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Cockroach Control
- Use sanitation, baits, and "crack & crevice" treatments -
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Summary: The most important step is sanitation. Baits and low toxicity poison dusts can be used in homes while new baits and "crack & crevice" insecticides should be reserved for commercial buildings and multi-family dwellings.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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 Because treatments to control cockroaches in commercial buildings is generally more aggressive than it is in a single-family home the two different approaches are outlined separately below.
Cockroach control in single-family homes
This can be a do it yourself, "weekend warrior" project. Cockroach control in single-family homes should be relatively simple because you can control what happens in every room. If you eliminate sources of food and water in every part of the house you can achieve control with easy-to-use, and inexpensive, baits and dust insecticides. Don't use aerosol sprays as these will just cause roaches to scatter and make baits ineffective.
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German cockroach (adult); note long antennae and dark stripes behind the head
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First, eliminate sources of food and water. Be ruthless -- clean any exposed sources of cooking grease, sugars and other foodstuff. Also repair leaky pipes and other sources of water. Cleaning and water source elimination is the most important part of cockroach control.
Second, apply a borate powder insecticide, such as Borid, in places where cockroaches travel. Cockroaches, and many other pests, follow walls, only rarely venturing out into the room. Place a thin layer of powder behind appliances and cabinets, and under sinks, etc. Replace this powder when it is distrubed.
Finally, cockroach baits can be used in these same areas. Most of the time you can skip the use of baits in single-family dwellings if you have done a good job of sanitation and water source control. If, however, you need some extra help try one of the new baits, they are expensive but very effective.
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Cockroach control in commercial buildings*
Cockroach infestations in commercial buildings are more difficult to eliminate because you typically cannot control what happens in every part of the building. If there are areas of the building that are not cleaned and treated, for whatever reason, these can serve as continual sources of cockroaches that re-infest the building.
Therefore it may be necessary to treat areas that are accessible with residual insecticides and aggressively use commercial baits to disrupt the populations in other parts of the building. It is possible that you won't be able to achieve complete elimination of the cockroach population so you may have to be content with suppression only.
*Commercial buildings include warehouses, apartments, school dormatories, office buildings, hospitals, food processing plants, manufacturing facilities, ships, boats, trains, etc.
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Check list:
- Eliminate sources of food and water as much as possible.
- Apply a borate insecticide behind appliances, under cabinets, etc.
- Apply a residual insecticide (ie deltamethrin) as a crack and crevice treatment. Check label for approved uses.
- Use commercial baits for long-term suppression. Replace baits as needed to maintain control.
Pest Control Reference Books -- Cockroach control can be complex especially in multi-family dwellings or commercial buildings. If you are responsible for cockroach control in commercial buildings these reference books may be useful.
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