Cockroach Pest Control | tsdpestcontrol.com.au
Cockroach pest control requires sanitation, elimination of harborage locations and the use of effective insecticides. Remove trash, piles of rags, and woodpiles; seal cracks; and eliminate water leaks.
Baits are usually more effective than sprays when targeting domestic and peridomestic cockroaches. Place gel-type baits in corners and secluded areas where roaches hide. Use a syringe to inject many pea-sized dabs of bait.
1. Prevention
In many cases, cockroaches enter homes by exploiting cracks and crevices to gain entry. To prevent cockroaches from entering, install door sweeps and use weatherstripping to close gaps around doors and windows. Caulking also works well to seal these spaces.
Keep food preparation rooms, kitchens, and pantry areas clean to limit cockroach food sources. Remove crumbs and trash regularly. Store food in sealed containers and dispose of garbage in tightly-lidded outdoor trash cans. Clean pet dishes and water bowls, and store unwashed utensils and dishes in sealed plastic containers.
Clutter provides hiding spots for roaches and makes it harder to clean thoroughly. Get rid of accumulated cardboard, newspapers, and old magazines. Ensure that all plumbing fixtures are in good repair, especially leaky faucets. Damp basements and crawl spaces should be dehumidified. Cockroaches thrive in warm and moist environments, so removing these conditions can be a big help in controlling them. Use a sanitizing spray that contains a pyrethroid (cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin, or cypermethrin) to treat walls and floors. These products are available as aerosol or dilute ready-to-use sprays and may be applied with a brush or caulk gun.
2. Inspection
Cockroaches are nocturnal and most often infest kitchens and bathrooms. They can spread many dangerous microbes including salmonella, E. coli and dysentery through their feces and defensive secretions. Their skin, which is shed through periodic molting, can trigger severe asthmatic reactions in susceptible people.
Buildings should be inspected for evidence of cockroach infestation, such as pepperlike specs on countertops and in food cabinets, cockroach egg sacs, and the roaches themselves. Other areas to inspect include drains, cracks and crevices, leaking pipes, and staff lounges.
A key tool for monitoring cockroach populations is the adhesive-coated cardboard insect monitoring trap, sometimes called “sticky” traps. These traps contain a German cockroach aggregation pheromone and are particularly effective in food service areas, custodial closets, storage areas and staff lounges. The traps should be dated to track cockroach pest control activity over time. The traps should be placed strategically to cover pest vulnerable areas and to monitor activity in nonfood areas as well.
3. Trapping
The most effective method of control for cockroaches is to use gel baits. These are placed in cracks and corners and where cockroach activity is suspected, such as fecal smears, cast skins and egg cases. The syringe-type applicator used with these baits allows for many smaller placements, which work better than large globs of bait and are easier to manage. Cockroaches typically feed on the bait and die within a day or two. A substantial reduction in the cockroach population should be apparent within a few weeks.
The pest specialists at Viking Pest can recommend sanitation techniques to reduce cockroaches, such as sealing up cracks and crevices where they may enter. Also, clean up food spills right away, and store all food in sealable containers.
Keep in mind that cockroaches are primarily nocturnal and a good indication of a
severe infestation is to see them during the day. Other indicators of a problem include droppings, egg cases, shed skins and a foul odor.
4. Treatment
Cockroaches can crawl into houses and apartments from outside through cracks, gaps and crevices, especially in the summer when they look for cooler hiding spots or in the fall when they seek shelter. They also can hitch rides inside on bags, purses and packages and enter from adjacent apartments in multi-unit buildings.
Sanitation is the key to cockroach prevention. Store food in tightly sealed containers, especially products in lightweight packaging like cardboard and plastic, and clean up spills immediately. Keep garbage cans closed, and don’t leave trash sitting out overnight or in the rain.
In addition to sanitation, termite pest control regular inspections and cockroach extermination techniques are essential to effective roach control. Pest control professionals use baits, sprays and powders to reduce cockroach numbers and prevent them from returning after treatment. Using these treatments in conjunction with sanitation is the best way to control cockroach infestations and eliminate them for good. This is the approach referred to as integrated pest management (IPM). This is an environmentally conscious and comprehensive strategy that uses a combination of prevention methods to manage and monitor cockroaches and other unwanted insects.