With the constant influx of food deliveries and people, it is no wonder why commercial accounts struggle to remain pest free.

In the experience of the experts at MGK, there are three insect pests that you should be on the lookout for with every commercial account visit: German cockroaches (Blattella germanica), filth flies and stored product pests.

While thorough inspection and a treatment plan are critical to control, monitors are the first line of defense for all three of these insect pests:

• German cockroaches
• Filth flies
• Stored product pests

German cockroaches

German cockroaches have a relatively short life cycle, and therefore multiply and grow their populations exponentially in a short period of time. This is important because the more generations of cockroaches in a year, the more risk there is that an insect population will develop resistance to products being applied to control them.

The key to keeping German cockroaches out of your account is to use glue boards. A properly used glue board can give you a wide range of intelligence. For example, the way the cockroaches enter the glue boards tells the experienced technician the direction in which the cockroaches are traveling from their harborage areas. Additionally, second- and third-instar nymphs indicate a very close proximity to harborage areas.

Tip: Move glue boards around in an account to gather as much information as possible before developing a treatment plan. A stationary glue board provides only limited information.

Once you have thoroughly inspected the property, develop a treatment plan based on your findings. This may often include things like sanitation, exclusion, fogging, baiting and void treatments.

Shockwave 1 Flushing, Killing & Residual Aerosol is a great solution for treating German cockroach infestations. Shockwave 1 Aerosol combines two adulticides to flush and kill; two synergists to enhance the effectiveness of the adulticides and reduce any metabolic resistance; and an insect growth regulator (IGR) that prevents reproduction and provides long-lasting control.

This all-in-one solution flushes, kills and leaves a residual for long-lasting control. Always read and follow label instructions.

“It does an outstanding job on cockroaches, killing them almost immediately. The technicians were very happy to see that it did not leave a greasy film. It also kills roaches fast and flushes them out quickly … [we are] excited to see this chemical enter the marketplace, hopefully we can use it in our arsenal moving forward.”
— Chuck Houston, Reliable Pest Solutions (Missouri)

Filth flies

There are several filth fly culprits found in a commercial kitchen, including house flies (Musca domestica), fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), phorid flies (Phoridae) and moth or drain flies (Psychodidae), to name a few. Their life cycles are short and usually last anywhere from one to three weeks. During this time, they go through a complete metamorphosis of egg, larva, pupa and adult. They breed in moist organic matter, including slime inside drains, dirty mop buckets and mops, under wet or dirty floor mats, and even in cracks in tile grout with organic buildup.

When properly maintained, cleaned and serviced, insect light traps (ILTs) can be an effective way to attract flies once they enter a facility. Place the units according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Tip: When checking the traps, first identify the fly and use your knowledge of its biology to locate the breeding source.

Shockwave 1 Aerosol is effective in combating house flies and fruit flies because of the dual adulticides, dual synergists and IGR. Use Shockwave 1 Aerosol for space spray applications to control insects in localized areas. You can also use it for spot treatments in cracks and crevices where flies are breeding. This all-in-one solution flushes, kills and leaves a residual for long-lasting control. Always read and follow label instructions.

Stored Product Pests

Insects can feed on just about anything, and it should come as no surprise that insects often find their way into products used for food by humans and other vertebrates. Stored product pests are present throughout the food processing supply chain. Whether you are a grower, distributor, retail manager or a consumer, these pests can wreak havoc on your bottom line and on your pantry.

There are many types of stored product pests. The most important key to managing them is to locate the source of the infestation and correctly identify the pest. In a warehouse or larger commercial setting, locating the infestation requires the use of traps with pheromone lures and/or feeding attractants. This allows you to identify hot spots based on trap catch data.

Using both types of attractants is important, as this sampling method covers the most problematic stored product pests, such as Indianmeal moths (Plodia interpunctella), Mediterranean flour moths (Ephestia kuehniella), warehouse beetles (Trogoderma variabile), drugstore beetles (Stegobium paniceum), cigarette beetles (Lasioderma serricorne), confused beetles (Tribolium confusum) and red flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum).

When treating for stored product pests in commercial environments, first identify and remove any infested materials, if possible. While there is no substitute for proper sanitation, sometimes populations become so large that chemical intervention is required. In these instances, we recommend that you treat gaps in expansion joints, behind backsplashes, under sinks, or any other crack or crevice with Shockwave 1 Aerosol to immediately knock down and kill active adults and larvae. Shockwave 1 Aerosol also includes NyGuard® IGR, so it will provide long-lasting control. Always read and follow label instructions.

Red flour beetle larvae in shipped product, found by MGK’s west coast technical field specialist Ryan Neff. Video provided by MGK.

Shockwave® 1 Flushing, Killing & Residual Aerosol

Shockwave 1 Aerosol is a flusher and so much more! It contains two adulticides, two synergists and an IGR for long-lasting control. It is the only aerosol with food-handling tolerance that flushes, kills, leaves an adulticide with residual and contains an IGR.

This all-in-one product offers convenience and improved performance, wherever you need it. Shockwave 1 Aerosol is what you need to stay in control.

Learn more about Shockwave 1 Aerosol at MGK.com.

Visit MGK’s Resource Library for additional resources.

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This page was produced by North Coast Media’s content marketing staff in collaboration with MGK. NCM Content Marketing connects marketers to audiences and delivers industry trends, business tips and product information. The Pest Management Professional editorial staff did not create this content.

Header photo: iStock.com/onfilm; Featured photo: istock.com/stockstudiox