A Study of Cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattidae) Infestation in Different Types of Residential Buildings in Makurdi. Nigeria.

Environmental assessment of 234 residential apartments in Makurdi was undertaken after which cockroaches were collected from kitchens and toilets from 2400 -0200 h between Mar. and Jul. 2006 using the killing and counting technique. One hundred and forty three (61.6%) of the residential apartments visited had occupant ratio of>4 persons per room. A total of 4,037 cockroaches were collected in 88.5% of residential apartments visited; the toilet and kitchen accounted for 54.6% and 45.4% of the collection, respectively. The American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, and the German cockroach, Blattela germanica, were the predominant species encountered; the least was Supella longipalpi. There was no significant difference in species preference for kitchen or toilet (X2 = 0.11, df= 1, P>0.05). The number of cockroaches collected from multi-unit apartments with several tenants was significantly higher than the numbers collected from duplex or detached buildings (X2 = l3.8, df = 2, P<0.05). Overcrowding and poor maintenance of buildings were common to all the study locations and these enhanced cockroach infestation. There is an urgent need to put in place a comprehensive cockroach prevention and control intervention strategy that will emphasize community participation in planning and implementation in order to protect and safeguard human health.