LESS-TOXIC PEST MANAGEMENT KEEPING COCKROACHESCOCKROACHES OUT OF YOUR HOUSE

by touching the edges of objects. Although boric acid has a low acute Place traps along the edges of walls, (immediate) toxicity for humans and appliances, cupboards, etc., and not pets, it should be handled carefully and in the middle of the room. Sticky kept out of the reach of children and traps with a nontoxic “pheromone” pets. For roaches, boric acid is a slow- lthough cockroaches attractant will catch more roaches. acting but effective stomach poison. are useful outdoors, When you find out where roaches When applying these dusts, use a where they help re- are hiding, you’ll know where to con- hand duster and wear a dust mask, centrate your efforts. Acycle plant and animal wastes, gloves, and safety goggles. Apply a very light coating because roaches they are not welcome indoors. LESS-TOXIC CONTROLS will avoid piles of dust. Research clearly indicates that • Use sticky traps for small infesta- • Use cockroach baits because they roaches can carry disease-caus- tions. If you only have a few roaches, use minimal amounts of insecticide ing organisms from sewers, gar- you may be able to control the and confine the poison to a very problem with sticky traps. bage cans, or bathrooms to small area (see Tips for Using Cock- • Use a strong vacuum with a crevice roach Baits on back). kitchen counters and human attachment to pull roaches from food. Cockroaches can also their hiding places. PREVENTION trigger allergic reactions in • Use insecticidal dusts such as di- Prevent cockroach infestations by de- some people. atomaceous earth (DE) or boric nying them access to your home and acid in wall voids or cracks and crev- to the food, water, and shelter they DETECTION ices before you seal them, under need to survive. large appliances, or in other prime • Store food in the refrigerator or in Except for size and markings, all cock- habitats. One way to gain access to containers that seal tightly. roaches have a similar appearance. a wall void is to remove the cover These insects are dark in color, oval- • Keep things clean and tidy. Thor- plates on electrical outlets and shaped, and have long antennae. oughly clean counters and vacuum switches. Always turn off the power Roaches are mainly active at night and or sweep floors daily in eating and before applying products near elec- generally remain hidden during the day food preparation areas. Don’t leave trical outlets. in cracks and crevices near their source dirty dishes out overnight, even in of food. When properly used, DE has little the dishwasher. Any garbage con- toxicity to humans and pets, but kills taining food scraps should be re- • Use nontoxic sticky traps to locate insects by absorbing their outer waxy moved from the house nightly. Thor- roach habitat. Roaches like to travel coating, causing dehydration and oughly clean recyclables before stor- death. Use DE sold for pest control ing them. At night, place pet food and not for pool filters. and water bowls in a moat of soapy

Choose less toxic products for your home and garden. Look for this symbol before you buy. water. Reduce clutter in all rooms ings where roaches can easily move PESTICIDES AND (it provides habitat for roaches). from one household to another. WATER POLLUTION • Keep things dry. Fix leaky plumb- Common household pesticides show up in ing. Keep kitchen surfaces dry when- TIPS FOR USING treated wastewater and in local waterways, ever they are not in use, especially sometimes at levels that can harm sensitive COCKROACH BAITS aquatic life. So, water pollution prevention overnight. • Use baits indoors. agencies have teamed up with participating • Seal cracks and crevices. Before retail stores, pesticide distributors, and manu- • Use baits with boric acid, fipronil, facturers to reduce the risks associated with sealing, vacuum and wash the area or hydramethylnon. pesticide use. This fact sheet is part of a se- to eliminate all roach egg cases, fe- ries of fact sheets and store displays aimed at educating residents about less-toxic pest cal matter, or other debris. Caulk and • Reduce or eliminate food sources so roaches will feed on baits. management. For the rest of the series of fact paint cracks around baseboards, cup- sheets, visit www.ourwaterourworld.org. • If you are using a gel bait, put small Also, look for the “Our Water Our World” boards, pipes, sinks, etc. Use mildew- logo next to products in participating stores resistant caulk in moist areas. dabs in a number of locations rather and nurseries. See the Pesticides and Water than large blobs in a few locations. Pollution fact sheet for information on ac- • Weatherstrip around doors and tive ingredients in common pesticides that windows and repair holes in screens. • Place baits near areas where roaches may cause water quality problems. • Inspect materials you bring into are hiding and between their hiding Pest control strategies and methods described places and food sources. in this publication are consistent with inte- your house for roaches or their egg grated pest management (IPM) concepts, and cases (small, dark, kidney bean • Place baits where roaches are most are based on scientific studies and tests in ac- shaped). Pay special attention to used likely to travel or congregate, such tual home and garden settings. Use suggested products according to label directions and furniture and appliances and card- as along the edges of walls, appli- dispose of unwanted or leftover pesticides board cartons from food stores. ances, cupboards, etc. — not in the at a household hazardous waste collection middle of the room. facility or event. For more information on • Monitor with sticky traps. Once you pesticide disposal, call 1-800-CLEANUP or have eliminated roaches or signifi- • Keep baits out of the reach of chil- visit: www.1800CLEANUP.org. No endorse- ment of specific brand name products is in- cantly reduced their numbers, con- dren and pets. tended, nor is criticism implied of similar prod- tinue to use sticky traps to alert you • Check bait stations frequently, es- ucts that are not mentioned. to a new infestation or a rise in the pecially if you have a large infesta- population. This is especially impor- tion. Empty bait stations should be ACKNOWLEDGMENT tant in apartment buildings, condo- removed because they make great The Central Contra Costa Sanitary Dis- miniums, or other connected dwell- trict originally developed this IPM outreach roach hiding spots. program.

PRODUCTS FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information, contact: Examples of trade names for the products listed in this fact sheet: Bio-Integral Resource Center (BIRC) Abamectin: Advance Dual Choice Bait Station (510) 524-2567; www.birc.org University of California Cooperative Desiccating Dust: Concern Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer, Extension Master Gardeners in your area Grow More Diatomaceous Earth, Safer Ant and Crawling Insect Killer (in the phone book ) University of California IPM website: Boric Acid Powder: Roach Prufe, Victor Boric Acid Powder www.ipm.ucdavis.edu Hand-Duster: Pest Pistol (if unavailable locally, call (888) 784-1722 or visit www.groworganic.com) Sticky Traps: Black Flag Roach Motel Sticky Traps with pheromone attractant: Victor Roach Magnet Baits containing boric acid: Niban Granular Bait, Niban FG, Seabright Roach Free System Bait Bait containing fipronil: Combat Quick Kill Roach Bait Stations, Combat Quick Kill Roach Control Gel Bait containing hydramethylnon: Combat Roach Control System, Combat Roach Control Gel

www.ourwaterourworld.org Paper content: 15% Post-consumer waste, January 2007 50% Recycled, and Processed chlorine free