The Importance of Cockroach Control by Austin Frishman (3/3/2008)

ALERT!   We are all aware of a new highly resistant strain of Staphylococcus. It is nicknamed MRSA, short for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is most prevalent in nursing homes and health care surroundings.What does this have to do with cockroaches?Back in l980, I co-authored a paper in the Journal of Environmental Health. Our publication verified that both American and German cockroaches are capable of carrying Staphylococcus. Because pest management professionals (PMPs) search out cockroaches and touch contaminated surfaces, it is a very wise idea to wear chemical-resistant gloves when doing inspections and treatments. With an increase in cockroaches comes the increase of the spread to people.  As a side note, veterinarians are reporting that persons who take their pet dog to nursing homes for pet therapy are at an increased risk of contacting MRSA. The dog picks it up from the care center, shows signs of sores on its body, and transmits the MRSA over to family members.

Cockroach facts
Too often I heard a complacent “researcher” at a comfortable university state they are happy to report that XYZ performed at an 85 percent or 90 percent level. How can you be happy with leaving some cockroaches? We must — and can — go to l00 percent elimination of existing population. New ones may enter, but can be prevented from re-establishing. Even in public housing, this is important. The technicians, researchers and everyone else involved in cockroach control need to care and not be satisfied with anything less than total elimination. Here are just a few important reasons why:

1. We now know that the persist ant presence of cockroaches in confined living quarters can result in increased, severe asthmatic attacks. In some areas, asthma is the primary reason why a child misses school.
2. In poorer neighborhoods, I have witnessed children and adults believing that they “deserve” cockroaches. Their life and surroundings are in misery. They have given up. The least we can do is remove one burden from their lives.
3. Physical abuse by cockroaches, both the larger peridomestic and smaller German cockroaches, does occur. Bites on the body, chewing off of eyebrows and feeding on body sores or eye mucus are more common than we like to think about.
4. When cockroach numbers are high, they turn cannibalistic on whatever there is to eat. Crawling into an ear and requiring surgery to remove them does occur, but it is a accidental invasion. Feeding on sores and eyebrows is not accidental. It is intentional.
5. Knocking out smoke detectors, setting off mouse snap traps, dropping a computer, defacing photos, curtains, walls, etc., occurs every day somewhere in this country as a result of a cockroach infestation.
6. We are all aware of a new highly resistant strain of Staphylococcus. It is nicknamed MRSA, short for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is most prevalent in nursing homes and health care surroundings.What does this have to do with cockroaches? Back in l980, I co-authored a paper in the Journal of Environmental Health. Our publication verified that both American and German cockroaches are capable of carrying Staphylococcus. Because pest management professionals (PMPs) search out cockroaches and touch contaminated surfaces, it is a very wise idea to wear chemical-resistant gloves when doing inspections and treatments. With an increase in cockroaches comes the increase of the spread to people.

     At Pet Safe Pest Control we know that Cockroaches will eat anything organic including roach droppings. A small grease spatter that we can barely see will feed many roaches. Other food sources include pet and human hair, crumbs, drops of soft drinks in their bottles, scattered pet food, wallpaper paste, glue, spilled spices and coffee grounds, dried flowers, mold, dirty clothing, and even some soaps.

Roaches are very sensitive to most of the chemical sprays used against them. When you have someone spray for them on a monthly basis, all you are accomplishing is to keep them away from the sprayed areas, and you are helping to develop insecticide resistant roaches. There are better and safer ways to eliminate them. We exterminate roaches naturally.

Pet Safe Pest Control knows the hazards to your pets associated with most Pest Control treatments. The following Green, Organic, and Eco Friendly methods are all part of our treatments to keep your pets safe.

Boric acid dust is commonly used by homeowners to control cockroaches. It must be used sparingly and any excess must be wiped up so your pets won’t walk across the dust.

Most roach baits are either in the form of a gel or in a ’station’ or roach motel. Dogs are attracted to these bait placements and they can cost you a big veterinarian bill.

Pet Safe Pest Control practices Green Methods of controlling roaches. These include sanitation, vacuuming up the live roaches, isolating food sources, clearing out interior and exterior harborages, and the use of Insect Growth Regulators.

Serving Portland, Beaverton, Tualatin, Tigard, Sherwood, Wilsonville, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Milwaukie, Gresham, Hillsboro, Canby, Oregon City Forrest Grove, Portland, and all of Washington and Multnomah counties.