Cockroach Management

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Cockroach parasites are available only when ordered as a program of weekly releases. Training materials are available to help those in institutional pest control learn to implement biological control of cockroaches. See workshop info below. The set of 4 VHS video tapes of the workshop and the accompanying manual is available for $36.

 

Cockroach parasites produced by Barry Pawson of PNE, Inc.

 

Cockroach Parasite and Host Descriptions

 

Aprostocetus hagenowii. A. hagenowii attacks the egg capsule (ootheca) of eight species of peridomestic cockroaches. They are Periplaneta americana (the American cockroach), P. fuliginosa (the Smokybrown cockroach), P. australasiae (the Australian cockroach), P. brunnea (the Brown cockroach), Blatta orientalis (the Oriental cockroach), Neostylopyga rhombifolia (the Harlequin cockroach), Eurycotis floridana (the Florida cockroach) and E. biolleyi. For more information on A. hagenowii, consult the review article by LeBeck (1991).

 

A. hagenowii females lay their eggs inside cockroach oothecae (egg case). The eggs batch and the developing larvae (of A. hagenowii) consume the developing cockroach nymphs. The larvae continue to mature and eventually pupate inside the cockroach oothecae. A. hagenowii reaches the adult stage inside the cockroach ootheca. Adults emerge from the oothecae by chewing a hole in the oothecal shell. Male and female A. hagenowii mate immediately upon emerging from the cockroach ootheca. After mating, A. hagenowii females search for more cockroach oothecae.

 

Biological information about Aprostocetus hagenowii

  • Wasps mate immediately upon emerging. Fertilized eggs produce female progeny, unfertilized eggs produce male progeny.

  • Female wasps live 7 to 10 days. Females deposit eggs in hosts (oothecae) early in life (3 to 5 days of adult life).

  • Females attack 1 to 2 (occasionally 3) hosts in their lifetime.

  • Developmental time: 32 to 40 days (egg to adult). Dependent on temperature and number of individuals developing in host.

  • Average number of female progeny per host: Dependent on host - American 45 to 55, Oriental- 60 to 70.

  • Sex ratio: 80% females.

NOTE: A. hagenowii will not attack cockroach nymphs or adults. These stages need to be controlled by other methods compatible with natural enemies (i.e., trapping or baits). A. hagenowii only attacks cockroach oothecae.

Commonly encountered hosts of Aprostocetus hagenowii

 

American cockroaches - Periplaneta americana

Female cockroaches deposit oothecae every 7 to 10 days. Adult females live between 1 and 3 years.

Cockroach nymphs emerge from oothecae in 45 to 50 days (dependent on temperature).

  • Average number of progeny per ootheca: 14.

  • Developing nymphs pass through 9+ instars requiring 9 to 12 months.

Smokybrown cockroaches - Periplaneta fuliginosa:

 

Female cockroaches deposit oothecae every 10 to 14 days.

  • Adult females live between 1 and 1 1/2 years.

  • Cockroach nymphs emerge from oothecae in 50 to 55 days (dependent on temperature).

  • Average number of progeny per ootheca: 20 to 22.

  • Developing nymphs pass through 9+ instars requiring 9 to 12 months.

Australian cockroaches - Periplaneta australasiae:

 

Female cockroaches deposit oothecae every 5 to 7 days.

  • Adult females live between 8 to 12 months.

  • Cockroach nymphs emerge from oothecae in 60 to 65 days (dependent on temperature).

  • Average number of progeny per ootheca: 24.

  • Developing nymphs pass through 9+ instars requiring 5 to 7 months.

 

Oriental cockroaches - Blafta orientalis:

Female cockroaches deposit oothecae every 7 to 10 days.

  • Adult females live between 1 and years.

  • Cockroach nymphs emerge from oothecae in 55 to 60 days (dependent on temperature).

  • Average number of progeny per ootheca: 14.

  • Developing nymphs pass through 9+ instars requiring 9 to 12 months.

