Pest Management Professional, February 2019

SHEPERSPECTIVE COCKROACHES By Mark Sheperdigian BCE PMP Contributor W hen it comes to eliminating the German cockroach Blattella germanica from any account especially restaurant accounts finding them is your most important task If you have ever found yourself sitting on the floor of a commercial kitchen wondering where the epicenter of the cockroach population might be you should consider improving your inspection skills Here are some fundamentals that might help 1CONSIDER THE 3 WS The German cockroach is a cautious nocturnal insect that relies on its ability to hide as its main survival technique They use chemical cues from droppings to establish harborages which makes porous surfaces such as wood pressed board or cardboard more attractive than solid surfaces They need water to thrive and prefer warm places so use the 3 Ws wood water and warmth to guide your search 2INCORPORATE AN EXTENSION MIRROR Cockroaches preferred harborage type is dark but you cant always simply crouch down and shine a flashlight on them They often go around several corners before stopping and finding them means getting underneath and behind equipment An extension mirror can let you see around corners and over your head and should be in every inspection kit 3NIGHTTIME IS THE RIGHT TIME Cockroaches are nocturnal so make arrangements to inspect after the kitchen closes Morning inspections can work but its always easier to find them when they are active 4SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE Plan your inspection by starting with primary harborages and moving methodically through every area There will be droppings and cast skins where they spend their time so you should be looking for more than just live cockroaches These cues can be You can reach Sheperdigian vice president of technical services Rose Pest Solutions Troy Mich at shep@ rosepest com Even if the kitchen surfaces are gleaming its what lies beneath that keeps the cockroaches fed subtle so dont rush your inspection Moving too quickly is a common failing In areas where cockroaches have been caught or observed be sure to take your time Assume there is a hidden area that might be missed if you rush through your search Also dont skip around from one sink to the next it just leaves holes in your inspection Inspect every wheel every electrical cord and every refrigerator compressor 5DONT SKIMP ON THE INSECT MONITORS Trap catch results are worth their weight in gold Be sure to place them out of the way of kitchen operations out of general sight is even better If this is an initial inspection you will have to go it on your own Regardless of your success in inspecting deploy monitors as you go for next time Cockroach control is always a multi visit affair PMP PHOTO ISTOCK COM RONBAILEY 5 tips to finding cockroach harborages in commercial kitchens Your search pattern matters for German cockroach inspections Dont miss the clues by moving too fast 60 February 2019 Pest Management Professional mypmp net