ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIES IPM Tactics For

ANR-1016 Control

here are at least 25 species of than 5⁄8 inch. The German cock- harden and darken in color rapid- Tcockroaches in Alabama, but roach is the most common indoor ly. Therefore, there are no “albi- only five are serious pests. Cock- cockroach and causes the most no” . Normally, cock- roaches are also known as palmet- persistent problem. roaches molt in protected areas, to bugs, water bugs, and croton The “outdoor” or peridomestic but in serious infestations, they bugs. Most cockroaches are found species are American, smoky- may be seen in the open. outdoors. Outdoors, cockroaches brown, brown, Australian, and Small cockroaches often pro- are an important source of food for woods roaches. Most adults are duce six to eight generations a many forms of wildlife. They are about 11⁄4 to 2 inches long and year with 30 to 48 eggs per case. also important in nutrient recycling. are often called palmetto bugs, al- Larger cockroaches usually pro- An Integrated Pest Manage- though some of the woods roach- duce one to three generations per ment (IPM) approach is the best es can be as small as German year with 10 to 28 eggs per case. way to control cockroaches. IPM cockroaches. Outdoor cockroach- All cockroaches are most active at methods incorporate all available es can become an indoor prob- night. control methods into a pest man- lem when they accidentally come agement program. Control methods in through an open door or are Major Cockroach Pests include sanitation, exclusion, and carried in. German Cockroaches chemical techniques. Successful Cockroach Life Cycle Blattella germanica (L.) cockroach control depends on 1 5 proper identification and good Adults are ⁄2 to ⁄8 inch long. Cockroaches pass through They are pale brown or tan with knowledge of the cockroach life- three stages of development: egg, cycle and habits. two parallel black streaks on the nymph, and adult. shield or pronotum which covers Egg. Importance Of Cockroaches deposit the head (Figure 1). Unlike most eggs in groups of 20 to 50 in a cockroaches, Cockroach Control leathery case or capsule called an females protect their egg cases by Cockroaches can: . Usually, the ootheca is carrying them around. The egg • damage property by chew- dropped or glued to a surface by case protrudes from her body ing on or soiling book bindings, the female as soon as it is until the eggs are nearly ready to fabric, and other materials. formed. However, the German hatch. Each case can contain 30 • cause respiratory illness in cockroach carries its egg case. It to 48 eggs that require about 2 people who are allergic to the al- can be seen protruding from the weeks to hatch. A female German lergens cockroaches produce. female’s body until the eggs are • secrete smelly oils that are ready to hatch. offensive and can ruin food. Nymph. When cockroach • impart odors to dishes that nymphs hatch from eggs, they re- look clean. semble the adults in shape, except that they are much smaller and Types Of CockroachesARCHIVElack wings. Nymphs shed their skin (molt) several times, increas- For pest control purposes, ing in size each time before molt- there are two categories of cock- ing into an adult. Depending on roaches—indoor and outdoor. the kind of cockroach, the wings The smaller cockroaches, the Ger- Figure 1. German cockroaches: male (left), vary from being longer than the man and the brownbanded, are nymph (center), and female (right). (Photo body to being small pads. considered “indoor” or domestic by P.A. Zungoli and W. H. Robinson.) Used Adult. Newly molted cock- species. They are seldom longer by permission. roaches are soft and white, but Visit our Web site at: www.aces.edu Figure 2. Brownbanded cockroach. (Photo Figure 3. Large outdoor cockroaches: (left Figure 4. . (Photo by Jim by Jim Castner, used by permission of the to right) American, brown, smokybrown, Castner, used by permission of the Univer- University of Entomology and Ne- and Australian. (Photo by Eric Benson.) sity of Florida Entomology and Nematology matology Department.) Department.) cockroach may produce between gray-brown. - cockroaches are commonly found one and seven cases during her es are often found in dark, moist, in bathtubs because they have dif- life. Adults may live 3 to 4 warm areas, especially around ficulty climbing smooth surfaces. months. German cockroach sewers, storage rooms, and They also can be found in water nymphs are about 1⁄8 inch long garbage sites. Along the coast, meter boxes, sewer lines, leaf lit- when they hatch. They are uni- they may be found in trees, espe- ter, crawl spaces, and basements. formly dark, except for a light cially