish in color.
 Looks like fish without fins.
 Normally 1cm or smaller in size.
 Found in moist areas, books.
 Feeds on paper, cardboard and cellulosic fibers such as cotton.
TREATMENT:
• Keep moist areas clean.
• Treating moist areas with insecticide .
• Pyrethrum and Sodium fluoride crystals are effective.

16.  Very common pest found in crevices, cracks, drains and dark areas.
 Very difficult to eradicate.
 Two common species:
German : 10-15mm, yellowish brown color.
Found in warmer, humid environment.
Oriental : 20-24mm, dark brown color.
Found in cooler, less humid climate (basement/drain)
TREATMENT:
 Keep drainages, drain surrounding areas clean.
 Seal cracks and holes, fix water leaks.
 Treatment available are: Cockroach traps/ baits, Cockroach Gel, Killer sprays.

17.  Usually transferred to dogs and cats from grass, most active in summer.
 Thrive on organic matter.
TREATMENT:
 Spraying the area with insecticide.
 Keeping pets well groomed.
 Pets bedding to be washed at a high temperature atleast once a week.

18.  These pests are attracted to human hair.
 Grey in color, 3mm size.
 Easily passed from one person to another.
 Left on pillows, upholstery, headboard.
TREATMENT:
 Pillowcases and Headrest covers on chairs should be changed and washed frequently.
 Headboard should be wiped daily.
 Use medicated shampoos on head infestation.
 Avoid using others personal belongings: comb, brush, towel and clothes.

19. Moths damage clothing, carpets, furnishings, food. Categorized in two types:
Clothes Moths:
 Less brownish with a golden or silvery sheen, 10-20mm wingspan.
 Attacks more on fabrics soiled by perspiration/ urine/ beverage and food spills.
Moths attacking foodstuffs: (Mediterranean Flour Moth/ Indian Meal Moth)
Attacks flour, cereal and cereal products, nuts, dried fruits.
TREATMENT:
 Regular cleaning by dusting, mopping, vacuuming areas.
 Storing foodstuffs in airtight containers.
CLOTH MOTH
INDIAN MEAL MOTH

20.  Common pest invading in large numbers for food. Specially attracted to sweet
substances.
 Enter through crevices and travel along a track.
TREATMENT:
 Entrance points can be blocked.
 Seal food in airtight containers.
 Spreading borax may keep them away for a while.
 2tbsp Carbon bisulphide can be placed on its entrance. (Caution: Highly inflammable)
 Pouring boiling water over the nest also will kill them.

21. Also called “White Ants” . Two types:
Dry-wood termite:
 They live within wooden surfaces.
 Evidence of their activity includes sand-like droppings and exit holes in walls,
ceilings or wood.
 They can be terminated by injecting insecticide in their holes.
 Saturate infested furniture with orthodichlorobenzene.
 Wax and varnish all wood, coat with linseed oil to cover the pores.
 For old furniture, drench it in kerosene before refinishing.

22. Ground termite:
 They cause more damage in a short span of time as they consume over 15 pounds of
wood in a single week.
 They nest in moist areas like roof leaks, plumbing leaks, leaky showers or tubs, toilet
leaks.
 They travel through mud-tubes made up of soil to remain unseen from its predators.
TREATMENT:
 Use treated lumber for construction.
 Seal all cracks and crevices.
 Inject insecticide in the infested holes.
 Saturate infested furniture with orthodichlorobenzene.
 Wax and varnish all wood, coat with linseed oil to cover the pores.
 For old furniture, drench it in kerosene before refinishing.
Mud Tube

23.  Common pest which are very dangerous to health as they contaminate food which
causes diseases such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery.
 They carry germs on their legs and saliva.
TREATMENT:
 Burn all garbage
 Keep dustbins covered all the time.
 Maintain cleanliness regularly.
 Aerosol fly-killers are also effective.

24. They transmit diseases such as Malaria, filarial and yellow fever.
Their life cycle begins in water.
TREATMENT:
 Do not allow water to stagnate in and around the property.
 Repair and fill all pits and puddles.
 Cover all the drains and drain lines.
 Pouring kerosene regularly in drains will kill any larvae present.
 Fine gauze on windows would prevent mosquito entry.
 Open door entry should be installed with an Air-curtain machine.
 Mosquito sprays are readily available in the market.

25. Mice and Rats carry germs which causes plague and typhoid, food poisoning,
infection, jaundice. They contaminate food with urine and droppings, fur.
Mice are smaller and slender, have big ears, brown coats and grey underbellies with
long tail.
TREATMENT:
 Poisoning, Fumigating, Glue trapping, Cage-trapping.
 Sealing entry points

26. WET ROT:
 Wet rot grows on porous surfaces such as timber where there is moisture content of at
least 30%. It can lead to structural damage as it can weaken timber.
 Found in kitchens, bathrooms, sinks, door frames.
 Defective plumbing needs to be rectified, gutters should be sealed. Timber should be
sealed with a water repellent.
DRY ROT (also BROWN ROT):
 Dry rot is wood decay caused by fungi, which ruins wooden structures.
 Gives a musty, mushroom like smell.
 When touched, affected timber turns into dry powder.

27.  It is the combination of appropriate pest control tactics into a single plan to reduce
pests and their damage.
 IPM aims to suppress pest populations below the economic injury level (EIL).
 Using different tactics to control pests leads to disruption to other living organisms.
 Major use of pesticides only causes pests to develop resistance to pesticides, causes
outbreaks of other pests and cause harm to non-targeted organisms.

28. NATURAL
CONTROL
BIOLOGICAL
CONTROL
CULTURAL
CONTROL
MECHANICAL/
PHYSICAL
CONTROL
CHEMICAL
CONTROL

29. Natural forces affects all organisms causing their population to rise and fall. Hence
they can help or hinder pest control. Taking advantage of such forces will certainly
help in controlling pests. Such natural forces are:
 CLIMATE
Pests can be controlled by rain, freezing temperatures, drought.
 NATURAL ENEMIES
Birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians feed on certain pests which in turn can help control.
 GEOGRAPHIC BARRIERS
Mountains and large water bodies can restrict spread of pests.
 FOOD AND WATER SUPPLY
When the Food source (food and water) is exhausted, pests starve and die.
 SHELTER
Shelter provides a place to hide which leads to rise in pest population.

30.  It involves the introduction of natural enemies such as Parasites, predators and
pathogens.
 Pheromones can be used to attract pests and trap them.

31. Certain cultural practices alter the environment, condition of the plant or the
behavior of the pests to prevent or suppress pests.
Examples of such practices:
 Rotating crops.
 Cultivating the soil.
 Planting trap crops.
 Adjusting row widths.

32. Use of devices, machines to control pests. Examples of such practices :
 Traps.
 Screens.
 Barriers.
 Fences.
 Nets.
 Radiation.
 Electricity.

33.  Use of Pesticides to destroy pests, control their activity or prevent them from
causing damage.
 One of the fastest way to control pests.