EVALUATION OF TRAPPING AND VACUUMING COMPARED WITH LOW-IMPACT INSECTICIDE TACTICS FOR MANAGING GERMAN COCKROACHES IN RESIDENCES

In field studies, sticky traps and vacuum cleaners were evaluated to d etermine their effectiveness in the control of German cockroaches, Bla ttella germanica (L.), infesting multifamily housing. Trapping and vac uuming treatments were compared with insecticide baiting and residual spraying methods. At 4-wk posttreatment in 1995 tests, the percentage of cumulative population reductions caused by Siege gel bait, Victor R oach Pheromone sticky traps, flushing and vacuuming, vacuuming, and Em pire spray treatments reached 82.4, 79.3, 80.2, 72.5, and 72.0%, respe ctively. There were no significant differences in cockroach catch betw een treatments at all sampling periods after treatment, indicating tha t the treatments were equally effective in controlling B. germanica in festations. At 8 wk ; after treatment in 1996 tests, the percentage of cumulative population reductions caused by Knockdown Pheromone Boric Acid bait, Victor Roach Pheromone sticky traps, and Suspend spray trea tments reached 83.7, 80.1, and 68.5%, respectively As in 1995 tests, t here were no significant differences in cockroach catch between treatm ents at all sampling periods after treatment. Trapping with sticky tra ps and the use of the vacuuming technique led to significant reduction s in trap catch at all sampling times after treatments. In total, 7,54 3 cockroaches were caught on Victor Roach Pheromone traps removed from 11 apartments during the 4-wk test period in 1995. In total, 3,554 co ckroaches were caught on Victor Roach Pheromone traps removed from 5 a partments during the 8-wk test period in 1996. The use of the flushing agent before vacuuming led to a greater population reduction and remo val of hard-to-reach gravid females. Sticky traps and vacuum cleaners also were effective as monitoring devices and provided acceptable cont rol for B. germanica.