COCKROACH RESISTANCE TO INSECTICIDES

German cockroachGetting to know …News from Aardwolf Pestkare China

Of the 3 pests, cockroaches, �ies and rats, which are banned from food and beverage establishments in Singapore, the cockroaches should be the most feared because they disperse bacteria that cause diseases like dysentery, typhoid fever and cholera, all of which are conveniently referred to as “food poisoning”. Yet they are the most challenging to eliminate, especially the German cockroach, Blattella germanica.

This is mainly because of the German cockroach’s high reproductive potential. It has a 3-month Life Cycle and a single mating can produce as many as 8 egg casings (oothecae). Within 24 hours of its ejection, each ootheca will hatch and as many as 48 o� springs will crawl out, to start foraging for food and water.

To add to their woes, pest management professionals face the issue of cockroach resistance to insecticides. Since the 1950s, scientists believed that the German cockroach had developed resistance to insecticides. In 1993 Professor Lee Chow Yang was the �rst person to detect insecticide resistance in German cockroach in Southeast Asia, speci�cally in Malaysia. This prompted a similar detection in Singapore by Professor Ho Suit Hung and Tang Choon Siang in 1998. In 2009 Professor Intan Ahmad reported resistance in the German cockroach in Indonesia.

Cockroach resistance is best described as the control failures that result from the physiological and behaviourial adaptations in cockroaches after exposure to insecticides in earlier generations.

To a pest management professional it simply means that the cockroaches won’t die within 72 hours, after you have sprayed an insecticide on them.

The common insecticides used to control cockroach infestation have been carbamates, organophosphates and pyrethroids.

BUT WHY AND HOW DID THIS RESISTANCE COME ABOUT?It is simply because nature �ghts back for survival. This phenomenon is not peculiar to the German cockroach. It also applies to the mosquitoes and �ies. Rats and mice that were resistant to the �rst generation of rodenticide, Warfarin, were sensationally called “Super Rats”.

One explanation is that according to Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection cockroaches develop biochemical mechanisms that allow them to tolerate insecticides. Next comes the selectable process that over time,

with insecticide spraying, the non-resistant cockroaches will die, leaving only the resistant ones alive, to multiply more of their own.

This is clearly explained in the diagram on the left, taken for Wikipedia Website. The red coloured cockroaches are genetically resistant.

The insecticide manufacturers prefer to call this “�eld resistance”, because

it is the product failure in a real situation, rather than in a laboratory. This is interesting because it explains why an insecticide may be e�ective in laboratory tests but fails in the �eld.

There is also the issue of “cross resistance”, which is resistance to other insecticides within the same class or even a di�erent class but with a similar mode of action. But if it is resistance to several classes of insecticides with di�erent modes of action, it is referred to as “multiple resistance”.

The typical response of pest controllers is to increase the dosage of whatever they are using or to increase the treatment frequency. This will only make the situation worse.

On the other hand, the true pest management professional practises Integrated Pest management (IPM). This involves giving priority to upgrading sanitation, improving housekeeping, installing proo�ng and using physical traps. The use of insecticide is only an integral part of IPM.

Because of the limited supply of active ingredients with di�erent modes of action, the latest thinking is to adopt “3 months – 3 A.I.s”. This is a programme that involves rotating active ingredients every 3 months through at least 3 active ingredients with di�erent modes of action, before returning to the original.

Tackling this humble insect, which has outlived the dinosaur that roamed the Earth some 300 million years ago is no easy task. It requires an understanding of science combined with a mindset that says “It is either you or I, you cockroach”

CONSULTANT DR LEE NAI PIN TO HELP WITH TRAINING

POPULAR RESTAURANT IS HAPPY WITH AARDWOLF PESTKARE

General Manager Rosalind Yang was proud to take John Ho, Dr Lee Nai Pin and Chin Ngai Sung for dinner in Shanghai at the Heji Xiaocai Restaurant, a Client of Aardwolf Pestkare.

At the end of the delicious meal, John asked to meet and thank the Restaurant Manager Cai Xiao Min and also to visit the kitchen.

The Manager proudly announced that his restaurant is clean and is pest-free. He also praised the commitment of the Aardwolf Pestkare team in keeping it so. For the record, the restaurant is the size of 2 soccer �elds.

So when you are in Shanghai and want a good meal in a safe environment, go to Heji Xiaocai Restaurant is at 1005 Lou Shan Guan Road. For reservation, please call 5273 3327 / 5273 3328 to avoid disappointment.

Well-known for his expertise in pesticides, Dr Lee Nai Pin was invited as a Consultant to review and recommend improvements in Aardwolf Pestkare in China.

His approach was impressive, as can be seen from these photos.

PROGRESS MEETING IN SHANGHAI

A meeting was held to discuss the progress of the Company in Shanghai.

From left, Consultant Dr Lee Nai Pin, Finance Director Chin Sung Ngai, General Manager Rosalind Yang, Chairman Phil Xiao, Lawyer Judy Zhou and John Ho.

PG 6

BULLETINA Q u a r t e r l y P u b l i c a t i o n o f A a r d w o l f P e s t k a r e ( S ) P t e L t d

Oct-Dec 2013MIC (P) 111/04/2013

The Annual Interest Group Convention is one of Singapore Institute of Management’s (SIM’s) hallmark events and provides an excellent platform for Interest Group members and guests to learn from practitioners about industry’s best practices and latest business trends.

Aardwolf Pestkare’s Group Managing Director John Ho was invited by SIM to share his experience in a presentation “The Success Strategy Through Innovation and Quality” at the Convention held on 14 September 2013 at the Singapore Expo.

He described the company’s origin and positioning in a highly competitive pest control market and how, by adopting the twin-pillar business strategy of Innovation and Quality, it is today the second largest player in Singapore. This successful formula is now being adopted by its operations in Indonesia and China.

During the Question and Answer session he was asked how the company sustained Quality. His explained that it is a continuous process and starts from the time a recruit joins the team. An intensive assessment is conducted every week during the 3-month probationary period so that corrective action can be worked out early. If there is any serious doubt, it is better to terminate the recruit’s services, regardless of a tight human resource market.

In addition all sta� are constantly reminded that the service they deliver is meaningful: we are here to protect the lives and property of our Clients and they are paying us to do that.

This is the Class of Food Hygiene Practitioners in July 2013. The Advance Food Hygiene Course is conducted by the Food Innovation and Resource Centre, Singapore Polytechnic and organised by Martyn Wong.

One of the interesting questions asked was how do you prevent Bed Bugs from infesting a food establishment. Aardwolf Pestkare’s John Ho explained that people bring in most of these insects. Unfortunately it is not practical to inspect their personal belongings. It is even a No-No if they are your customers. Preventive treatments can be conducted but given the low incidence of this happening in a food establishment, it makes economic sense to raise the alarm only if you suspect there are Bed Bugs.

SHARING OUR STRATEGY AT SIM INTEREST GROUP CONVENTION 2013

SHARING OUR STRATEGY AT SIM INTEREST GROUP CONVENTION 2013

From left, President of the Innovation

Quality Management Group Goh Hock Wah,

Executive Director Ronald Tan and John Ho.

Members of the IQM Group toured Aardwolf Pestkare’s facilities in Jurong.

Advance Food Hygiene Course

PG 1PG 5

Aardwolf Pestkare (Singapore) Pte LtdCompany Reg No: 199700791R

26 Third Lok Yang Road, Singapore 628015 T 6268 1771 F 6265 1551E aardpest@singnet.com.sg W www.aardwolfpestkare.com