German Cockroach
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ag.arizona.edu/urbanipm/insects/cockroaches/germancockroach.htmlGerman Roaches are the most common household insect in the United States. They are found where there is adequate food, water, and harborage areas. The most common areas are obviously the kitchen and bathrooms. They are easily transferred to locations in grocery bags, cardboard boxes, and household appliances or equipment. They can infest these items during storage, moving, or used purchase.
Their food preference is the same as ours plus items such as pet food, toothpaste, and some types of soaps and glues. These pests are nocturnal. If you see regular activity during the day you have a significant population in the area. At most, only about 1/3 of the population forages at night. During the day they hide in cabinets, appliances, and equipment. They have a very high survival rate because the female carries the egg capsule with her until about 2 days before they hatch. The egg capsule holds between 30-40 individuals. They hatch as nymphs and go through several molts until they reach the adult stage. An adult will live an average of 100-200 days. An established population is made up of about 75% nymphs.
This insect thrives in areas of poor sanitation or structurally deficient areas. The first steps in control are to minimize food sources and harborage sites. This is accomplished by a thorough cleaning of all potential food debris then sealing any gaps, cracks, or holes where they may hide.
There are different methods of control. These include bait or residual spray applications. The residual may be in the form of aerosols or liquids. The most effective way of control is the bait application. I have great confidence in a material called
Avert Roach Gel Bait, which contains the active ingredient Abamectin. I have used this product successfully in apartments, homes, and restaurants. I recommend this product specifically of the baits available.
Other bait materials include Maxforce FC Roach Gel Bait 60 gram tube each or
Maxforce FC Roach Gel Bait 3 tubes per box,
Maxforce Roach Gel Bait 60 gram tube each or
Maxforce Roach Gel Bait 3 tubes per box,
Maxforce FC Roach Gel Bait 30 gram tube each or
Maxforce FC Roach Gel Bait 30 gram tube 4 per box,
Maxforce Roach Gel Bait 30 gram tube each or
Maxforce Roach Gel Bait 30 gram tube 4 per box.
Bait stations are another control option. You have to be careful of placement because one generation will eat all the bait and die off but it is not enough to control the whole problem and subsequent generations will use the empty bait station as harborage sites. Bait stations include
Maxforce FC 12 per pk or
72 ct bag.
Another type of bait is in the form of a particle. This is handy to apply on the shelf or behind large items. These include
Niban Insect Bait 5 lb. Shaker Bag,
Niban Insect Bait 40 lb. Bag. Other products include
Maxforce Fine Granular Insect Bait 10 oz. btl,
Maxforce Fine Granular Insect Bait 6 lb. Btl,
Maxforce Granular Insect Bait 10 oz. btl,
Maxforce Granular Insect Bait 6 lb. btl,
Maxforce Granular Insect Bait 25 lb. btl The best way to apply particle baits is with a
14 oz.Centro Bulb Duster.
Aerosol control products include both residual and contact materials. Residual products leave behind material to remain active for a further length of time. Residual products include items such as
Cy- Kick 17.5 oz. can,
Invader HPX 14 oz. can, and
D-Force HPX 14 oz. can. Contact products include items such as
PI 18 oz. can,
565 Plus 20 oz. can,
CB 80 Extra 17 oz. can.
Liquid residual concentrates are mixed with water at label rates as needed. These are products such as
Demand CS 8 oz. or
Demand CS 1 qt.,
Suspend SC 1 pt.,
Tempo SC 240 ml,
Tempo Ultra WP 420 gram jar,
Talstar Pro 1 pt. or
Talstar Pro ¾ gal,
Viper 4 oz.,
Demon WP 4-9.5 gram bags per pk,
Demon WP 1 lb. jar,
Demon EC 1 pt.,
Cy-Kick CS 1 pt. or
Cy-Kick CS 120 oz..
Viper RTU is a ready to use pre mixed product in a 1 gal. container with a handy sprayer attached to a 1 foot hose. These materials can be applied with a
1 gal. Poly Sprayer or a
2 gal. Poly Sprayer.
Applying insecticide dust in the void areas such as gaps, cracks, or holes in walls or other areas is a good control measure. These products include
Delta Dust 1 lb. btl,
Delta Dust 5 lb. btl,
Borid 1 lb. btl, or
Borid 5lb. btl. The insecticide dust is best applied with a
Crusader Hand Duster.
Glueboards are a good tool to use because they serve to control the insect, monitor for activity and if any is found observe which way the insect is captured. This will allow you to backtrack to find possible harborage areas or entry ways. We carry
Catchmaster CM MB 72 72 ct box,
Catchmaster CM MB 72 8 ct pk, or
Trapper LTD 72 ct box.
The concept is to minimize food sources and seal up any harborage areas. What this does is to force the roaches to the bait. The Avert bait will control the ones you see and as they die, the others will feed on them and the control goes one step further.
Always read and follow label directions. For additional information call Do It Yourself Pest Control Supply at 972-562-9999, 903-891-8818, or 866-562-8999.
