Pest Management Professional, December 2013
tips tricks COCKROACHES Continued from page 52 Syngenta Professional Pest Management By Dr ElRay Roper Senior Technical Representative In addition to being a common nuisance pest cockroaches pose a significant public health risk to humans These pests are a source of indoor allergens and exposure to cockroaches can lead to asthma symptoms Cockroaches also can acquire bacteria from waste and food making them potential vectors for the transmission of human diseases To help protect customers from the threat and nuisance of these pests consider an integrated pest management IPM approach that includes the following steps for thorough control Inspection and monitoring A working knowledge of common cockroach aggregation sites such as entry points areas of poor sanitation and around outdoor vegetation is useful when inspecting a customers property for the pests Carry a flashlight and small mirror for inspecting areas that are difficult to see Because cockroaches are nocturnal pests monitoring devices installed overnight can help detect cockroaches that cant be found through visual inspection During inspection carry plastic vials that can be used to collect specimens for identification Proper baiting Baits are a popular control method because theyre more effective at targeting cockroaches result in less contamination and can be used in areas such as food processing establishments check individual product labels To be successful however cockroach baits must be more attractive than other existing food sources Ensure your bait isnt stale old or nonpalatable so cockroaches wont overlook it for more attractive food sources When dealing with intense cockroach infestations several small bait placements can enhance bait efficacy FMC Professional Solutions By Brian Mount Product Development Representative If your customers see cockroaches indoors during the day theyre probably just the tip of the iceberg Thats because cockroaches generally are nocturnal insects that venture out during the daylight hours only if their harborages are overcrowded German cockroaches seem to be the most common and persistent species They prefer indoor living and are smaller than many species so they hide easily in tiny cracks and crevices to evade humans Females produce between 25 and 45 eggs every three to four weeks males and females can live as long as a year Preferring warm moist environments they eat starch sugar grease and meat In periods of food shortage they will ingest soap glue and toothpaste or one anothers wings and legs Cockroach management starts with a thorough inspection Place glue monitors against walls in a corner of the floor on a shelf in a drawer or under equipment and counters One week of trapping at 10 or more sites provides Continued on page 56 54 December 2013 Pest Management Professional www mypmp net
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