German Cockroach Management in Low Income Housing
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German Cockroach Management in Low Income Housing

   

German Cockroach Management in Low Income Housing1

P. G. Koehler2

German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), ( Figure 1 ), are the most common insect pests of low income housing. In a survey of over 1,100 low income apartments found that 50% of inspected apartments had populations of >15,000 cockroaches.

CREDITS: James Castner, University of Florida
Figure 1. German cockroach (actual size 5/8").

German cockroaches are annoying, can transmit disease, and cause allergies. Most people do not want to live with cockroaches. They can contaminate food and food utensils with their bodies and droppings. Over 500 disease organisms can be transmitted by cockroaches; however, these diseases can be just as easily transmitted by a filthy hand as a cockroach. Recently, cockroaches have been implicated in causing allergies in humans. In fact, about 10-15% of people in the U.S. are allergic to cockroaches. However, children raised in cockroach infested apartments have a much higher incidence of allergy, 65-70%.

Therefore, it is important to manage German cockroach populations in residences. Because low income housing typically has a high incidence of German cockroach infestation, these locations can be a challenge for implementing effective control. In many cases, high levels of insecticide resistance in German cockroach populations has resulted in the increased use of pesticides for control. This has translated into higher costs of pest control for housing authorities often without satisfactory results.

In 1993, the Department of Entomology initiated an integrated management program for control of cockroaches with the Pasco County Housing Authority. This program was highly successful resulting in a decrease in insecticide usage by 90% and an increase of 95% in German cockroach control. The basis of the program was the use of insecticide baits and maintenance personnel to apply the baits. The following are suggestions for implementing similar programs in other counties and municipalities.

Procedure

Supplies

  1. Sticky traps for monitoring cockroaches (i.e.; Black Flag Roach motels).

  2. Insecticide baits (most supplies are available from pesticide distributors, such as Lesco or Van Waters & Rogers). Alternate use of Bait combination #1 and Bait Combination #2 every 6 months.

    • Bait combination #1

    • MaxForce bait trays and

    • MaxForce Gel or

    • Siege Gel

    • Bait combination #2 and

    • Avert dry, flowable, gel, or

    • Avert aerosol or bait

  3. Data forms (see Table 1 ).

Pretreatment Trapping

Apartments should be trapped (with sticky traps) before treatment to determine levels of infestation. Select 10% of the total number of apartments that will be treated; select the ones with the worst infestation (i.e. trap 10 apartments out of 100). Place three traps (one under sink, one next to a major appliance, and one near garbage) in each apartment for 24 hours. Pick up the traps, count the total number of trapped cockroaches, and record numbers on a data sheet. Keep a record of apartments so they can be trapped again after treatment.

Treatment

Place 12 bait trays in each apartment. Ten bait trays should be placed in the kitchen and 2 in the bathroom area (under sink cabinet). The 10 bait trays should be placed in the following kitchen areas:

• under the sink (to left and right rear of cabinet)

• next to or under refrigerator

• next to stove

• in wall cabinets and pantry

• in floor cabinets Gel treatments should be used to treat other areas in the kitchen, living/dining room, bathroom, and hallways.

Areas to treat with gel include:

• harborages behind cabinets next to refrigerator;

• underneath toaster;

• next to stove;

• cracks behind wall cabinets;

• pictures on the wall;

• circuit breaker boxes;

• fire extinguisher mountings;

• any other areas where cockroaches are seen.

Retreatments

Apply bait initially. Check bait trays monthly. If all bait has been consumed, replace the bait tray. Retreat with gel every month in locations where cockroaches are still prevalent. Every 6 months rotate bait combinations #1 and #2. This will require removal of old bait stations and placement of new bait trays and gel treatments identically to the initial treatment.

Measurements

Posttreatment monitoring should be done monthly with sticky traps placed in the same locations within the same apartments.

Analysis

Calculate average number of cockroaches per trap pretreatment and at each date after treatment (see Table 1 ). Keep records of expenditures for baits, traps, and other supplies.

Certification

Florida Statute 482 requires individuals applying pesticides as part of their job be certified to apply pesticides. Employees of housing authorities would be required to pass the exam for limited certification at the county extension office. The certification would allow the applicator to treat the apartments for the housing authority, but the certification does not allow him/her to operate a pest control business.

Table 1. Analysis

Date

Complex

Apt. #

Sink

(trap catch)

Appliance

(trap catch)

Garbage

(trap catch)

Average






































































Footnotes

1. This document is ENY-257, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: March 1994. Revised: March 2003. Please visit the EDIS Website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. P. G. Koehler, professor/extension entomologist, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.

The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to them in this publication does not signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composition. Use pesticides safely. Read and follow directions on the manufacturer's label.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.


Copyright Information

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