Develop structured treatment program

Dr. Cisse Spragins, founder and CEO, Rockwell Labs

There are many effective tools for cockroach control available. It’s best to use an integrated approach and adapt the tools you use to the situation. As with small flies in a commercial food establishment, look for “mystery voids” that may be a potential harborage for a persistent infestation. Commercial kitchens often have several such void areas that may provide warmth, moisture, food or all three.

Inspect the account in a systematic way, looking for clues that might point to a hidden void. Monitors also can help pinpoint where a source area is. I suggest treating damp, scummy areas with boric acid powder to turn the scum into “bait.” If voids are relatively dry, I suggest treating with silica dust for long-lasting control.

Sanitation is almost always a problem and it’s difficult to get client cooperation. Use bio sanitation to help the problem and help your client. Baits are a great tool, but shouldn’t be used exclusively in
most cases, and should be rotated to prevent aversion from developing. For initial cleanouts, use a botanical flushing aerosol and a vacuum to quickly take down numbers.

Again, developing a structured program that takes advantage of the benefits of multiple prevention and control techniques will provide the best results.