Effect Of Dose Manipulation Of Commercial Cockroach Gel Baits On The Mortality Of Periplaneta Americana (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

Insecticidal baits are one of the most popular tools for controlling cockroaches. They rely on precise label dosage guidelines to achieve control for a varied number of cockroach species. Periplaneta americana can consume high quantities of bait before being incapacitated. This has the potential for a lethal dose only to be consumed by a subsection of the infesting population resulting in less efficient pest control and re-visits required to treat the remaining population as label bait guidelines are absolute, making it illegal to apply more than the label dose. In this study, the label doses of five commercially available cockroach baits (Advion, Goliath, Maxforce FC Magnum, PCI and Pesguard) were evaluated and manipulated to establish what amount of bait is needed to achieve mortality against P. americana. Only the primary mortality rate was evaluated to remove the factor of secondary mortality from horizontal transfer of bait. Advion was the only bait able to achieve 100% mortality at the label application rate; all other baits required increased dosage to achieve absolute mortality of P. americana.