Confused Cockroaches

          Every year, millions of Americans battle cockroaches in their homes or apartments. This epic battle is a constant struggle between man and beast (well sort of). There are so many choices out there today for “roach” control. One of the most popular techniques currently is baiting. No, you do not put a minnow on a hook and wait for a bite. Cockroach baits and other insect baits for that matter contain an ingestible insecticide that is infused into the “food” or inert ingredients. It is that combination that makes of the bait. While baiting programs around your home can be highly successful, as Bill Delaney described in a recent article in Pest Control Technology Magazine (PCT), there are factors that can cause confusion for the cockroaches and ultimately keep them from eating at the buffet you so graciously laid out for them. His article is entitled 12 Reasons for Bait Failure, and he accurately describes scenarios in which baiting for cockroaches may not work. So whether you are battling cockroaches at your home right now or not, you may want to read on to learn some tips that will help you be successful if you ever do find yourself in the ongoing battle that is man vs. cockroach. While all twelve reasons may not be applicable to home life, there are a few worth noting and taking into consideration for the future.

1.      Household chemicals: Products like 409 or Windex can have a severe effect on the outcome of your roach bait treatment. Any time you place bait or bait stations out, be sure you do not go back over and spray any type of chemical on or near the bait. Chemicals can act as a repellant for insects and can end up driving them away from the bait before they even have a chance to eat it. For most people, if you drop a piece of steak in the dirt, you probably are not going to eat it; spraying chemical all over the place is the same thing to a cockroach. I go even as far as to wipe down all the surfaces I am going to place bait with a warm, wet rag before applying my product.

2.      What are you using?: The active ingredients play a huge part in the time to kill after the bait has been ingested. There are quite a few baits to pick from out there when treating for cockroaches. Products containing boric acid can take much longer to kill than products that have active ingredients like fipronil. Each product will have its own set of strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately you will need to pick which one is right for your situation.

3.      Just how big are they?: Bait placements for cockroaches are usually only the size of a green pea. Well, depending on the size of the cockroaches in your infestation, the bait may be consumed quickly and will need to be reapplied in order to reach the ones that have been unable to feed. Monitoring bait placements daily can help you be successful.

(Delaney, PCT-July 2013 Pg.66-74)