palmettos. When inside, In a structure, they rarely go brownish area in the middle of they generally stay on the base- above the basement level. the body. ment and first floor levels. Adults may fly on warm evenings. Minor Cockroach Pests Brownbanded Cockroaches Supella longipalpa (F.) Smokybrown Cockroaches Adults are about 5⁄8 inch long P. fuliginosa (Serville) P. australasiae (F.), And (Figure 2). All stages have two Adults are about 1 to 11⁄2 inch- light, yellow-brown bands that es long (Figure 3). As the name P. brunnea Burmeister. run across their backs. The bands implies, they are smoky brown in Adults of both cockroaches on adult males may be hard to color. The young nymphs are are about 11⁄2 to 2 inches long. see since their light brown wings about 3⁄8 inch long, with black The Australian cockroach is about completely cover their narrow bodies and white markings on the the same size and color as the bodies. Males are known to fly in middle of their bodies and on the American cockroach, but it has warm homes or apartments while tips of their antennae. Smoky- yellow markings on the front of females cannot fly. Brownbanded brown cockroaches prefer dark, its wings (Figure 3). The Aus- cockroaches may be found any- humid environments. They can be tralian cockroach usually lives where in the house, especially very mobile and will use a variety only along the coast. Brown cock- above the floor around cabinets, of habitats such as mulch, log roaches can occur statewide. Both in room corners, and underneath piles, thick vegetation, and roofs. cockroaches are often found in drawers. They are also found be- In structures, they can be found the same locations as American hind pictures, in furniture and ap- from the attic to the crawl space. cockroaches. pliances, including TVs, micro- Adults may fly on warm evenings. waves, computers, and radios. Surinam Cockroaches These cockroaches are common Oriental Cockroaches Pycnoscelus in public buildings. orientalis (L.) surinamensis (L.) 1 Adults are 1 to 1 ⁄4 inches Adults are about 3⁄4 to 1 inch American Cockroaches long and dark brown to jet black long, with a stout body (Figure americanaARCHIVE (L.) in color (Figure 4). The wings of 5). They are brown to black with Adults range in size from 11⁄2 the males are not quite as long as a pale band on the front edge of to 2 inches long (Figure 3). Gen- the body, while the females have the body. The wings extend be- erally, they are red-brown in only small wing pads. The yond the length of the body. In- color, with pale yellow “halo-like” nymphs are about 1⁄4 inch long terestingly, only females are markings on the pronotum above when they hatch and go from red found in the United States. Suri- the head. The nymphs are about to brown as they develop. These nam cockroaches are most com- 3⁄16 inch long when they hatch cockroaches prefer dark, damp, monly found along the coast, from the egg case and are initially relatively cool locations. These

2 Figure 5. Surinam cockroach. (Photo by Figure 6. . (Photo Figure 7. Cuban cockroach. (Photo by Jim Jim Castner, used by permission of the by Jim Castner, used by permission of the Castner, used by permission of the Univer- University of Florida Entomology and University of Florida Entomology and sity of Florida Entomology and Nematology Nematology Department.) Nematology Department.) Department.) where they can become very nu- Methods Of roaches before storing. Keep gro- merous in lawns. It is a burrow- cery bags in outside storage areas. ing species that lives outdoors Cockroach Control • Cockroaches breed prolifi- and often infests potted plants. An IPM approach is the most cally in corrugated cardboard When plants are brought inside, effective method of cockroach boxes. Discard unnecessary boxes the cockroach infests premises control. The least effective control immediately. such as the interiorscapes of method is the use of chemicals • Keep doors and windows shopping malls and houses. alone. Using chemicals alone re- shut. Keep screens in good repair sults in resistance and, to prevent cockroaches from en- Florida Woods Cockroaches ultimately, very poor control. tering your home. Check attic floridana, And Homeowners may undertake vents and make sure that large Other Woods Cockroaches their own IPM plan for cockroach openings around outside drainage The Florida woods cockroach control with good success, or they lines and sewer vents are adult is about 11⁄2 to 3 inches may elect to contract the services screened or sealed. Use tightly long and is found in the coastal of a professional pest control op- packed steel wool as a temporary counties in Alabama (Figure 6). It erator. Professionals have the filler until openings can be