Pest Management Professional, December 2017

SHEPErSPEctivE CoCkroaChes By Mark Sheperdigian BCE Contributor H ave you ever considered that you always find your keys in the last place you look Then again once you find your keys you stop looking so of course you find them in the last place you look Its true for keys but it shouldnt be that way with German cockroaches Blattella germanica If you stop looking for cockroaches after you find some you are in for some hard knocks Stay vigilant by using all the tools available on every visit The most important tool is a full array of well placed monitors A full array means there are enough monitors to intercept cockroaches where they are most likely to be introduced and settle This includes storerooms where goods are brought in lockers and break areas where employees come in and dining areas where the public comes in Once inside cockroaches are naturally attracted to warm areas that offer good harborage and plenty of water These are primary harborage areas because cockroaches are likely to harbor there first Well placed monitors are out of the public view and unlikely to be dislodged A loose insect monitor floating around a place of business is both unprofessional and You can reach Sheperdigian vice president of technical services Rose Pest Solutions Troy Mich at shep@ rosepest com embarrassing Some businesses have chosen to ban them after just such an embarrassment but this is like refusing to wear seatbelts because someone got trapped in a wreck once If you have such a client point out the danger of working blind Always ask the staff whether they have seen anything People who arrive first thing in the morning will often see the first activity in a growing infestation Being there to flip on the lights while rooms are still dark is second only to a full array of wellplaced monitors The untrained may not see a cockroach unless its floating in their coffee but early reports from the morning crew are common Monitors and staff reports arent the only way to discover roaches Thoroughly inspect primary harborages Move through the facility whether it is a food plant fine dining establishment or a greasy spoon and linger around primary harborages inspecting for movement with a good flashlight Keep an eye out for droppings and cast skins Its quite rewarding to find the first cockroaches even before the insect monitors do Cockroaches have been getting into homes and buildings for generations and will do it many more times before we are retired and sitting on a beach If youre always on the lookout you can be proud when you are able to find them and respond before the client ever knew there was a problem By faithfully following the basics and taking your time in all the important areas you can be the best prevention pMp 52 December 2017 pest Management professional mypmp net Photo Mark ShePerdigian BCe Find your keys to cockroach control Dont let cockroaches become established before youre onto them Use all available methods on every visit to get the earliest indicators Finding all or most life stages of a German cockroach population is like hitting the monitoring jackpot