HOW TO CONDUCT COCKROACH SAMPLING A “How To” PowerPoint for building owners/managers, tenant organizers, Promotoras and anyone learning to use “sticky-traps” for an IPM program

by Physicians for Social Responsibility- Los Angeles

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•Smell

•Stomach Illness

•Respiratory Illness

•Trigger Asthma

Why Cockroaches? Why Trap?

What is a Cockroach•Lives in areas where humans provide food and water

•Active at night (If you see cockroaches during the day, the infestation is serious)

•Many eggs in each egg case

•Nymphs look like small version of adults

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Types of Cockroaches

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From Left to Right:

• American

• Oriental

• German

• Brown-Banded

German Cockroach•Medium size (3/4''), bronze, with “racing stripes” behind the head

•Found everywhere, but likes warmth, moisture, and darkness

•Reproduces quickly

•Mother carries eggs to term even if she is dead

•Eats almost anything

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Where cockroaches live•Anywhere in a building

•Prefer spots near water but also need food and warmth

•In cracks and crevices where their bodies touch surfaces above and below

•Stay within 5 feet of their nest unless forced out

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What cockroaches eat•Crumbs

•Grease

•Trash

•Cardboard glue

•Just about anything

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Where cockroaches find water•Sinks•Counters•Floors•Pet bowls•Leaky pipes•Refrigerator drips•AC units•Shower stalls

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Sticky Trap Used for Cockroach Sampling/Monitoring

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Where to place traps in the Kitchen

• Place traps against a wall

• Place in areas where roaches are likely to harbor:

o Inside kitchen cabinets where food is located

o Behind a refrigeratoro Underneath the kitchen sinko On the base of kitchen

cabinetso Behind the stove

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• Behind a refrigerator

• Make sure the sticky trap is against the wall

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Where to place traps in the Kitchen

• Underneath a kitchen sinko Leaky faucets

can provide roaches with water

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Where to place traps in the Kitchen

• On the base of kitchen cabinets

• Place the sticky-trap against the wall

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Where to place traps in the Kitchen

Where to place traps in the Bathroom

Behind the toilet

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By the wall close to water pipes or behind water fixtures

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Where to place traps in the Bathroom

Placing traps in other areas• Above door

moldings

• Roaches can travel on the walls and can go inside the molding

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Placing traps in other areas

Basements, boiler rooms, where pet food is located, where you have seen roaches

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Placing the Traps• Not closer than 5 feet apart.

• Corner where two flat surfaces meet.

• Hard to reach.

• 12 traps is enough for one unit.

• Kitchen – 3 to 6 traps

• Bathroom – 1 to 3 traps

• Other: Water heater, floor drain, washing machine, pet bowl, radiator, etc…

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Cockroach Report/Floor Plan•What is a floor plan? •Used to ID where the trap has been placed and to keep count of the roaches found. •All traps should be numbered and labeled in the floor plan.

•Fill out first three columns of cockroach report:•Trap #•Room where trap is located•Nearest furniture or appliance

•Draw floor plan•Add rooms•Doors/windows•Major appliances likely to attract cockroaches•Location of cockroach traps (T1, T2, T3, etc…)

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Example of Floor Plan

Example of Cockroach Report

If you want to use this form, follow this link: http://www.afhh.org/hps/hps_cehrc_cockroaches_materials.pdf

Prepare Traps- Getting Started•Prepare labels for trap and plastic bag with:•Apt. # •Trap # •Room where trap is located•Nearest appliance

•Put on gloves – to avoid glue

•Assemble traps

•Label traps

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Sample Labeling

Sample Label

Set out Traps•Opening of trap as close as possible to corner.

•Put in dry, tight place.

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Talk to Resident•Show resident where traps are.

•Leave packaging with resident.

•Ask resident:•Not to touch traps and avoid getting traps dirty or wet.•Keep traps away from kids and pets.•Call if traps are full.

•Tell resident what to do if glue gets on hands.

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Collect Traps – Second Visit (usually two days after the first visit)

•Put labels on plastic bags.

•Take photos.

•Pick-up traps and put in bag with same label. Seal the bag. •Consider freezing trap to kill cockroaches. Cockroaches may be alive. •Consider picking up with pliers.

•Count cockroaches.

•Count other pests such as spiders and mice.

•Complete the Floor Plan

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ID Trouble Areas

After placing the roach traps:• ID where there are high number of roach counts

• Address the roach infestation by using the proper Integrated Pest Management practices (IPM)

• Work with the tenant to implement IPM practices

• Follow up within two weeks

Thank You!

This PowerPoint presentation was developed as part of Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles’ Healthy Housing IPM Pilot Project,

funded by California Department of Pesticide Regulation

Contact PSR-LA at 213-689-9170 if you have questions about the PowerPoint presentation