It’s no surprise cockroaches have been around so long. What you need to know to prevent cockroach control failures.
By Dr. Nicky Gallagher, Technical Services Manager,Syngenta Professional Pest Management
German cockroaches are remarkably resilient. They evolved in dark and humid environments more than 300 million years ago, and are now well-adapted to surviving in the cracks and crevices of your customers’ homes and property. Furthermore, a single female cockroach can produce more than 280 eggs, despite an average life cycle of only three months.
What is resistance?
Some insecticides will not control cockroach populations at all if the pests are pre-adapted to survive through behavioral avoidance (aversion) or physiological resistance. When these cockroaches reproduce and pass along such characteristics to their offspring, the entire population may eventually become resistant to the effects of insecticides.
For these reasons, it is extremely important for Pest Management Professionals (PMPs) to implement multiple control strategies when dealing with cockroaches such as sanitation, harborage alteration, exclusion and physical removal. Additionally, you should always be good stewards of the chemistries available and apply pesticides in accordance with the product label.
How to prevent resistance
The most effective strategy for avoiding resistance is to prevent it from occurring in the first place:
• Understand the biology of the cockroach and the environment you have to treat. Be prepared to inspect, evaluate and decide on the best treatment option.
• Know your products and when/where to apply them:
- Mix and apply insecticides carefully and correctly. Not applying enough bait or making a less than thorough application (liquid or bait) can lead to resistant cockroaches.
- Incorporate multiple control strategies.
- Rotate between active ingredients.
- Utilize different formulations.
- Incorporate products with different modes of action, such as Tandem® insecticide, or tank mix products that complement one another for greater control.
• Use non-chemical strategies as part of your overall plan.
Treatment options for cockroach control
The following Syngenta Professional Pest Management (PPM) products provide effective cockroach control and fit well into an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan.
• Advion® cockroach gel bait combines a proprietary, high-consumption bait matrix with indoxacarb, a superior, non-repellent active ingredient. The formulation of Advion was developed to specifically overcome gel bait-aversion in tough cockroach populations.
• Tandem insecticide combines the power of two proven active ingredients, lambda-cyhalothrin and thiamethoxam, to provide a double assault on pests with one product. Formulated with proprietary iCAP™ technology, Tandem provides quick knock-down and long-lasting control of a broad range of pests.
• Arilon® insecticide contains an active ingredient, indoxacarb, to provide control of cockroaches and other general nuisance pests with its non-repellent chemistry and unique mode of action. Additionally, the versatile application methods of Arilon allow it to be used in and around households, as well as in commercial and industrial locations.
• Demand® CS insecticide with iCAP™ technology ensures the active ingredient, lambda-cyhalothrin, is protected in microcaps to provide a controlled release. Demand CS provides outstanding immediate and residual pest control for up to six months.
Resistant cockroaches make a bad problem worse. Help maintain a life uninterrupted by pests for you and your customers by following the tactics above to prevent cockroach resistance.
©2015 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your state or local Extension Service to ensure registration status. Advion®, Arilon®, Demand®, Tandem® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Syngenta Customer Center: 1-866-SYNGENT(A) (796-4368).
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