LESS-TOXIC PEST MANAGEMENT KEEPING COCKROACHESCOCKROACHES OUT OF YOUR HOUSE Place traps along the edges of walls, pets, it should be handled carefully and appliances, cupboards, etc., and not kept out of the reach of children and in the middle of the room. Sticky pets. For roaches, boric acid is a slow- traps with a nontoxic “pheromone” acting but effective stomach poison. attractant will catch more roaches. When applying these dusts, use a lthough cockroaches When you find out where roaches hand duster and wear a dust mask, are useful outdoors, are hiding, you’ll know where to gloves, and safety goggles. Apply a where they help re- concentrate your efforts. very light coating because roaches will avoid piles of dust. Acycle plant and animal wastes, LESS-TOXIC CONTROLS • Use cockroach baits because they they are not welcome indoors. • Use sticky traps for small infesta- use minimal amounts of insecticide Research clearly indicates that tions. If you only have a few roaches, and confine the poison to a very roaches can carry disease- you may be able to control the prob- small area (see Tips for Using Cock- lem with sticky traps. causing organisms from sewers, roach Baits on back). • Use a strong vacuum with a crevice garbage cans, or bathrooms to attachment to pull roaches from PREVENTION kitchen counters and human their hiding places. Prevent cockroach infestations by de- food. Cockroaches can also • Use insecticidal dusts such as dia- nying them access to your home and to trigger allergic reactions in tomaceous earth (DE) or boric acid the food, water, and shelter they need some people. in wall voids or cracks and crevices to survive. before you seal them, under large ap- • Store food in the refrigerator or in DETECTION pliances, or in other prime habitats. containers that seal tightly. One way to gain access to a wall void Except for size and markings, all • Keep things clean and tidy. Thor- is to remove the cover plates on elec- cockroaches have a similar appear- oughly clean counters and vacuum or trical outlets and switches. Always ance. These insects are dark in color, sweep floors daily in eating and food turn off the power before applying oval-shaped, and have long antennae. preparation areas. Don’t leave dirty products near electrical outlets. Roaches are mainly active at night and dishes out overnight, even in the generally remain hidden during the When properly used, DE has little dishwasher. Any garbage containing day in cracks and crevices near their toxicity to humans and pets, but kills food scraps should be removed from source of food. insects by absorbing their outer waxy the house nightly. Thoroughly clean coating, causing dehydration and • Use nontoxic sticky traps to locate recyclables before storing them. At death. Use DE sold for pest control roach habitat. Roaches like to travel night, place pet food and water bowls and not for pool filters. by touching the edges of objects. in a moat of soapy water. Reduce Although boric acid has a low acute clutter in all rooms (it provides (immediate) toxicity for humans and habitat for roaches). Choose less toxic products for your home and garden. Look for this symbol before you buy. • Keep things dry. Fix leaky plumb- TIPS FOR USING PESTICIDES AND ing. Keep kitchen surfaces dry when- COCKROACH BAITS WATER POlluTION ever they are not in use, especially • Use baits indoors. Common household pesticides show up in overnight. treated wastewater and in local waterways, • Use baits with boric acid, fipronil, or sometimes at levels that can harm sensitive • Seal cracks and crevices. Before hydramethylnon. aquatic life. So, water pollution prevention sealing, vacuum and wash the area agencies have teamed up with participat- • Reduce or eliminate food sources so to eliminate all roach egg cases, fecal ing retail stores, pesticide distributors, and roaches will feed on baits. manufacturers to reduce the risks associated matter, or other debris. Caulk and with pesticide use. This fact sheet is part of a paint cracks around baseboards, cup- • If you are using a gel bait, put small series of fact sheets and store displays aimed dabs in a number of locations rather at educating residents about less-toxic pest boards, pipes, sinks, etc. Use mildew- management. For the rest of the series of resistant caulk in moist areas. than large blobs in a few locations. fact sheets, visit www.ourwaterourworld.org. Also, look for the “Our Water Our World” • Weatherstrip around doors and win- • Place baits near areas where roaches logo next to products in participating stores dows and repair holes in screens. are hiding and between their hiding and nurseries. See the Pesticides and Water places and food sources. Pollution fact sheet for information on active • Inspect materials you bring into ingredients in common pesticides that may your house for roaches or their • Place baits where roaches are most cause water quality problems. egg cases (small, dark, kidney bean likely to travel or congregate, such as Pest control strategies and methods described along the edges of walls, appliances, in this publication are consistent with inte- shaped). Pay special attention to grated pest management (IPM) concepts, and used furniture and appliances and cupboards, etc. — not in the middle are based on scientific studies and tests in ac- of the room. tual home and garden settings. Use suggested cardboard cartons from food stores. products according to label directions and • Monitor with sticky traps. Once you • Keep baits out of the reach of chil- dispose of unwanted or leftover pesticides dren and pets. at a household hazardous waste collection have eliminated roaches or signifi- facility or event. For more information on cantly reduced their numbers, con- • Check bait stations frequently, pesticide disposal, call 1-800-CLEANUP especially if you have a large infesta- or visit: www.1800CLEANUP.org. No en- tinue to use sticky traps to alert you to dorsement of specific brand name products a new infestation or a rise in the popu- tion. Empty bait stations should be is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar lation. This is especially important in removed because they make great products that are not mentioned. apartment buildings, condominiums, roach hiding spots. or other connected dwellings where ACKNOWLEDGMENT roaches can easily move from one The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District orig- household to another. inally developed this IPM outreach program. FOR MORE INFORMATION PRODUCTS 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: 25% post-consumer waste, 50% November 2008 recycled content. Printed with soy-based ink..