Inspect outdoors, also. Heavy landscaping near the foundation and plants such as ivy growing on walls increases the risk of outdoor pests moving inside. Moisture problems around the foundation, gutters, or air conditioning units can favor moisture-related pests. Bright exterior lights may be attracting insects to the outside of the building, and these insects may be finding their way indoors. Poor management of trash may be attracting rodents, which could find their way inside through utility lines or other openings.
Sticky traps are the most common monitoring tools in use today.
These glue-covered traps are most often used to trap cockroaches, but they are useful in monitoring for all kinds of crawling insects, and particularly those that are active at night. They will be especially useful in cafeterias and food storage areas. Avoid placing the traps in the open, since most pests avoid open areas. Initial and date the traps and map their locations on a floor plan. Traps should be checked at each inspection, and any pests should be identified and recorded.