There is only so much a pest control professional can do with a flashlight and other conventional monitoring devices when combating a German cockroach infestation. Because nymphs make up 75% of the typical cockroach population, many PCOs agree it's important to not only monitor and locate cockroach harborages, but eliminate nymphs and egg cases as well as adult cockroaches to inhibit future infestation. Without An effective PCO tool to perform this task, technicians may often underestimate the magnitude of a cockroach problem.
Another consideration is environmental impact. Most facilities today require or request nonpoisonous methods to control cockroaches due to possible human, food or animal concerns. Using effective methods of monitoring and control that adhere to these stipulations can be a challenge.
Proper cockroach control requires pinpointing harborages with various cockroach monitoring devices, including standard sticky traps. They are placed where cockroaches are suspected or activity is seen on a daily basis. This approach is an effective monitoring technique, but it won't "knock" down" the entire cockroach population.
A Versatile Tool
As a result, many PCOs have begun using the Victor Professional Roach Pheromone Trap (M330), manufactured by Woodstream of Lititz, PA. The trap is a useful tool for both monitoring and controlling German cockroaches in many sectors of the industry, including food service, transportation, and residential, to name three.
Designed as an integral pest management (IPM) tool for PCOs, this pheromone trap is the only trapping device available to PCOs that contains a natural German cockroach pheromone attractant. The pheromone lures both sexes and all stages of the German cockroach species. And the trap is attractive to nymphs. In fact, in some situations a ration of six nymphs to every adult captured is not uncommon. The trap's slippery silicone sides make it virtually impossible for cockroaches to escape.
The product has been proven to detect or control cockroaches by several pest control companies and educational institutions. Dr. Austin Frishman, president of AMF Pest Management Services, Farmingdale, NY, confirms that the trap is one of the best cockroach monitoring devices on the market today. Purdue University researchers have discovered it to be an effective cockroach control device, especially for nymphs. It has also been found to be three times more effective than nonpheromone cockroach traps by researchers with J.C. Ehrlich Company, a large regional pest control company based in Reading, PA.
Down & Dirty
According to Richard Nottingham, owner of State-of-the Art Exterminators of Bimble, KY, the Victor cockroach pheromone trap has been highly effective in his company's food service accounts. From three accounts in 1990, State-of-the-Art has expanded to service more than 200 restaurants in 19 Kentucky counties, including a group of Burger King and Pizza Hut restaurants.
One Burger King restaurant in Lexington, KY, recently called State-of-the-Art to alleviate a minor German cockroach infestation. Restaurant employees reported seeing nymphs around stainless steel kitchen appliances and equipment, but an inspection performed by Nottingham and his technicians found no visible signs of cockroaches.
State-of-the-Art then strategically placed glueboards throughout the restaurant. After seven days, two cockroaches were captured. Duct tape and silicone were used to plug all cracks and crevices, but the German cockroach infestation still eluded technicians.
"I am quick to try each new pest control or monitoring product as it hits the market, so I ordered a case of the pheromone traps and gave them a fair trial." Nottingham said.
As a result, technicians placed 24 additional cockroach pheromone traps in and around kitchen appliances. After 10 days, three of the traps caught cockroaches; the totals captured in the traps were 10, 10 and six respectively. The traps helped to locate the source, which was an electrical conduit spanning the length of an interior wall from ceiling to floor. Further monitoring caught 10 to 15 adults, some with egg capsules plus nymphs. Pesticide was then applied to eliminate all cockroaches.
"Pesticides alone usually can't eliminate a cockroach infestation anymore." Nottingham said. "Alternative treatments and methods are needed to alleviate problems. German cockroaches are smart. You've got to play dirty with them, luring them from their harborages. The Victor product is an excellent addition to my arsenal of PCO tools."
A customer for three years, the Burger King restaurant was recently awarded a certificate for outstanding sanitation practices by State-of-the-Art Exterminators.
The Silver Bullet
A local Pizza Hut restaurant was also recently heavily infested with German cockroaches. After two months of monitoring, State-of-the-Art acquired a 90% reduction in the existing cockroach population using conventional trapping methods. Nymphs, however, continued to be a major problem.
"We threw all of our heavy guns at those pesky nymphs, and they still persisted," Nottingham said. "They were giving my technicians headaches. Nymphs had easy access to wall voids and crevices due to deteriorated caulking and sealing. It was a challenge."
As a result, 48 traps were strategically placed throughout the restaurant. After one week, 36 traps had cockroaches in them, some with as many as 30 per trap. For the next four weeks, technicians repeatedly replaced any traps that contained German cockroaches. The restaurant is now cockroach-free.
"Even in 'safe' restaurant accounts - those which had been cockroach-free for months-we find an occasional cockroach in the trap," Nottingham said. "It's amazing how the trap lures cockroaches from their hiding places. I can only describe it as a silver bullet in the war against cockroaches."
State-of-the-Art Exterminators has begun using the cockroach pheromone trap in many of its other accounts as well, including nursing homes, grocery stores, and schools. A family-owned and -operated business since 1984, State-of-the-Art continues to provide service to nearly 300 accounts in eastern Kentucky. According to Nottingham, his company doesn't merely control cockroaches and other pests, it exterminates them.
