May 6, 2012 – Choices For Roaches
QUESTION:
I have used Advion, Maxforce, and other gel baits unsuccessfully trying to get rid of German cockroaches in apartment settings. What would you recommend for use in kitchens by specific product name and type? The residents have done a good job of getting rid of trash and cleaning up, but still are disturbed over seeing even one or two of this roach. I am open even to roach bait stations, but need product specifics.
ANSWER:
I may end up disappointing you somewhat by avoiding too many product names. I really do believe that the ones you mention are excellent bait products for the German roach, although it never hurts to offer other choices just to see what these particular roaches will accept. This has been the advice from some of our industry consultants - offer a variety. Since you do not indicate that you have done any other kinds of insecticide applications, this may be one avenue to explore. German cockroaches can still be pretty tenacious insects, and using the various kinds of formulations available can offer the best results. This includes dusts in wall voids and other enclosed voids, such as inorganics like MotherEarth Dust or Drione, or contact synthetics like Tempo, DeltaDust, etc. It also includes the use of liquid or aerosol products within cracks and crevices, and the choices there are too numerous to start naming names, but frankly they all will work. The key is to get the roach and the active ingredient together for a long enough period that the roach can absorb the chemical.
View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.
I have used Advion, Maxforce, and other gel baits unsuccessfully trying to get rid of German cockroaches in apartment settings. What would you recommend for use in kitchens by specific product name and type? The residents have done a good job of getting rid of trash and cleaning up, but still are disturbed over seeing even one or two of this roach. I am open even to roach bait stations, but need product specifics.
ANSWER:
I may end up disappointing you somewhat by avoiding too many product names. I really do believe that the ones you mention are excellent bait products for the German roach, although it never hurts to offer other choices just to see what these particular roaches will accept. This has been the advice from some of our industry consultants - offer a variety. Since you do not indicate that you have done any other kinds of insecticide applications, this may be one avenue to explore. German cockroaches can still be pretty tenacious insects, and using the various kinds of formulations available can offer the best results. This includes dusts in wall voids and other enclosed voids, such as inorganics like MotherEarth Dust or Drione, or contact synthetics like Tempo, DeltaDust, etc. It also includes the use of liquid or aerosol products within cracks and crevices, and the choices there are too numerous to start naming names, but frankly they all will work. The key is to get the roach and the active ingredient together for a long enough period that the roach can absorb the chemical.
It sounds like you have done a really good job to this point, if all the tenants are now seeing is the occasional single roach. Expecting 100% eradication of roaches in large apartment complexes can be difficult. There will always be a few tenants that cooperate less in removing all food opportunities for the roaches. Obviously if roaches are still living in the apartments they are finding something to eat, but the amount of food needed to support a cockroach is not very much, so a few spills under the fridge or stove or food left overnight in open garbage containers will be sufficient. It may be education that helps the tenants understand that a single roach is not an infestation. You can make liberal use of insect glue traps to help monitor the apartments and to capture the occasional roach. Place these under kitchen sinks, under the fridge, etc., where the roaches will most likely be wandering.
You might also consider placing a granular bait such as Maxforce, Avert, Advance, or Intice into wall voids, using one of the small hand puffer dusters for it. Since German roaches love wall voids this is a great place for this bait. If you are looking for another gel bait choice consider Alpine Roach Gel, as there has been excellent feedback on the acceptance.
With the roaches at this low level of activity now it could be a great time to spend your energy in these apartments doing exclusion work. Every crevice and hole that you manage to close permanently with caulking becomes one less place the roaches can hide, leaving you with less harborage points to be concerned with.
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