Improvements in Baiting Technology for Household Pest Management
PI(s): Miller, Dini M, Mullins, Donald E
Investigators:
Abstract: Over the last decade gel bait bait formulations have become the preferred method of German cockroach control. The single greatest advantage of using gel baits is that they have been highly attractive to German cockroaches so that bait consumption and subsequent mortality result in superior control. However, within the last decade there have been documented cases of "bait aversion" among field populations of German cockroaches. Bait aversion is manifested by cockroaches avoiding a bait formulation that they would previously consume. This avoidance develops as the result of selection for aversion to the food ingredients within the bait matrix rather than to the active ingredients. Most of these populations were from locations where poor sanitation was a problem and baits had been used for extended periods to keep chronic cockroach infestations to a minimum. As the bait aversion behavior becomes more widespread there is an urgent need for new baits to be formulated that provide all of the advantages of the older formulations, but do not elicit aversion response. Bait manufacturers have been re-formulating their bait matrices to replace ingredients that cause the averse behavior. Our laboratory has been evaluating these new formulations and their sugar attractants to determine how "bait averse cockroaches" respond to them.
Description:
Baits for Bait Averse German Cockroaches
Commercial gel bait formulations, including two new formulations of indoxacarb
(Advion 0.6% AI), a new formulation of hydramethylon (Matrix 2.15% AI) and
acetamiprid (Transport 0.35% AI ) have been evaluated for efficacy against
"bait averse" German cockroaches. Bait consumption and subsequent mortality of
the
Commodities:
Resources: Dodson Urban Pest Management Laboratory
Disciplines: Integrated Pest Management, Pesticides, Urban
Audiences: Homeowners