sealed is often called the “stinking cock- equipment and training to do a properly. roach” because it produces a foul- thorough job and have access to • Caulk cracks and gaps smelling fluid to protect it from products not available to home- around doors and windows to predation. The Florida woods owners. If you decide to contract help prevent cockroaches from cockroach and other woods cock- the services of a professional pest entering your home. roaches live in the bark of dead control operator, get estimates • Children can transport pine stumps and logs, in tree cav- from several reputable firms be- cockroaches from school to home ities, and under palmetto leaves fore you decide on one. in bookbags and lunch contain- ers. Inspect these items regularly. on the ground. Occasionally, they Prevention And Sanitation enter homes on the ground floor. • Dwellings, such as apart- Since they do not survive well in- Successful cockroach control ments, that are separated by a doors, they do not cause serious requires prevention and sanita- common wall are particularly dif- problems. tion. Prevention and sanitation ficult situations. An infestation can can be divided into four cate- migrate between apartments via Cuban Cockroaches gories: exclusion and elimination the plumbing encased in a com- nivea (L.) of food, water, and harborage. mon wall. Therefore, cockroaches Following the recommendations Adults are about 1 inch long from one apartment can easily mi- in the four categories will likely and distinctively pale green in grate to another apartment, infest- ARCHIVEeliminate the most important fac- ing a “clean” dwelling. To help color (Figure 7). Nymphs are dark tors that affect cockroach estab- brown. The Cuban cockroach is prevent this, caulk holes in com- lishment and survival. an outdoor tropical species found mon walls and around plumbing. in the coastal areas of Alabama. Exclusion Elimination Of Water Adults live on plant leaves and • German cockroaches can nymphs live in leaf litter and de- Sources initially infest a structure when in- bris. Water is the most important fested grocery bags are brought factor in cockroach survival. Ger- inside. Inspect groceries for cock- man cockroaches can survive only

3 12 days with food but no • Wash dishes immediately they also can create “pesticide water. However, if only water after use. Dishes left unwashed free” zones where cockroaches is present with no food, cock- are a major source of food for can hide if are se- roaches can survive for about a kitchen infestation. lected as one tactic in the IPM 42 days. Cockroaches often • Keep kitchen appliances program. Eliminate harborages come indoors during periods of such as toasters, toaster ovens, by doing the following: drought because they are look- microwaves, stoves, ovens, and • Seal cracks and crevices. ing for moisture. Eliminate refrigerators free of crumbs and Adult cockroaches can fit into water sources by doing the fol- other food debris. In addition, cracks only about 1⁄16 inch and lowing: clean the areas around these prefer spaces of about 3⁄8 inch. • Tighten or patch leaky appliances. • Pull mulch away from pipes in kitchen and bathroom • Reseal all food after the house. The large, outdoor areas. opening or store in the refriger- cockroaches breed prolifically • Do not let water stand in ator. in pine straw mulch and poorly sinks for long periods of time. • Seal pet food tightly. Do in gravel or on bare soil. • Do not overwater indoor not leave food and water out • Stack firewood off the plants because accumulated all the time. ground and well away from the water will be available to cock- • Regularly vacuum or house. roaches. sweep under and around furni- • Fill tree holes with ce- • Empty pans under refrig- ture where people eat, such as ment to remove this prime erators used to catch water the dining room table. Vacuum- harborage area. from condensation. ing can also remove cockroach • Keep shrubbery and or- • Be aware that pet drink- egg cases that will not be killed namentals well trimmed and ing dishes, aquaria, and pipe by insecticides. Remember to away from the house. Ivy is a condensation (under sinks, in promptly dispose of the vacuum favorite breeding place for out- wall voids) can also be sources cleaner bag in an outdoor con- door cockroaches. of moisture. tainer. • Remove all dead palm • Eliminate sources outside branches. Palm bracts are where water can collect, such prime harborage for outdoor as cans, tires, and tree holes cockroaches. (Figure 8). • Keep clutter such as newspapers, bags, and clothing Elimination Of Food from accumulating. Sources Cockroaches do not need Chemical Control large amounts of food to sur- Use prevention and