3 tip to controling cockroaches

Dr. Brittany Campbell, BCE

Cockroaches are significant public health pests, contributing greatly to asthma with the potential to spread bacteria and organisms that can cause serious stomach distress. Here are three recommendations to assist you in controlling these important pests:

1. Start with a cleanout. When you start an initial account or are dealing with a heavy infestation, start with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum to quickly knock down cockroach populations. A HEPA filter is key because cockroaches shed skin and feces that become airborne and can trigger respiratory issues that irritate the applicator and potentially customers.
2. Get into hard-to-reach harborage. Baits and liquids can be difficult to get deep into some cockroach hiding spaces. In areas that are harder to reach, dusts or dry flowable bait formulations can extend farther and get better coverage into voids. Prime places for these types of formulations are behind appliances, underneath equipment, and in wall voids and electrical outlets.
3. Monitor continuously. If you aren’t sure exactly how much bait to apply or where to apply product, monitors can supply the answer. Place monitors in areas where food and/or moisture is readily available and you suspect activity. Monitors that have heavier counts of cockroaches can tell you areas where to focus your treatments — and give you a clear picture of the infestation level over time. This allows you to modify how much bait to place based on how much cockroach activity is being observed.