Laboratory and in-home evaluations of consumer- and professional-grade cockroach baits.

Abstract

German cockroaches (Blattella germanica (L.)) are a persistent pest in affordable housing and studies indicate that residents implement control on their own to deal with cockroaches within their homes. While many do-it-yourself (DIY) control options have proven ineffective, baits are widely considered to be a viable DIY solution for residents who do not have access to professional pest control services. To evaluate their efficacy, we tested consumer-use baits (Combat gel bait, Combat bait stations, and Hot Shot liquid bait stations) in both laboratory two-choice assays and in-home assays, comparing them with professional gel baits (Vendetta Nitro, Advion Evolution, and Maxforce FC Magnum). All baits (consumer- and professional-grade) caused > 80% mortality within 14 d in laboratory assays, including against home-collected German cockroach populations. However, the in-home efficacy of consumer-grade baits in comparison to their performance in laboratory assays was inconsistent, with some baits resulting in significant declines in trap catch in 1 month (Hot Shot liquid bait stations), some taking longer (Combat gel bait), and some never showing a decline (Combat bait stations). Discrepancies between product performance in laboratory and in-home studies are concerning and suggest that laboratory assays alone might not be indicative of the potential for control, especially in the context of the more complex home environment. Failures of consumer-grade baits may require re-evaluation of current recommendations for the use of consumer-grade cockroach baits as a viable control option for residents struggling with cockroach infestations without access to professional pest management.