sanita- vive, especially in the presence tion methods before and con- of water. Furthermore, food currently with chemical control sources can compete with Figure 8. Tree hole habitat for outdoor tactics. cockroaches. (Photo by Faith Oi.) cockroach baits, decreasing Greasy surfaces decrease their effectiveness. Elimination the effectiveness of insecticide of food sources includes: Elimination Of applications. Therefore, before • Store and dispose of Harborages treating surfaces eliminate garbage properly. The highest In addition to food and grease and oil by scrubbing concentration of cockroaches moisture, cockroaches require with hot, soapy water. General- in a home is usually around a place to live. The cockroach ly, liquid sprays will not be ef- the garbage can and around harborage is critical to its sur- fective when applied to wood the refrigerator. ARCHIVEvival. Cockroaches prefer dark surfaces such as cabinets and • Seal garbage can lids to places that are warm and shelves. prevent cockroaches from ac- moist. Places that provide tight Vacuuming will eliminate cessing food sources. Also, spaces such as stacks of news- cockroach skins and feces that keep garbage areas clean by paper or cardboard, piles of cause cockroach allergies. wiping frequently. clothing, or cracks and crevices Cockroach feces also contains a • Dump sink strainers fre- in structures are ideal. Harbor- chemical (aggregation quently to prevent food build ages not only provide a place pheromone) that attracts cock- up. for cockroaches to live, but roaches to an area. Eliminating

4 the cockroach feces by scrub- or into electrical outlets. Avoid tive dust and borate products bing with hot, soapy water will spraying food preparation sur- are available to pest control decrease the amount of aggre- faces. Do not touch surfaces operators. gation pheromone available to until dry (at least 4 hours). attract cockroaches to the area. Some materials may damage Baits Use chemicals in a judi- carpets, tile, or plastics. Check Baits usually come in gran- cious manner and only accord- the label before using any ma- ular formulations, plastic sta- ing to label instructions. There terial on these surfaces. tions, or large syringes for gel are a large number of insecti- Outdoor homeowner prod- applications. Some commonly cides for cockroaches. Only a ucts include carbaryl (SEVIN), used insecticides in baits in- few of the more commonly chlorpyrifos (DURSBAN), and clude chlorpyrifos (DURSBAN used chemicals are listed here. diazinon. Apply these materials 0.5% BAIT), hydramethylnon The common names are print- at the label rate to cracks and (COMBAT ROACH BAIT STA- ed in bold letters, and an ex- crevices where cockroaches are TIONS or GEL BAIT), sulflu- ample trade preparation is list- suspected of living or entering ramid (RAID MAX), and aver- ed in all capitals in parenthe- the home, such as door thresh- mectin (ROACH ENDER). ses. For additional listings, see olds and window frames. A Apply granular formula- the Alabama Pest Management perimeter treatment along the tions outside in plants and Handbook, ANR-500B. base of the foundation wall, in mulched areas. Bait stations are The most common formu- cracks and crevices, and at most effective when placed in lations for cockroach control points of entry into the home corners where you suspect are sprays, dusts, and baits. can also help control the larger cockroaches are hiding or com- outdoor cockroaches. However, ing into your home. Get small Sprays large scale insecticide applica- stations for German cockroach- Insecticides commonly tions are best done by profes- es and large stations for the used in indoor sprays include sional pest control operators. larger outdoor cockroaches. allethrin, chlorpyrifos Research at Auburn Univer- Place the gel in syringes in (DURSBAN), diazinon, per- sity has shown that an IPM ap- cracks and crevices around methrin, propoxur (BAY- proach reduces the amount of windows, doors, and any other GON), pyrethrins, insecticide used and can result suspected cockroach harbor- resmethrin, and in better reductions of outdoor age, except in food handling growth regulators (IGR) such cockroach populations for areas. Never spray a liquid in- as hydroprene or pyriproxyfen. longer periods of time when secticide where baits have Insect growth regulators compared with perimeter been applied. Liquid insecti- will take 4 to 6 weeks for a no- spraying alone. cides used in the vicinity of ticeable decrease in the popu- baits will repel cockroaches lation. But control is longer Dusts from the bait. Pest control op- lasting because the cockroach- Dusts are slow-acting but erators have other baits in dif- es are no longer able to repro- can give