Beyond Pesticides –Breaking new frontiers in Pest Management

Fossil records indicate that cockroaches have inhabited Earth for at least 200 million years. They are low-maintenance creatures and can survive in a wide range of environments. They can eat almost anything, including linen, cardboard, leather and book bindings. Almost any building will become infested after a certain period of time. Whether it is a home, restaurant, warehouse or a farm, cockroaches will somehow find it and once they do, it’s very difficult to get rid of them. A single roach is capable of producing an average of 350,000 offspring in a single breeding season.

Cockroaches, which move around in human and animal waste as well as food, are capable of carrying diseases such as dysentery and parasites. In a word, cockroaches are unhygienic. Equally, and more importantly, cockroaches produce large amounts of allergen in their skin and frass. This can invoke serious allergic reactions, particularly amongst children, causing asthma and eczema. Although allergens have been identified in several species of roaches, only allergens from German and American cockroaches have been officially recognized and named according to the World Health Organization/International Union of Immunological Societies (WHO/IUIS) nomenclature.

Among the different species of roaches such as the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), the Brownbanded cockroach (Supella longipalpa), the Asian cockroach (Blattella asahinai), and the Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis), the German cockroach (Blatella germanica) is most common and often the most difficult to control. Cockroaches will live very happily as long as they have access to darkness, moisture and a food source. Consequently, they can be commonly found in kitchens. They tend to hide in confined and dark areas such as wall cavities, behind refrigerators, in kitchen cupboards, below sinks and washing up areas.

The use of insecticidal gel baits and chemical sprays are at present the most common methods employed to control cockroaches. The increased public concern regarding the safety of synthetic pesticides and their effect on human health and the environment, together with the increasing problem of cockroaches developing resistance to insecticides, have resulted in the demand for a safe, effective and eco-friendly method of control.

Recently, PCI – Pest Control (India) Pvt. Ltd, has introduced Exoroach Trap, a new generation technology for effective management of cockroaches in collaboration with Exosect Ltd, UK, an acknowledged leader in safe and pesticide free technologies worldwide.

Exoroach® is a pesticide-free, environment-friendly cockroach trap, containing a food based lure, attractive to all key species of cockroaches. It controls nymphs as well as adults and can be used as a stand alone system or to monitor the infestations. Large, robust size is ideal to catch and hold at least 1000 cockroaches. It also enables long service interval and reduces the associated labour and cost, besides withstanding the challenging environment in kitchens, especially industrial kitchens. The Exoroach® is easy to use and extremely effective.

How does it work?

Exoroach® offers a simple and natural catching mechanism. Placed adjacent to the wall or along edges near infested areas or near sites having suspected roach activity, the insects will encounter the Exoroach® trap as they follow their normal foraging activity looking for food and harborage sites, particularly at night. Sensing the food lure tablet provided, they will be attracted to the trap. On entering, they climb up the ramp on to the specially designed bridge treated with Entostat powder.

Electrostatically charged entostat particles cling to the feet and tarsal segments of the roaches, making them lose their grip and fall on to the sticky glue board, where they are retained.

Key Features

• Completely pesticide free, the trap could be used in areas where the use of pesticides is restricted
• Made from robust plastic, the trap is long lasting and highly suited to industrial environments as well as homes
• Designed with waterproof base and lid, the trap does not need removal whilst the floor is being cleaned
• Attractive design conceals the trapped cockroaches from view. Ideal for restaurants, bars and offices
• Suited to an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, the trap could be used in conjunction with other control methods to assist resistance management.

Case studies

A number of trials were conducted by PCI during 2008 in Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata in different accounts, viz., commercial, semi-commercial and residential, to validate Exoroach as stand alone control system for German roaches. Trial results revealed that a total of 6722 German roaches, including 2044 adults and 4678 nymphs were caught in one month from 13 traps installed in commercial locations in three cities, viz., Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata.

Performance of Exoroach under field conditions

The capability of Exoroach in reducing cockroach population in the trial areas was assessed based on the reduction in trap catches over the study period and pre-and post-trap installation counts at four different hotels in Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata.

No overt cockroach activity has been noticed in the hotels under treatment, post installation of Exoroach traps.

Advantages :

• Exoroach is highly effective and quicker in bringing down the roach population
• Highly effective against all stages of roaches
• Helps in pinpointing sources of infestations
• Works continuously 24/7 and easy to service
• It can be used as a stand alone control system or a monitor tool
• Cost effective and unique technology
• Safe and easy to use tool
• Attractive design, conceals the trapped cockroaches from view.

 

PCI Team, Mumbai & BCRL, Bangalore