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Cockroaches can be an on-going problem for your clients and a real challenge for your technicians. These pests are very adaptable, multiply quickly, are master hiders, and have shown resistance to insecticides. A diverse treatment program can help to prevent pest resistance and provide the best results for your customers. Choosing the right combination of products, including gel baits, granular baits, and dusts, will help you diversify your plan of attack for an effective cockroach control program.
Gel baits are a great tool for PMPs, especially when battling German cockroaches. Not only do baits kill the cockroaches that feed on it, they also provide secondary kill. Cockroaches will be killed when exposed to the carcasses and droppings of cockroaches that fed on the bait.
Using the same bait over a long period of time can lead to bait aversion (roaches no longer take the bait) and/or bait resistance (active is no longer effective). To prevent this from happening, you’ll want to rotate the bait being used every three to four months. At a minimum, rotate between two gel baits with different classes of actives and different types of attractants. Rockwell Labs offers gel baits that are formulated with unique actives and bait matrixes that are unlike other popular gel baits, making them ideal for rotation.
InVict Gold Cockroach Gel contains 2.15% imidacloprid and unique food grade attractants. Its lightning-fast control causes cockroaches to begin dying in as little as 20 minutes after eating the bait. It also delivers proven secondary kill.
When to Use: InVict Gold is great to use for initial cleanouts, helping to quickly control a cockroach infestation. It is also ideal for sensitive accounts, including schools, because it is formulated without the eight most common food allergens.
InVict AB Gel Bait is formulated with .05% abamectin, which is derived from soil microbes. It contains a wide range of attractants including sweet, oil, and protein attractants. Its formula is different from other roach baits, which makes it a good choice for rotation.
When to Use: InVict AB Gel Bait works well when paired with InVict Gold. InVict AB Gel Bait can be rotated with InVict Gold every three months. This will help to prevent problems with a resistant population of cockroaches and with bait aversion. It is also ideal in sensitive accounts because it is free of peanut ingredients.
When dealing with large roaches (i.e., American, Orientals, and Smokybrowns), granular baits should be the primary bait to use since they are ideal for outdoor use. But granular baits also add value and diversity to a German cockroach program by offering a very different bait matrix compared to gel baits. Granular baits can also be dusted into pipe chases, sewers, attics, crawlspaces, above drop ceilings, under appliances, etc.
InVict Xpress Granular Bait is formulated with .5% imidacloprid. It has a wide range of attractants and provides rapid knockdown of large pest populations. InVict Xpress starts killing cockroaches and other pests in one hour.
When to Use: InVict Xpress Granular Bait is ideal for outdoor use as a perimeter treatment, in sewers, and on impervious surfaces. It can be applied indoors and works well in cracks, crevices, and voids where cockroaches have been seen. It is also labeled for use in food processing and handling establishments.
InTice 10 Perimeter Bait contains 10% boric acid and multiple food attractants including protein, carbohydrates, and oils. It can help control cockroaches year-round. It is moisture resistant and doesn’t break down from heat or UV light. Since it is non-repellent, it won’t chase cockroaches away.
When to Use: Using InTice 10 as a quarterly perimeter treatment can provide year-long protection for your customers. It can also be used in sewers. It also works well indoors, in cracks and crevices, void areas, attics, crawlspaces, and in damp areas where German cockroaches are present.
Dusts are another valuable and versatile cockroach management tool. They are long-lasting when applied to undisturbed areas such as wall voids. Non-repellent dusts, including desiccant and borate dusts, work well when fighting a cockroach infestation.
CimeXa Insecticide Dust is comprised of 100% engineered amorphous silica. It is an odorless desiccant dust that clings to pests as they walk through it. CimeXa breaks down the waxy cuticle, causing rapid dehydration and death. When undisturbed, CimeXa will remain active for up to 10 years. It can be applied as a dust or as a wettable powder.
When to Use: CimeXa is ideal in dry, undisturbed areas. It can be applied to attics, crawl spaces, wall voids, closets, behind or under appliances, in cracks and crevices, and other areas where cockroaches have been seen.
BorActin Insecticide Powder is a superfine, 99% boric acid dust. It effectively sticks to cockroaches and other pests. BorActin works when ingested, which makes it an ideal dust for cockroaches and other self-grooming pests. While BorActin works best as a dust, it can also be applied as a spray, foam, or mop solution.
When to Use: BorActin is suited for areas with chronic moisture including commercial kitchens, in and around drains, or in sewers. When applied to organic build-up, it turns the scum into a toxic bait. BorActin can also be used as a preventative treatment for cockroaches in new construction sites.
General Tips
Cockroaches can be a real challenge to control, especially when they show signs of pesticide resistance. This is why it is so important to diversify your program. Attacking cockroaches from multiple angles by using different products can help to ensure these pests aren’t a problem.
