Oriental Cockroaches (Blatta orientalis), also known as sewer roaches, are insects that belong to the order Blattodea and are one of the most widespread bug species. They have a biological cycle consisting of 3 stages of development: the egg stage, nymph stage, and adulthood. Unlike cockroaches, sewer roaches have a darker color (black). These insects live in highly humid environments, near household waste, and can easily infest indoor areas.

Signs of Oriental Cockroaches infestation

Sewer roaches are active during the night, and during the day they hide in dark and humid places. Thus, they are found indoors in places that meet these conditions, such as under the sink, washing machine, in basements, etc.

Most times they make their way inside through the sewer system, through spaces underneath doors, or other cracks/fissures.

Outdoors, Oriental Cockroaches are frequently found around residential buildings: in cracks in the foundation (spaces between the ground and the foundation), and around rubbish bins. They are also found in areas where the soil is covered with mulch or with decaying organic matter.

In addition to identifying adult forms, the presence of sewer roaches is also signaled by detecting the presence of ootheca. These are the “capsules” that protect the eggs, dark brown and 8-10 mm long. Also, sewer roaches secrete a substance to communicate with each other, which has an odor similar to that of mold.

Types of treatments for Oriental Cockroaches

For the control of sewer roaches, treatments using sprayed concentrated insecticide and ready-to-use insecticides can be performed. Traps can also be used for monitoring.

Considering how Oriental Cockroaches sneak inside buildings(sewer system, through basements, other areas with high humidity, etc.) it is necessary to rigorously check first the respective spaces, to identify potential entryways which will later need to be sealed. If this step is not taken, the sewer roaches will constantly invade the area and treatments will not have the desired effect.

It is important to perform rigorous sanitation of the area to be treated before applying the specific treatments (clean household appliances, vacuuming).

Insecticide treatments applied by spraying

Sprayed insecticide treatments can be performed to control sewer roach activity. They act when targeted insects come into direct contact with the solution. The treatments are applied in the spaces where insect activity has been detected, following a thorough cleaning. Insecticides are applied according to the specifications on the label for indoor areas, around water drainage installations, plinths, etc. However, high humidity in these areas can decrease the remanence effect of treatments.

Recommended insecticides against Oriental Cockroaches

They are biocidal substances used for treatments against harmful insects, most of them acting on the insect’s nervous system. Insecticides are applied by spraying them onto surfaces where sewer roaches are active. Treatments with these types of insecticides are carried out inside the premises, following the recommendations found on the label. When applying a spray insecticide, only the insect present on the surface on which the insecticide was applied (those that come into direct contact with the sprayed solution) will be affected, but the nest will not be eliminated.

Treatments can be applied using manual or motorized sprayers, depending on the size of the treated space.

Recommended sprayers for the application of insecticides

Sprayers are low-pressure applicators, which are used for the application of pesticides that require precise dosing. Their capacity varies depending on the type of appliance, its design, the application method (manual / motorized sprayers), and the size of the treated space. Special care must be had when adjusting the device, as well as when performing maintenance.

Aerosol insecticides

Immediately after sprayed treatments are performed, it is recommended to apply an aerosol-type insecticide in the location where the spray treatment was applied. The released particles will irritate insects and draw them out of their hiding places to come into contact with the initially applied solution. Before using the insecticide, it is recommended to close any doors and windows, and the furniture should be arranged so that the substances can infiltrate through any cracks where insects could be hiding. Depending on the product used, it must be allowed to act for a few hours, during which time the room must remain closed, according to the recommendations on the label.

Recommended aerosol insecticides against Oriental Cockroaches

Aerosol-type insecticides act by releasing the active substance in a gaseous form, thus covering the entire space to be treated and ensuring the reach of the active substance particles into hard-to-reach places. They come pre-dosed and ready to use. The released gas irritates the pests, causing them to come into contact with the previously applied insecticide, as such, in cases of pest situations that prove difficult to control, aerosol insecticides are used together with sprayed contact insecticides.

Ready-to-use insecticide treatments

Ready-to-use insecticides can come in the following forms: dust, granules, liquids, and sprays. They are designed to be applied only on dry surfaces. Thanks to the food attractants found in the composition of gel insecticides, these types of treatments offer increased efficiency.

An important feature of attractant-based insecticides is the “cascade death” effect, which ultimately leads to the elimination of the entire nest. More precisely, they also contain food attractants, which will attract roaches within an area of a few meters to consume them. After around 24 hours, the first dead beetles can be detected. It is recommended that, if possible, dead specimens are not removed from the area because, by the nature of the species, roaches will feed on the excrement of their fellows or the remains of the dead, thus being affected by the insecticide.

Applying gel insecticides

Gel-formulated insecticides are applied in the form of “drops”, at distances of 1-2 m, with more applied in areas where sewer roaches can hide: near pipes in kitchens and bathrooms, under and behind appliances (stoves, refrigerators, washing machines), around door frames, electric meters, in unlit corners, in cracks in the walls or floor.

