Cockroach Control Manual

It’s really cold in here!

BRRRR!

Figure 6-1. Placing cockraoch-infested appliances in the freezer is a non-toxic method of killing the (C. Cepurar)
roaches!

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 Low Risk Control Strategies

Chapter 6
Low Risk Control Strategies
Low-risk control tactics pose a reduced hazard
to the applicator and/or the home inhabitants
and pets, while at the same time are effective in
controlling cockroaches. If additional insecticide
controls become necessary, see Chapters 7-9.

(Photo courtesy Chris Arne, J.C. Ehrlic & Co.)

You’re Trapped! I Gotcha!
Trapping. Under certain conditions, traps can
be used to control cockroaches. Refer to Chapter 4
for the optimal locations of your traps. Trapping
can be successfully used if:
• you have a small cockroach infestation.
• all harborages have been sealed. (If there are
fewer hiding places, they are more likely to be
trapped.) Figure 6-2. This sticky trap caught a female
• you maintain good sanitation practices. German cockroach carrying an egg case. The
• you place enough traps close to the infestation nymphs later emerged from the egg case.
centers.
• you use proper trap management.
Baited sticky traps should be placed next to diatomaceous earth, more cockroaches are drawn to
walls, under appliances and in hidden areas. Don’t the insecticides and more cockroaches are killed.
forget to put traps up high, in cabinets, above false
ceilings, as well as on the floor. You will need to
move traps often and replace traps as needed.
Heat ’Em or Freeze ’Em
Cockroach pheromones. The German Because they are cold-blooded organisms,
cockroach aggregation pheromone, found in fecal insects do not survive very well in extreme cold or
pellets, is a combination of chemicals produced by hot temperatures. Each insect species has certain
cockroaches that attracts other cockroaches to the temperature and humidity conditions where it
area. Pest management professionals have known thrives. Although there are some differences between
for years that cockroaches are attracted to ideal species, it should come as no surprise our domestic
harborage areas. Dr. Austin Frishman, a respected cockroaches are best adapted to temperatures we
cockroach expert, called them “fecal focal points.” maintain in our homes. They do not develop or
It is now known the more cockroaches that live in reproduce when temperatures are too cold (below
a habitat, the more attractive it becomes to other 45° F) or too hot (above 115° F).
cockroaches. This is because of the presence of Hot and cold temperatures can be very effective
aggregation pheromone. in killing cockroaches, but the adverse temperatures
This pheromone has been synthesized and must be maintained for a period of time. Hot and
extracted from cockroaches, and is available for use cold treatments are most effective when they “shock”
in the management of cockroaches. When added the cockroaches’ system. If cold temperatures
to sticky traps, the traps catch more cockroaches. are gradually lowered, insects have physiological
When added to products such as boric acid and mechanisms that allow them to survive the cold.

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 Cockroach Control Manual

But, if you take a jar of cockroaches from room

temperature and put it into a sub-zero freezer, the
insects will be dead within a half hour. They just
cannot adapt that quickly.
Because cockroaches cannot survive
temperatures above 115° F to 120° F, it is possible to
use heat to eradicate cockroaches from restaurants
and food service establishments. After heat-
sensitive equipment is removed from the building,
the temperature is increased to about 140-150° F
for five to six hours. It may not be possible for the
homeowner to increase the heat that much inside

(A. Sheffield)
the home. But if a small, infested appliance has
many small crevices and can withstand 150° F heat,
a similar procedure can be used. The procedure
is simple — place the heat-proof appliance in an Fig 6-3. Vacuuming cockroaches and egg cases is
oven, and after several hours at 150° F, the roaches a simple non-toxic control method.
will be dead.
Cold can also be used to kill cockroaches, but Vacuuming will not kill live cockroaches, so you
it takes a prolonged exposure to low temperatures will need to place the bag in a freezer or seal it in
to kill egg cases. Appliances or furniture can be left a cockroach-proof container for disposal. Never
in a garage when temperatures are below 0o F for leave a vacuum that has been used for cockroach
several days. If moving, leaving possessions in a control unattended without properly disposing of
truck or van will do the same thing. Infestations the bag because cockroaches will quickly escape.
in wall voids or indoor cavities can be subjected to
extreme cold by using a CO2 (carbon dioxide) gas
canister. This will freeze a localized area.
Bite the Dust!
Infested small appliances can be fumigated There are substances, called desiccants, that
with CO2. Place the small appliance in a plastic literally dry out any item or animal that contacts
bag or other airtight container and inject carbon them directly. The body of an insect, like that of
dioxide gas. Allow freezing to occur. If a small item other animals, is filled with liquid substances, like
can be subjected to freezing, it can be placed in a blood and digestive secretions. A waxy, protective
freezer for several hours (or overnight) to kill the coating on the outside of their bodies prevents
cockroaches. moisture loss. Desiccants kill cockroaches by
destroying this waxy layer. The three most effective
desiccants for cockroach control are diatomaceous
Vacuuming Cockroaches earth, silica aerogel and boric acid.
Any vacuuming device—a household vacuum,
shop-vac or dust buster—can be modified to
remove cockroaches. Place a narrow tube on the
end of the vacuum hose to extract cockroaches from
cracks and crevices. When an infestation is isolated
in a small area, you may be able to completely
eliminate adults, nymphs and egg cases with the
(J. Kalisch)

