Does your building attract pests: structural tips to reduce problems.

Why do some buildings have more pest problems than others? The answer, says Michael Deutsch, an entomologist with Allied/Pioneer Pest Management Companies of New York, is often the structure itself, or aspects of it that are a magnet for birds, insects, and rodents.

"A building is usually seen in terms of the people it serves," says Deutsch, "but pest management professionals see it in very different terms." Here are some of the things that an inspection for potential or existing pest problems will require attention:

* Does the grass grow right up to the structure and are there a variety of shrubs and trees planted near the structure? "This can be a problem because trees and shrubs will attract flies, stinging insects, birds and rodents," says Deutsch.

* Are the doorways brightly lighted? That's good for the humans, but bad because it attracts insects. Deutsch recommends using yellow lighting to reduce the attraction factor.

* A structure with a lot of windows and plenty of indoor and outdoor lighting is a magnet for insects. "You'd be amazed how many hospitals and food service or processing facilities have insect problems because of this factor," says Deutsch.

* Even the exterior color of a structure can attract insects. "A dark exterior color absorbs heat and can attract insects seeking warmth on cool days," Deutsch says.

* A very tall building or one located on a hilltop can attract cluster flies. "The location may be ideal for the guests at a hotel, for example," says Deutsch, "but it can be a real headache when it comes to dealing with cluster fly infestations."

* Ledges, piping under overhanging decks and window sills all represent an invitation for birds to roost and/or nest. "In New York and other urban areas, birds are a major problem for their ability to spread disease and do a significant amount of property damage with their droppings," says Deutsch.

* The location and type of trash cans is important. The use of plastic trash containers represents no problem to rats that can gnaw through them with relative ease. Garbage containers or dumpsters placed too close to a structure are an invitation for a rodent infestation.

"There are many other structural elements, ranging from the type of smoke detectors that are installed to the kinds of brooms that are used, that a trained pest management inspector or technician will identify as a potential or existing problem for the control of insect or rodent pests," says Deutsch. "And pests, quite simply, are a force of nature. As the weather turns warmer, the need to control pests will become a major concern for owners and operators of properties of every description."

(Allied/Pioneer Pest Management Companies is a third generation company and major provider of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) services throughout New York and the tri-state area.)