Dust insecticides are ideal for areas where insecticides in the form of gel, granules, or spray can not be used. They are applied in the form of strips on different surfaces and where walls meet. Because they act by contact or ingestion, pests must cross onto the treated space. Specifically, sewer roaches will come into contact with lethal doses as they pass through the insecticide dust. It is advised to carefully read and follow the recommendations found on the label of the product.

If two types of treatments are performed, it is important to apply the spray treatment before the one with ready-to-use insecticides (do not apply other solutions after spraying). After the solution has dried, other treatments such as attractant-based baits and dust can be applied.

Recommended insecticides against Oriental Cockroaches:

Ready-made insecticides can have any formulation: gel, powder, granules, or liquids. Some of them also contain food attractants that will encourage insects to come into contact with the insecticide and with the active substance found in it. For increased efficiency of the treatment, in the case of insecticides containing food attractants, it is recommended that there are no alternative food sources available in the treated area. The application is done according to the treated space, taking into account the information found on the product label.

When using gel insecticides, the gels can be applied in hard-to-reach areas using special applicators.

Recommended applicators:

They are devices that are specially designed for the application of gel-formulated insecticides. The amount of gel to be applied can be adjusted using a special dispenser, thus ensuring a more precise application in less accessible areas. Likewise, it is recommended to place gel insecticides in special baiting stations.

Recommended bait stations:

Bait stations have the role of protecting the baits from external factors and preventing non-targeted organisms from coming into contact with the substances locked inside. They do not replace pest traps, nor do they trap pests inside the container. They can be made of various materials and the size and design can vary.

In hard-to-reach spaces, dust-formulated products can be applied with the help of special dusters.

RECOMMENDED DUSTERS:

Dusters are devices specially designed for the application of granular or powder (dust) products. They are used to treat hard-to-reach places, for example: inside walls (cracks), behind panels, spaces around electrical outlets, and other very narrow spaces.

Insecticides – growth regulators for sewer roaches

Even if treatments with insecticides that contain attractants eliminate the entire roach population (nest), a new infestation is possible if eggs are still present in hidden areas. Therefore, the use of insecticides that act as a growth regulator (IGR) is also recommended.

Recommended insecticides:

Insecticides that act as growth regulators can be liquid, in the form of a spray or they can have other types of formulations, depending on the type of product chosen. They contain specific active substances that act on the eggs and the early stages of insect development, thus preventing their development.

Sewer roach traps

Glue traps contain special attractants that lure insects that cross into their area of effect and get them stuck to the glue surface. Traps should be placed as close as possible to areas where roach activity has been detected (underneath furniture, in bathrooms, on shelves, in kitchens, basements, near food sources, etc).

When it comes to sewer roaches, traps are used mostly for maintenance or for monitoring the degree of infestation. They are not used for control against them.

Traps can be used in the preliminary stages, before applying any treatments, to find potential access points into the house. Usually, a larger number of pests can be found near these access points. For a faster identification of the access points, you can change the position of the traps that did not catch anything.

Traps can be used even after applying chemical treatments to verify the results of the treatment and to further monitor the treated space. Later, depending on the number of pests caught, chemical treatments can be reapplied.

Recommended traps:

Glue traps have the role of trapping pests onto a specific surface to monitor their activity. In addition to the glue part, the traps are equipped with an attractant, to entice the pests to approach and get them stuck onto the glue. Their size and design differ depending on the type of product. After use, the traps are removed together with the roaches caught on the glue.

Also, specific products in the form of gaskets can be used to block the access of roaches through the sewerage installation. They are placed inside drain holes, according to the specifications and depending on the chosen product. This type of product allows water to drain but blocks the access of roaches through them.

DISINSECTION OF APARTMENT BUILDING BASEMENTS

These types of treatments are performed to eliminate the source of the infestation. Considering the conditions of high humidity and dust found in such spaces, the remnant effects of the treatment cannot be ensured. Thus, it is recommended to carry out treatments using shock insecticides, to eliminate a large part of the pest population. These insecticides are applied by spraying, using low-pressure applicators.

Recommended insecticides:

Insecticides are applied by spraying them onto surfaces populated by sewer roaches. Treatments with these types of insecticides are carried out inside the premises, following the recommendations on the label. When applying an insecticide by spraying, only insects present on the treated surface (that come into direct contact with the solution) will be killed, but the nest will not be fully eliminated.

Safety Equipment

Safety equipment has the role of protecting the person performing the pest control treatments. To avoid inhaling vapors created during spraying and direct contact with the applied substance, it is recommended to use a complete set of safety equipment. This includes Hooded protective suits, gas masks with filters, chemical-proof gloves, rubber boots, or waterproof footwear, depending on the situation.

• Anti-chemical suit with hood

• Protective gloves

• Gas masks, glasses

In conclusion, for more efficient control of oriental cockroaches infestation, it is recommended to take sanitization measures in the affected area, as well as to seal the access points of roaches into the house, followed by performing chemical treatments. If the degree of infestation is high, it is recommended to carry out a treatment using spray insecticides to eliminate a significant number of their population. To eliminate the nest, insecticides containing food attractants will be used, as well as those that act as growth regulators, to avoid a new infestation.