vacuum method. Even if the infestation is large,

vacuuming helps in preparation for other control
methods. It cleans out old and new egg cases, loose Figure 6-4. Cockroaches exposed to desiccants
fecal materials and living and dead cockroaches. die from dehydration.

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 Low Risk Control Strategies

Diatomaceous Earth. Diatomaceous earth desiccants, it should be used in places where it will
is mined from the fossilized silica shell remains of not move around. Because is has no chemical active
diatoms, microscopic sea animals. Diatomaceous ingredient, it remains active indefinitely. Recent
earth is virtually non-toxic to humans. However, studies have shown that humidity and moisture
care should be taken to avoid inhaling diatomaceous have no affect on the effectiveness of boric acid.
earth, as it can cause irritation to eyes and lungs. Boric acid is also formulated as an aerosol, a
Because it has an abrasive quality, diatomaceous liquid (which dries and leaves a film), and a bait
earth degrades the waxy layer of the cuticle causing (discussed in Chapter 7).
the insect to dry out and die. Using Desiccants. Place the desiccant in a
Note: Some grades of diatomaceous earth duster or a flexible bottle with a small, narrow nozzle
contain small amounts of crystalline silica which (less than 1/4-inch) and apply a very thin coating
is known to cause silicosis (respiratory disease of the material. Desiccants are more effective when
caused by breathing silica dust) and cancer. The only a dusting is used. Many small puffs of dust are
risk of cancer depends upon duration and level better than one large application.
of exposure. Pesticide-quality diatomaceous earth Even in dry locations, the material will eventually
and silica aerogel are amorphous (non-crystalline) absorb moisture from the air. Use small amounts
silica, which does not cause silicosis or cancer. and re-apply often. These dusts can harm motors
Silica Aerogel. Silica aerogel is a non-abrasive, and electrical equipment, so avoid using them near
chemically inert substance used as a dehydrating appliances.
agent because the small particles absorb moisture
and oils. Sometimes small bags of silica aerogel are Insect Growth Regulators
inserted in electrical equipment packages to prevent
the accumulation of moisture during shipping
(IGR’s)
or storage. Silica aerogel is also used in the florist Modern science has brought new weapons
trade. Caution should be taken when handling into the realm of insect control. Insect Growth
silica aerogel to avoid inhaling the dust. Regulators (IGR’s) are extraordinary because they
The silica aerogel particle has a static charge alter growth and development of cockroaches, but
that enables it to stick tightly to the cockroach body. they are much less toxic to humans and other non-
Once on the body, the aerogel absorbs the waxy target organisms. Their effects have been observed
protective coating, which desiccates and kills the on growth and development of nymphs, but some
cockroach. Silica aerogel has also been formulated effect fertility of adults. The IGRs described have
with insecticides. One formulation, Drione®, been tested against cockroaches and are very
contains silica aerogel, pyrethrins and piperonyl effective and available for use. In general, they are
butoxide, an additive that increases the impact of quite safe to use.
the pyrethrins. Because IGR’s don’t directly kill cockroaches,
Boric Acid. Boric acid is derived from borax they are often mixed with an insecticide, which kills
and is usually combined with an anti-caking agent. some of the cockroach adults and nymphs. The
Cockroaches ingest boric acid when they preen nymphs not killed by the insecticide will be affected
themselves after they have walked through the by the IGR and either be unable to reproduce when
powder. Cockroaches die because boric acid is a they become adults or unable to grow properly.
slow-acting stomach poison. Because boric acid Both result in eventual death.
also absorbs the cockroach cuticle wax, they may Hydroprene (Gentrol®). Hydroprene is an
also die from dehydration. IGR registered for cockroach control in apartments
Although boric acid is relatively safe to and homes. It is formulated as a concentrated
humans and other mammals, it can be harmful if liquid or aerosol designed to be absorbed into
accidentally ingested and must be kept away from the cockroach body. Hydroprene does not kill
food, children and pets. Care must be taken not to cockroaches. However, affected cockroaches are
breathe in the dust when you apply it. Like other darker in color and the wings of affected adults