The Friendly Skies
According to Ronen Amichai, director of development for Nationwide Exterminating, the largest pest control company in Israel, Victor's cockroach pheromone trap is useful for locating cockroaches that go undetected by conventional trapping methods.
In December 1995, a major international airline arriving and departing from the airport in Tel Aviv experienced a persistent German cockroach infestation solely on board a Boeing 747 aircraft. Nationwide Exterminating was called in to control the cockroaches. The company originally tried all known conventional trapping methods, but the problem continued.
"We were unable to locate cockroach harborages using conventional methods," Amichai said. "Almost immediately cockroaches were attracted to the pheromone trap, even nymphs. It allowed us to focus on problem areas, reducing labor costs."
According to Amichai, the traps were used to "flush out" females and nymphs so technicians could gather data for locating harborages. More than 200 pheromone traps were placed in gullies, restrooms, interior elevators and food carts. The number of cockroaches captured ranged from two or three to more than 35 per trap per week.
Other control methods were then used in combination with the traps for about six weeks. Airline crew members have not reported any cockroach sightings for the past eight weeks. Prior to implementing this trapping program, flight crews reported seeing two to three cockroaches per week. Nationwide's cockroach control program has now been modified for use in all of its accounts, including food factories, hotels and restaurants throughout Israel.
"Our belief is that if there are cockroaches present, they will eventually be captured by this trap when used to monitor possible cockroach infestation," Amichai said. "If the trap is empty, then you can count on no cockroach infestation. Although we cannot assess the specific coverage range of the trap, the results are distinctly better than any other trap we've used."
Roaches at the Rockefeller
The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza in Albany, NY, comprises the Governor's Executive Mansion and 2.5 million square feet of additional building space, including seven kitchens and four restaurants. For Bert Garcia, president of Bug Free Exterminating & Tree Spraying of Shirley, NY, the plaza is solely an IPM account, limiting the use of chemical and toxic cockroach control applications.
Bug Free turned to the Victor cockroach pheromone trap in December 1995 to control an ongoing cockroach infestation at the plaza. The traps are placed sporadically throughout the building, enabling technicians to monitor "hot spots." According to Leo G. Pryor, Capitol district manager for bug Free, the Victor product has been exceptionally effective in kitchens and corridors.
Five cockroaches pheromone traps were recently placed in a kitchen, behind and underneath cooking kettles where kitchen workers occasionally noticed cockroaches scurrying. In two weeks, technicians achieved a 95% reduction in the existing cockroach population. The majority of cockroaches caught were nymphs, aiding technicians in eliminating future infestations.
"The traps eradicated the majority of the cockroach population in a limited amount of time," Pryor said. "They are even more effective when monitoring treated hot sports to ensure that the infestation doesn't occur again."
Founded in 1979, Bug Free Exterminating & Tree Spraying provides cockroach control services for many New York state government accounts, including the State Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Coast Guard facilities, and the Nassau and Suffolk County municipal buildings. The company recently submitted successful data on the cockroach pheromone trap to the New York State Department of Health for possible IPM approval. Garcia said he expect approval by early 1997.
Hit 'Em Where It Hurts
A city public housing authority recently requested that J.C. Ehrlich Company curtail a German cockroach infestation in two apartment units and a garbage collection room. In the past, all apartments in the building were treated with a wettable powder and other conventional control methods to eliminate a recurrent cockroach infestation.
When J.C. Ehrlich technician John Donati entered one of the apartments, he found one cockroach in the ketch and two in the bathroom. There was no odor, but large quantities of fecal droppings had accumulated under cabinets and on countertops. After intense visual monitoring by Donati, the apartment was ruled as having a minor German cockroach infestation.
For the next two weeks, 24 cockroach pheromone traps (12 per week) were strategically placed throughout the apartment. The traps caught 227 adult cockroaches and 750 nymphs, including three egg cases.
According to Donati, the Victor trap knocks down the cockroach population quicker than other methods thanks to its aggregation pheromone, adhering to management stipulations that poisons and other toxic chemicals not be used.
"Tenants and facility managers usually have to see the cockroaches firsthand, in large numbers, to convince them that infestations were worse than they appear," Donati said. "In this case, cockroaches were staying out of sight, for the most part. The Victor traps lured them out, and the traps filled with all stages of the cockroach, including nymphs. "That convinced them."
According to Donati, the trap produced similar results in the garbage collection room. At first five traps were placed behind two dumpsters and on a small interior roof that overlooked the room. Within a week the traps were filled to capacity. Five new traps were then placed in similar locations. J.C. Ehrlich technicians captured 688 cockroaches in the second week and 513 in the third, for a total of 1,201 cockroaches. Traps are now sporadically placed in prime locations to monitor for future infestations.
"Building management is pleased with the traps and their results," Donati said. "The pheromone not only attracts all stages of the cockroach, allowing people to see the extent of the infestation, but leaves no additional odor. For these folks, seeing is believing.
The Victor Roach Pheromone Trap is a useful detection and control tool for German cockroaches. The product is effective in combating cockroaches, including nymphs, in many circumstances. Whether it is used in food service, transportation, or residential accounts, the trap is ideal for alleviating cockroach infestations.
-- Michael M. Goldstein is sales manager for the Professional Pest Control Products division of Woodstream, Lititz, PA.