Cockroach Management Strategies

Cockroach Removal Strategies

Cockroaches can survive on tiny amounts of food such as crumbs, grease, or food residue.

The most effective and healthiest method of controlling pests is integrated pest management (IPM). IPM is the use of integrated techniques, such as exclusion, sanitation, and baiting, to control pests and utilizing management tools, such as reports on pest location, pest type, needed repairs, and processes that get action when action is needed. IPM utilizes the least toxic methods that will get the job done, which is especially important in food preparation areas. IPM is “knowing thy enemy” and leveraging the particular pest’s own habits and behaviors against it.

The two keys to controlling cockroaches are sanitation and exclusion: cockroaches are likely to reinvade as long as a habitat is suitable for them, one where food, water, and shelter are available. The conditions that promoted the infestation in the first place must be changed.

Sanitation: Eliminating Food, Water, and Shelter:

If there is an indication of a roach infestation, the critical start is a thorough cleaning. This helps remove food sources for the cockroaches, dead cockroaches and egg cases (which is also a cockroach food; they are not above cannibalizing themselves) as well as roach feces and body parts (“frass,” which looks a little like pepper sprinkled around cracks and crevices is also a food source, particularly for nymphs).

Preventative steps to minimize available food include:

Water Elimination:

The single most important factor in determining cockroach survival is the availability of water. Cockroaches have short life spans without water even if food is abundant. During periods of drought, the incidence of cockroaches indoors will often increase as larger cockroaches invade structures in search of moisture.

Preventative steps to minimize water sources include:

Shelter Elimination:

The third critical element for cockroach survival is harborage. By nature, cockroaches avoid open, well-lit areas with frequent air movement. They prefer dark, warm cracks and crevices. Excess clutter provides numerous locations suitable for cockroach habitation. The elimination of these harborages (clutter) is important in controlling infestations.

Preventative steps to minimize shelter include:

Exclusion: Preventing Cockroach Entry

Determining how and where cockroaches are breaking into your facility is critical to long-term control; no matter what affirmative steps you take inside your business, if you don’t control your perimeter, you’ll always be at risk for a reinfestation. If you are struggling with an ongoing problem, isolate and inspect all shipments into the facility, especially food shipments. Cockroaches could be re-introduced to your facility in shipments from an infested source.
Preventative steps to prevent cockroach entry include:

Cowleys Pest Services can help you prevent and solve your cockroach problem in Edison, Somerset, Lakewood, Brick, Toms River, Piscataway, Bridgewater, Middletown, Princeton Junction, Old Bridge, and nearby in New Jersey. Contact us today to schedule a Free Estimate!

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