long lasting control. ferent forms that also provide duce once exposed. Evidence Boric acid is probably the most long lasting control. of insect growth regulator ex- commonly used dust labeled posure is twisted wings on the for cockroach control. It is IPM Approach For adult cockroaches and altered most effective indoors in clean, Indoor Cockroaches behavior. Expect to see more dry areas. • Thoroughly vacuum and cockroaches during the day as Apply boric acid with a wipe the premises with hot a result of IGR use. Seeing duster that puts out a thin film soapy water. more cockroaches after IGR of dust. Apply dusts in hidden • Place baits (gel and sta- use means the treatment is areas such as under refrigera- tion type) according to label di- working. ARCHIVEtors, stoves, sinks, wall voids, rections. Apply materials to cracks and other cracks and crevices. • Check baits monthly until and crevices where cockroach- Do not apply dusts in open populations decrease, then es live. These areas include areas such as on shelves or quarterly. Replace empty bait cracks around pipes under counters where food and uten- stations because they provide sinks, around toilet bowls, sils are kept. Boric acid is high- additional harborage for cock- around baseboards, and around ly toxic to plants and will dis- roaches when empty. appliances. Never spray around color some fabrics. Other effec-

5 • If populations are very other cockroach habitats such as References high, a “clean-out” using a liquid garden borders, large rocks, or Koehler, P. G. 1993. Cock- insecticide mixed with an insect railroad ties. roaches. IN Pests in and around growth regulator, such as hy- • Apply gel bait containing 2 the Florida home. SP-134. Univer- droprene or pyriproxyfen, in percent hydramethylnon to shel- sity of Florida, IFAS Publications. cracks and crevices may be need- tered cracks and crevices such as 82-85 pp. ed to knock down the initial pop- porch corners, under ledges, in Smith, L. M., A. G. Appel, T. ulation. Place baits in areas not crawl space gratings, and under P. Mack, G. J. Keever, and E. P. treated with liquid insecticide or garage doors. Benson. 1993. Integrated pest place baits 4 to 6 weeks after This combination of IPM tac- management effectively controls spraying. tics was compared with a perime- smokybrown cockroaches. High- ter treatment of 8 ounces of chlor- lights of Agricultural Research An IPM Approach For pyrifos in 100 gallons of water, 40(2): 7. sprayed 3 feet up from the base Outdoor Cockroaches Suiter, D. R. 1993. Cockroach of the house and 10 feet out. The An 80 percent reduction in control without insecticides. IN IPM approach outlined above cockroach abundance was Pests in and around the Florida maintained an 80-percent reduc- achieved using the following IPM home. SP-134. University of Flori- tion in cockroach populations for approach. da, IFAS Publications. 86-89 pp. up to 40 days, using only 1⁄4 of • Replace mulch and debris the insecticide in the perimeter around the home with a band of treatment. In 40 days, the cock- crushed gravel that extends 1 foot roach populations for the perime- out from the foundation. ter treatment alone had rebound- • Apply 0.5 percent chlorpyri- ed to cockroach population levels fos ant and cockroach bait within where no treatment was applied. 3 feet of the home in pine straw, fallen leaves, or ivy, and next to

This publication was prepared by Faith M. Oi, Extension Entomologist, Assistant Professor, Entomology, Auburn University; Arthur G. Appel, Associate Professor, En- tomology, Auburn University; and Eric P. Benson, former Extension Entomologist. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. Follow all directions, precautions, and re- strictions that are listed. Do not use pesticides on plants that are not listed on the label. The pesticide rates in this publication are recommended only if they are registered with the Environ- mental Protection Agency and the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. If a registration is changed or canceled, the rate listed here is no longer recommended. Before you apply any pesticide, ARCHIVEcheck with your county Extension agent for the latest information. Trade names are used only to give specific information. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System does not endorse or guarantee any product and does not recommend one product instead of another that might be similar. For more information, call your county Extension office. Look in your telephone directory under your county’s name to find the number. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System, (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. ANR-1016 UPS, 20M23, New 1:97, ANR-1016