[Pest Perspectives] Success = Using All Your Tools

Cockroaches continue to be difficult to control. Often, a cockroach control program fails when there is an overreliance on a single control method or only a single product is used during each service. Whether the infestation is located within a customer’s home or in a local restaurant, it is important to remember to build your program using multiple tools within the IPM toolbox.
 

Insect Monitors.

Insect monitors, or glueboards, are one of the most overlooked and underused tools in the IPM toolbox. This low-cost item often can be the difference in the success of your cockroach control program. Monitors, when used correctly, can provide the pest professional with a wealth of information needed to control a cockroach infestation. They can act as an extra set of eyes between normal service visits. Monitors can help to identify not only the type of cockroaches in an environment, but also the size and make up of a population, the direction in which the insects are traveling and how close to the harborage you may be. Nevertheless, proper placement and maintenance is critical! Insect monitors should be placed in areas where either evidence of an infestation exists, or in areas where a suspected infestation may exist. In environments that may be dusty, damp or wet, placing these monitors into protective containers, such as multi-catch traps or monitoring stations, is a must.
 

Cockroach Baits.

Cockroach baits continue to be the tool of choice when combating a cockroach infestation. The challenge, when relying on cockroach baits exclusively, is the potential for the development of behavioral resistance, especially when relying on a single bait product. For years, PMPs have stressed the importance of bait rotation to improve upon the effectiveness of their baiting program. Over the years, this has become less challenging, with manufacturers offering a greater array of bait options. There is such a wide variety of both active ingredients and attractants that there is no need to rely on a single product for all of your baiting needs. Take time evaluate your products and create a schedule that allows for a seamless rotation of products within your service schedule. It is also important to identify those baiting products that should only be used for specific purposes, such as for a clean-out or a heavy infestation. By doing this, you can work to minimize the potential for product or service failure, and the dreaded callback.
 

Insect Growth Regulators.

As cockroach baiting became more popular as the primary tool for cockroach control, the use of insect growth regulators (IGR) became less frequent. However, they are, arguably, the easiest to use, and can greatly increase the effectiveness of your control strategies. When used correctly, the addition of an IGR to your cockroach control program can help to more quickly reduce the cockroach numbers in a population than the use of an adulticide alone.
 

Dusts.

The use of dusts to treat cockroach infestations is a lost art. Using dusts to treat in voids is a great way to provide long-lasting protection in areas where cockroaches may harbor. While early dust formulations were susceptible to moisture, limiting where the material could be applied, newer formulations are more moisture and water resistant. These new technologies have allowed for greater flexibility for pest professionals to apply these materials in areas that could not have been treated in the past.
 

Communication & Sanitation.

Lastly, when discussing an IPM strategy with your customer, you must always take into consideration general sanitation within a home or structure, especially when dealing with a cockroach infestation. Developing a rapport and communicating with your customer is an essential part of the service. Working with the customer to identify concerns and to develop a sanitation plan can go a long way in solidifying your success. In addition, by communicating with your customer, you develop a partnership that allows you to identify potential problems and identify solutions before an infestation gets out of hand.

Always remember, when developing a control program, don’t get stuck in a rut. Analyze your situation carefully and utilize as many tools in your IPM toolbox as necessary. Your success depends upon it!

About the author: Kim Kelley-Tunis is Rollins’ technical services director. She can be reached at kkelley@giemedia.com.