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 Cockroach Control Manual

Natural Enemies: Predators,

Parasites and Pathogens
The use of natural enemies or biological control
of domestic cockroaches leaves something to be
desired, at least at the present time. There are some
vertebrate animals that will feed on cockroaches,
including hedgehogs, frogs, turtles, geckos and mice.
Cockroaches also have a few invertebrate natural
(C. Ogg)

enemies, including mites, helminths (roundworms)

Figure 6-5. Cockroaches exposed to insect growth and centipedes. We are fairly certain most folks
regulators, like hydroprene and pyriproxyfen, would find having a menagerie of these critters
develop crinkled wings. living inside their home would be as unacceptable
as a cockroach infestation.
are crinkled and deformed as shown in figure 6- There are some tiny parasitic wasps (genera:
5. Hydroprene controls cockroaches because it acts Evania, Hyptia, and Tetrastichus) that lay their
like a birth control treatment. Adult cockroaches eggs in egg cases of some cockroaches, including
having deformed wings will be infertile. Hydroprene the American, oriental and brownbanded species.
is nearly non-toxic to humans and vertebrate pets Brownbanded cockroaches seem to be most
and lasts for 90-120 days before re-treatment is heavily parasitized. When the wasp eggs hatch, the
needed. Gentrol® can be purchased as a single wasp larva eats the embryonic cockroaches and
treatment, but it can also be purchased pre-mixed completely destroys them so no cockroaches will
with residual insecticides in liquid or crack and hatch. The tiny wasps exit through one end of the
crevice aerosol formulations. egg case. If you see an egg case with a small hole in
Pyriproxyfen (Archer®, Nylar®). the end, it has been parasitized.
Pyriproxyfen is an IGR with similar activity as Scientists have shown that releasing thousands
hydroprene. It does not kill cockroaches directly, of these tiny wasps in a cockroach-infested dwelling
instead the nymphs exposed to pyriproxyfen can destroy large numbers of egg cases. At this time,
develop into infertile adults. Like hydroprene, it is however, this tiny wasp is not a practical method of
slow acting but extremely non-toxic to people and controlling cockroaches in homes.
animals. Pyriproxyfen is available as concentrated Microbes. Abamectin (Avert® ) is a natural
liquid, pre-mixed with residual insecticides in toxin produced by a soil-inhabiting fungus,
liquid or crack and crevice aerosol formulations, Streptomyces avermitilis. It has been formulated
and in total-release foggers (see Chapter 7). as a bait and a dry flowable dust. Abamectin baits
Noviflumuron. Noviflumuron, like work very slowly, but can be used to reduce small
hydroprene, does not directly kill cockroaches, to medium-sized infestations. Abamectin acts as
but instead prevents them from shedding their both a stomach poison if ingested, and a contact
exoskeleton. Because the cockroach cannot grow, insecticide when it becomes attached to the
it dies. Noviflumuron is similar to two other IGR’s, cockroach body.
diflubenzuron and hexaflumuron. All three of
these compounds have been used successfully to
control termite colonies. Recent testing has shown
“Green” Pesticides: It’s Not
noviflumuron to be effective against German Easy Being Green!
cockroaches and we will likely see products
containing this or a similar active ingredient on the In the last few decades, there has been a great
market soon. deal of interest in everything green. Green is used
to describe methods, practices and chemicals that
are safer for people, animals and the environment.

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 Low Risk Control Strategies

Green is often used to indicate that “natural” have limited effectiveness as a contact spray.
products are to be used when controlling pests Several plant essential oils (clove oil, mint
such as cockroaches. In response to this green oil, neem tree seed oil, oil of thyme, phenethyl
revolution, many new insecticides have been propionate and oil of rosemary) show some
developed. The plant oil extracts and the ingredients contact toxicity on cockroaches. They are usually
oxypurinol and xanthine, mentioned in Chapter 7, marketed as “green,” “environmentally friendly” or
are important examples. These, and other similar “plant based” and are available as dust, aerosol and
ingredients, are considered to have minimum risk concentrated formulations.
by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Another plant oil, limonene, extracted from
The complete minimum risk list can be found citrus peels, shows slight contact toxicity to
on the EPA Web site at: [Link]/oppbppd1/ cockroaches. There is no residual effect. Very high
biopesticides/regtools/25b_list.htm. vapor concentrations caused mortality in lab test
Many minimum risk and other “green” conditions, but no mortality occurred when it was
pesticides can be found in cockroach control fed to German cockroaches.
products available to the consumer. Most of them
show little or no ability to kill cockroaches. Others

(A. Sheffield)

Figure 6-6. Hydroprene is an insect growth regulator. Exposed roaches are

sterile and cannot reproduce.

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