Cockroach Parasites: Anastatus tenuipes & Comperia merceti

 

Anastatus tenuipes & Comperia merceti attack the egg capsules (oothecae) of only one peridomestic cockroach, the Brown banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa). Females of A. tenuipes & C. merceti lay their eggs inside cockroach oothecae. The eggs batch and the developing larvae (of A. hagenowii) consume the developing cockroach nymphs. The larvae continue to mature and eventually pupate inside the cockroach oothecae. A. tenuipes & C. merceti reach the adult stage inside the cockroach ootheca. Adults emerge from the oothecae by chewing a hole in the oothecal shell. Male and female A. hagenowii mate immediately upon emerging from the cockroach ootheca. After mating, A. hagenowii females search for more cockroach oothecac. For more information on A. tenuipes and/or C. merceti, consult the review article by LeBeck (1991).

 

Biological Information About the Parasites

Anastatus tenuipes:

  • Wasps mate immediately upon emerging. Fertilized eggs produce female progeny, unfertilized eggs produce male progeny.

  • Female wasps live 4 to 6 days.

  • Females attack 1 to 2 hosts in their lifetime.

  • Developmental time: 42 to 48 days (egg to adult). Dependent on temperature and number of individuals developing in host.

  • Average number of female progeny per host: 7.

  • Sex ratio: 86% females.

Comperia merceti:

  • Wasps mate immediately upon emerging. Fertilized eggs produce female progeny, unfertilized eggs produce male progeny.

  • Female wasps live 3 to 5 days.

  • Females attack 1 to 2 hosts in their lifetime.

  • Developmental time: 32 to 36 days (egg to adult). Dependent on temperature and number of individuals developing in host.

  • Average number of female progeny per host: 13.

  • Sex ratio: 82% females.

Note: No parasites are currently available for German cockroaches. The egg case is tough and leathery and the female retains the case until the eggs hatch. She protects the case from parasites. If you know where we can find some, let us know.

 

Products Compatible with Cockroach Parasites

 

Boric Acid Based Products

Borate based Cockroach Baits


Magnetic Roach Food
http://reallyworkspestcontrol.com/

 

Niban
http://www.nisuscorp.com/pdf/products/niban40lb_label.pdf

Roachx - not available
http://www.purebio.com/products/tcb_pesticides


DIY
mix boric acid 10-30% with peanut butter
mix 5% with 25% sugar syrup and put in ant bait stations
http://www.rinconvitova.com/roach%20ant%20flea.htm

 

Boric Acid dusting powder

Cockroach sticky traps

Loline paper traps
http://www.bgequip.com/HTML/pc_ipm/ipm_coachroachtraps.html

 

jar traps
Use a pint jar, smear petroleum jelly around inside neck, bait with
a 1 inch square of white bread moistened with beer. Slide a sock
over the outside of the jar so cockroaches can climb into the jar.
Alternately paint the outside with primer paint that is rough.
Place in location for 1 or 2 days and count the roaches.

Biological Management of Cockroaches in Institutional Settings VHS Videotape or DVD of Workshop Ventura, CA March 1, 2001

Presented by PNE, Inc., International Pest Management Institute (IPMI), Art Slater (UC Berkeley; Slater Consulting), Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc. Sponsored by RVI, IPMI, Real Remedies, EcoPCO, KMPI video productions.

Video covers 8 hours of presentations on 4 VHS cassette tapes or 2 DVDs. $20.00 plus $1 S&H; accompanying manual $10 plus $1.00 S&H (if ordered separately)

Speakers and Topics

Art Slater, Structural Pest Control instructor and manager of Pest Management Services for University of California Berkeley

Current developments in biological control of cockroaches* by parasitic wasps.

Dr. Barry Pawson, President of PNE, Inc. has implemented roach control programs at University of Colorado, and several botanical gardens using the cockroach parasites he raises.

