Pest Management Professional, May 2014

COCKROACH CHAMPIONSHIP PMP 13 counterpunches to KO the German cockroach By Dr Austin M Frishman Contributor 1HIT EM OFTEN Dont put the account on a regular service interval until there are zero German cockroaches Perform service more frequently 2HIT EM EVERYWHERE Access all locked areas and inspect them thoroughly 3KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN Monitor with sticky traps Use the devices as early warning detection systems 4KEEP YOUR GUARD UP Use plastic bags to cover and seal personal items the client wont throw out 5CLEAN ITS CLOCK Clean spaces using a vacuum cleaner outfitted with a high efficiency particulate air HEPA filter before using pesticides 6TRIPLE SHOT TO THE HEAD Use dusts crack and crevice residuals and ultra low volume ULV pesticides to knock down populations 7BODY BLOW Follow up with gel baits 8MORE BODY BLOWS Once cockroach numbers are low use more gel baits and install cockroach bait stations 9ADAPT AND OVERCOME Look for signs of bait aversion Switch bait formulations if necessary 10GET CUSTOMERS IN YOUR CORNER Constantly communicate with property managers and tenants Work closely with them to identify all cockroach problems and advance control measures 11KEEP CUSTOMERS IN YOUR CORNER Praise customers when they cooperate with outlined sanitation and integrated pest management IPM strategies 12EXPAND YOUR CORNER TEAM Deputize children at residential accounts to look for German cockroaches and report any activity to their parents and you 13BATTLE ROYALE Care deeply and show it with a knockout performance Everyone deserves to live and work in cockroach free environments You can reach Dr Frishman a PMP Hall of Famer at pmp@ northcoastmedia net 13 counterpunches to KO the American cockroach By Paul J Bello Contributor 1SANITATION Clean up Reduce resources available to the American cockroach 2PEST PROOFING Seal cracks crevices and other openings this species can use for entry points and harborage 3GRANULAR BAITS Lure American cockroaches outdoors to areas away from where the client will see them 4GEL BAITS Use a deadly combination of gel baits and other control methods 5STICKY TRAPS Strategically place and monitor glue boards to help uncover harborages and problem areas 6THOROUGH INSPECTION Identify all entry points harborage areas and conducive conditions 7PERIMETER DEFENSE Provide customers with recommendations to correct conducive conditions and include perimeter and granular bait applications sticky traps and pest proofing 8LIGHTS OUT American cockroaches sometimes fly and can be attracted to lights Alter exterior lighting to reduce attraction 9EXPLOIT HABITS Just like in Rocky III when Clubber Lang Mr T dropped his guard after every jab take advantage of the American cockroachs habit of using sewer lines and floor drains for access and harborage Pest proof steam and clean these areas 10SHRINK THE RING American cockroaches often travel via hidden voids Render these areas off limits by applying dusts and baits 11GUARD UP Keep your eyes open A knockdown is not a knockout 12TAG TEAM Give customers practical recommendations to enhance your joint cockroach control efforts and sell them on why their assistance is imperative 13GO ALL OUT Use your entire arsenal knowledge experience tools and techniques to KO the American cockroach You can reach Bello at paul bello@ att net or 770 500 0460 26 May 2014 Pest Management Professional www mypmp net