Control Of Blatta Orientalis (Blattodea: Blattidae) In Zurich, Switzerland

Abstract:
The oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) occurs in several buildings of two different blocks in the city of Zürich. Pest control companies were unable to control the infestation, and reported cockroaches in the backyards of these blocks during the warmer periods of the year. The Urban Pest Advisory Service (UPAS) conducted an indoor cellar and outdoor backyard monitoring of the cockroaches in tenement block I (21 buildings) during the warm season, and outdoor backyard monitoring in tenement block II (7 buildings). The UPAS required the house owners to have professional pest control operators treat the problem, and the UPAS coordinated treatments to occur within a week. Monitoring the following spring showed that the treatment was successful; the infestation was reduced to the outside of one building in block I and to one outdoor spot in the backyard of block II. UPAS continues monitoring in both blocks. This demonstrates that coordinated pest control treatment can achieve reduction and possibly eradication of cockroach infestations.