INTELLIGENT CONTROLS FOR COCKROACHES

There are at least 4,000 species of cockroaches in the world and there are at least 70 described species in the U. S. with at least 41 described species in Florida, but less than 1% of the known cockroaches invade and inhabit our buildings and may become persistent, unsightly and troublesome pests. Household cockroaches are known carriers of fungi, viruses, protozoa, about 40 species of bacteria pathogenic to vertebrates and intermediate hosts for several species of helminth (flatworms). Cockroaches are considered one of the most adaptable and successful insect  groups. In fact, evidence of the continual coexistence with people throughout history is testimony to how adaptable some cockroaches are to the habits of people. Cockroaches are born inebriates and omnivorous scavengers. Our buildings protect cockroaches from the weather and their natural enemies and provide them with ample sources of food and water as well as convenient places for them to hide.

Note: One pair of cockroaches can theoretically produce enough offspring in one year to carpet the floors of the average home to a depth of 1 meter per year! In August, 1997, the Journal of Economic Entomology noted: "Even with the promotion of integrated pest management programs for the German cockroach, Blattela germanica (L.) The pest control industry has generally relied on the use of chemically-based synthetic insecticides as the key, direct control technique in these integrated pest management (IPM) programs (Gold 1995). The financial backbone of the pest control industry for years has been the "need" for continual chemical cockroach "control."

Cockroaches have survived for more than 350 million years. Ancient fossils had the same appearance as today's cockroaches: oval and flat with long legs and antennae. The modern cockroach also has the same need for a warm, moist climate. Cockroaches are behaviorally, physiologically and genetically adaptable. While most cockroaches live wild in the tropics and sub-tropics, a few, called urban cockroaches, choose to enjoy the moist, even temperature we maintain in our homes, schools and workplaces. Cockroaches are offensive pests visually and they expel unpleasant smelling secretions that spoil the flavor of food and contaminate the air and are suspected of transporting various disease organisms in much the same way as flies. Their presence increases asthma problems. They feed normally in packs, or aggregations.

Note: There is a difference of opinion on the classification of cockroaches. According to many experts, cockroaches belong to the insect order Orthoptera, yet other experts consider cockroaches and praying mantids to belong to a separate order, the Dictyoptera, still others say Blattodea is the correct order but, however you classify them scientifically, everyone seems to agree they are considered to be one of our main insect pests, and a continual source of concern and embarrassment for many people!

Most cockroaches are fond of flour, German roaches prefer brown sugar or light Karo Syrup to pure sucrose and carbohydrates to proteins. They also love bread, stale beer, wine, fatty acids, alcohols, peanut butter and are attracted to ground up roaches and their own excrement. Remember this when you mix up your 5% food-grade DE/borax/boric acid/sodium borate baits - be careful to put them out of the reach of pets, children and wildlife.

1. Be sure all visible cracks and crevices are caulked an strong fans are left on 24 hours a day in all active areas. Remove all paper bags, cardboard and infested fiberglass insulation. Install and properly maintain fans or air conditioners and/or dehumidifier(s). Repair or remove all moisture sources.

2. Routinely clean or spray or mist or power wash with Safe Solutions, Inc. Enzyme Cleaner with Pepper mint (1 oz. per gallon), all garbage cans and flood all garbage disposals, grease pits and all drains with the enzyme cleaner (1 oz. per quart) as needed. Maintain routine and thorough sanitation and proper food and garbage storage. Spray, clean and completely drain all steamers or steam tables. Do not leave garbage or any food out at night! You can also rinse-and-vac and/or power wash all surfaces and cracks with Safe Solutions, Inc. Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint (2 oz. per gallon). This will not only control the roaches, but it will also remove the roach allergens and roach smell. Caulk/seal every opening, crack or crevice you see cockroaches come out of.

3. Lightly dust with baking powder or talcum powder or medicated powder or food-grade DE or Comet® along the edges of the room and in any remaining cracks and crevices - or spray them with diluted Safe Solutions, Inc. Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint (1 oz. per quart) or blow hot air from a hair dryer or heat gun into the cracks where you see cockroaches. Then caulk.

