Cockroaches: An
Old Foe
Hardy pests will
buckle under a good sanitation program
By ZIA SIDDIQI,
Ph.D., BCE, Director of Quality Assurance, Orkin Inc.
Cockroaches.
Approximately 350 million years old, they’re one of Earth’s oldest and most
common pests. And though cockroaches are active year-round, late winter is the
perfect time to begin protecting your facility from these pests, as they will
become even more active as the weather turns warmer.
The fact is
cockroaches can inhabit any environment that a human can. Not only can the
pests be a nuisance, but they are a well-known public health risk due to their
ability to carry disease and their connection with the development of asthma.
Through frequent contact with contaminated material, cockroaches become vectors
for a number of organisms and bacteria that can cause food poisoning, diarrhoea
and dysentery. And, cockroach droppings and exoskeletons contain allergens,
which have been found to contribute to the development of asthma, especially in
children.
Although they are
not readily associated with property damage, cockroaches can damage and stain
items with their odorous secretions and droppings. In fact, cockroaches have
even been found to damage electrical machinery by chewing through insulation on
wires and leaving their droppings and exoskeletons in the equipment.
Before beginning a
cockroach prevention program, it is important to understand what you’re up
against. The most common species in Canada is the German cockroach, which can
reach 20 mm in length and can be identified by its light brown, oval-shaped
body. German cockroaches reproduce extremely quickly, with a pair of
cockroaches producing as many as 400 offspring in six months. This rapid
reproduction is another reason to prevent an infestation from occurring in the
first place.
Sanitation &
Housekeeping – The Best Protection
So how can you
best protect your facility from cockroaches? By denying them what they need
most: food, water and shelter. Ironically, while cockroaches often signal
unsanitary conditions, they will infest even the cleanest environment if it
provides access to these three elements. The best cockroach prevention programs
remove food, water and shelter through diligent sanitation and attentive
housekeeping.
Food and Water
Most cockroaches
are scavengers, so “food” for them encompasses almost everything, including
food debris, flakes of dried skin, eyelashes, dust and glue. Due to their
indiscriminate eating habits, all floors in the facility should be cleaned
frequently if you want to keep them out.
German cockroaches
also require daily access to water sources. This means that they often infest
areas where they can collect moisture from leaky plumbing and machinery. Work
with a maintenance professional to repair equipment as needed. Careful
sanitation of floors, as described above, should also eliminate liquid spills
as quickly as possible.
Shelter
Cockroaches are
primarily nocturnal pests, and look for shelter in damp, dark areas. Cracks and
crevices need to be carefully cleaned and sealed, if possible. Again, focus
special attention on moisture-prone areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Eliminate unnecessary clutter, as it too can provide shelter for these pests.
Infestation
Survival Guide
Though prevention
is key, infestations do happen. In the event of an infestation, it is important
to immediately evaluate your sanitation program and make adjustments if
necessary. Sanitation and housekeeping are important even during an infestation
as the diseases carried by cockroaches and their allergens are not always
associated with the pest itself, but rather with what it leaves behind –
droppings, exoskeletons and secretions. Stringent and regular floor cleaning
will help eliminate this debris before it threatens health.
The next step is
to remove the cockroaches themselves. Work with a pest management professional
to identify harbourage areas and use a vacuum to remove any readily accessible
cockroaches, droppings, eggs and exoskeletons. A vacuum with a HEPA (High
Efficiency Particulate Absorber) filter is recommended, as it will remove any
particles with cockroach allergens.
Once these pests
have been physically removed, an ongoing cockroach control program can help
eliminate any remaining pests and new ones that find their way into the
facility. A number of control methods are commonly used, including non-volatile
baits and glue boards.
Non-Volatile Baits
Non-volatile baits
are preferred over spray pesticides because they do not become airborne and can
be used in very targeted areas. Gel baits, for example, can be injected into
cracks and crevices, where cockroaches are likely to hide but where humans and
other organisms are unlikely to come in contact with them.
Glue Boards
Glue Boards have a
sticky surface that traps the cockroach. Though they can trap and eliminate
cockroaches, glue boards can also be helpful to monitor the pest population
over time.
Since these
control methods do not attract cockroaches, per se, it is important to work
with your pest management professional to place them near the areas most likely
to be frequented by cockroaches.
The bottom line is
cockroaches are here to stay, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be
controlled. A strict sanitation and housekeeping program will eliminate sources
of food, water and shelter that attract cockroaches in the first place, and a
smart control program can help curb the risk of disease if an infestation does
occur.
Dr. Zia Siddiqi is Quality Assurance Director for Orkin Inc. A Board
Certified Entomologist with more than 30 years in the industry, Dr. Siddiqi is
an acknowledged leader in the field of pest management. For more information,
e-mail
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or
visit www.orkincommercial.com.