Think like a cockroach: baiting and trapping strategies

Bill Currie Director of International Pest Management Institute (IPMI) developed IPM programs in government buildings while with EPA, and now trains IPM trainers.

A new cockroach bait preparation and its use

Dr. Gerald Weaver, PhD Pharm, Real Remedies, division of

Developing an accepted material list for an institution

Phil Boise, IPM Consultant, Ventura Unified School District

A new orange oil (d-limonene) based insecticide

Tor McPartland, President, Orange Guard, Inc.

Using heat to rid buildings of pests

Al Langley, Precision Environmental, Inc.

Putting together a cockroach control program

* Cockroaches for which parasitic wasps are available: American, brownbanded, Smokybrown, Australian, Brown, Oriental, Harlequin, Florida, E. biolleyi. There is no parasitic wasp that attacks German cockroaches at this time. We are hopeful that one will be found soon.

 

Workshop Curriculum

brief review of cockroach biology as it relates to biological control

importance of cockroach identification

characteristics of different species that lead to different treatments

parasite biology

host life stage attacked host preference life cycle reproduction environmental conditions that influence development suppressive value of continued releases

pesticides compatible with biocontrol program

parasite release techniques

with predators present with out predators present

optimum release sites

monitoring

trapssiting reports

determining release rates, and schedules

cockroach trapping

importance of removing adults and nymphs

trap placement

schedule for checking traps

cockroach baits and baiting strategies

bait selection

compatibility with biocontrol

suitability for roaches present

bait placement

schedule for replacing bait, cycling bait, parasites

environmental modification

hygiene

minimizing food sources

controlling access to water

exclusion

implementing institutional IPM programs coordinated cockroach control program

expectations

economic or action thresholds

program evaluation guidelines

evaluating monitoring resultsevaluating pesticide use reduction savings

evaluating cost to pest control program

Workshop Speaker and Sponsor Backgrounders

Dr. Barry Pawson, President of PNE, Inc., has implemented roach control programs at University of Colorado, and several botanical gardens using the cockroach parasites he raises. 34555-C Mills Road, North Ridgeville, OH 44039-1844 440-327-2930, fax 440327-4194, e-mail pne34555@aol.com

Art Slater, Structural Pest Control instructor and manager of Pest Management Services for UC Berkeley (since 1973) Retired University of California Berkeley, set up a biological control program for cockroaches for the university starting in 1976.Bill Currie, Director of IPMI, developed IPM programs in government buildings while with EPA, and now trains IPM trainers. P.O. BOX 12469, Prescott, AZ 86304 (520)776-7782, fax (520)776-7765

Phil Boise, IPM Coordinator, Ventura Unified School District, developing IPM programs for local schools.

Dr. Gerald Weaver, PhD Pharm, Real Remedies, developer of RoachX roach bait.

Stapleton's developer of Magnetic Roach Food, and Magnetic Bug Catchers.

Al Langley, Precision Environmental, Inc. developer of thermal treatment of structural insect pests.

Tor McPartland, President, Orange Guard, Inc. developer of orange oil (d-limonene) based pesticide containing all food grade materials.

Robert McQueen, President, Robin Services, developer of a reusable sticky trap for monitoring insect pests in structures.

EcoPCO Professional Division, EcoSMART Technologies, producer of botanical based insecticides.

Bioganic brands, div of EcoSMART Technologies, producer of botanical based insecticides and herbicides.

Rincon-Vitova Insectaries staff: Everett Dietrick, Board Certified Entomologist, 50 years experience in implementing biocontrol programs, Stefan Long, biocontrol entomologist, and Ron Whitehurst, biologist

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Videotape available from

Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc.

PO Box 1555, Ventura, CA 93002

800-248-2847 * 805-643-5407 * fax 805-643-6267

e-mail bugnet@rinconvitova.com

 

 

 

Cockroach Parasite and Host Descriptions

2001 Workshop Curriculum

2001 W orkshop Videotape

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