4. Mix 45% baking soda and 45% powdered sugar and 10% powdered yeast (or powdered vitamin C) and place as a bait mix. Make some 10% sucrose and 4% food-grade DE liquid baits and place them out of reach of children and pets. Place pheromone traps or duct tape (sticky-side up) wherever you see roaches. Remove all paper bags, cardboard and fiberglass insulation!

5. Spray or mist roaches with diluted Safe Solutions, Inc. Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint (1 oz. per quart). Try spraying diluted Safe Solutions, Inc. Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint in a power washer or steam clean. If you control the harborage, you will control the roaches, so caulk and seal!

6. Mop the floors with ½ cup borax per gallon of hot water. Keep crawling children off the floor!

7. One hour after dark, enter the room/home/building with a red/yellow light and a vacuum. Vacuum up all visible roaches before turning on the regular lights. If you are using a dry vac, add 1 teaspoon of cornstarch or talcum powder to the bag to kill the roaches. If you are using a rinse-and-vac, have some soapy or enzyme water in the container to kill the roaches. (You will take about 90% of your roach pests the first night.) Repeat once a week for several weeks or until all activity ceases. Flush or remove (or seal in plastic) all recycling materials daily.

8. Make some roach (wasp) traps by cutting the top off of a 2-liter soda pop bottle, cut in a straight line where the bottle begins to curve, put a little Vaseline around the inside edge (Be careful not to get any on the outside.) of the bottle and invert the top and put it back inside the bottle (like a funnel), then duct tape the edges to keep the top from falling inside and the roaches from escaping. Put some masking tape on the outside from the bottom to the top, so the roaches can climb up and into your trap. Put some dry dog kibble or 2" - 3" of beer or wine or a piece of bread soaked in beer or a pheromone attractant (or some roach droppings) in the bottom and place under sinks, in corners, and wherever you see roaches. You can use this trap to monitor or control. If you leave a small strip or one side open, you can visually inspect your roach trap. You can either freeze the contents or pour in diluted Safe Solutions, Inc. Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint (1 oz. per quart of water) or hot soapy water. Empty out and reset, or throw away and make some more.

9. Create escape-proof barriers with double-sided (Mr. Sticky®) sticky tape or Vaseline® petroleum jelly or duct tape (sticky side up). You can literally trap and remove all roach problems with enough duct tape.

10. For roaches in appliances, seal the entire appliance in a plastic bag for 2 weeks; the roaches will die from dehydration, or speed up the process by filling the bag with carbon dioxide.

11. Note: Quite often a health inspector will assume you have a serious roach infestation if they see one dead cockroach in a trap, so replace traps as needed with (empty) pheromone traps.

12. Create escape-proof barriers with double-sided (Mr. Sticky®) sticky tape or Vaseline® petroleum jelly or duct tape (sticky side up). You can literally trap and remove all roach problems with enough duct tape.

13. Note: Quite often a health inspector will assume you have a serious roach infestation if they see one dead cockroach in a trap, so replace traps as needed with (empty) pheromone traps.

Alternative Controls

1. Make a roach dough by combining ½ cup powdered sugar and ¼ cup shortening or bacon drippings. Add ½ cup onions, ½ cup flour and 8 oz. baking soda. (Don't forget to add some roach droppings.) Add enough water to make a dough-like consistency. Make balls of bait and put them wherever you see roaches.

2. Mix one clove garlic, one onion, one tablespoon of cayenne pepper and a quart of water. Steep for one hour, strain, add a tablespoon of liquid soap and spray it around the house for roach control.

3. Place bay leaves or talcum powder or baking soda around cracks in rooms or spray with diluted Safe Solutions, Inc. Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint (1 oz. per quart of water).

4. If you find a roach infestation in a computer, radio, t.v., etc., simply place the entire item/appliance in a sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks. The roaches will die from dehydration.

If you are still seeing roaches, read The Best Control© or The Best Control II© on CD-ROM - there are many other controls available.

( Contact Get Set, Inc., @ 1-616-677-1261 for The Best Control© or The Best Control II©, : web site: www.getipm.com or or purchase from Safe2Use on the web

( Safe Solutions, Inc. @ 1-888-443-8738 for Safe Solutions, Inc. Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint and food-grade DE, or purchase from Safe2Use on the web. 

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