Integrated Pest Management of Blattella Asahinai in the Urban Environment in Southern Alabama, United States of America

Abstract:
The Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai (Mizukubo) was first described in 1981 from Okinawa, Japan (Mizukubo, 1981), and introduced into the state of Florida, USA in 1986. By 2007 B. asahinai was established in the states of Alabama, Georgia and Texas, USA. B. asahinai is a peridomestic pest which becomes a nuisance of homeowners when they enter the home. Since B. asahinai lives outdoors it is in contact with animal feces and a plethora of pathogens from the soil. B. asahinai has the potential to physically transmit these pathogens to food work surfaces, plates, silverware, and food stuffs when it forages into the home. B. asahinai can build into large numbers around the home by late summer and cause the homeowner to treat inside the home to try and control their infestations. Pest control operators who are not familiar with the difference between B. asahinai and B. germanica may treat unnecessarily inside the home exposing the homeowner to unnecessary residues of pesticides. Research was done to develop an IPM program that would control B. asahinai around the home and reduce the exposure of pesticides to humans, animals, and the environment. An IPM program that was environmentally friendly evaluated different chemical and organic compounds, mechanical control, and cultural practices.