Changes in Indoor Insecticide Residue Levels after Adopting an Integrated Pest Management Program to Control German Cockroach Infestations in an Apartment Building

Abstract

Insecticide use in homes leads to human exposure to insecticide residues that persist in the environment. Integrated pest management (IPM) programs have been known to be more environmentally friendly for managing German cockroach (Blattella germanica L.) infestations, but their effect on indoor insecticide residue levels are not well understood. An IPM program consisting of applying cockroach gel baits and placing insect sticky traps as the primary treatment methods were implemented. Floor wipe samples were collected from the bedroom and kitchen floors of 69 apartments with German cockroach infestations at 0 months and again at 12 months from 49 of the 69 apartments sampled at 0 months. Levels of 18 insecticide residues were measured. The mean insecticide residue concentration per apartment decreased by 74% after 12 months. The number of insecticides detected per apartment decreased from 2.5 ± 0.2 to 1.5 ± 0.2 (mean ± standard error). Indoxacarb residue was only detected in two apartments at 12 months despite the fact that an average of 32 ± 4 g 0.6% indoxacarb gel bait was applied per apartment. IPM implementation can result in significant reduction in the insecticide residue concentrations and number of detected insecticides in floor dust samples.

Development of a Poisoned Bait Strategy against the Silverfish Ctenolepisma longicaudata (Escherich, 1905)

“…Even compared to our restricted use of sprayable pesticides, this promotes safety when combined with the low concentration of active ingredients in the bait. Additionally, applying as much as 30 g of bait per apartment of the same type of bait used in this study did not leave toxic dust residues in a cockroach study [42]. This approach might even be considered safe with children and pets if applications are made cautiously at inaccessible locations in combination with necessary precautionary information to residents.…”

Long-Tailed Silverfish (Ctenolepisma longicaudata) Control; Bait Choice Based on Primary and Secondary Poisoning

“…The very low indoxacarb dose in the ant bait (1/12 of the cockroach bait) was sufficient to kill the primary target and appears to have produced more potent carcasses for secondary poisoning. Indoxacarb in bait formulations has also been shown to leave limited amounts of residues in cockroach-infested dwellings [27], and even lower doses in the ant bait are able to assure a very safe approach. It is also worth noting that four-week-old baits resulted in slightly higher primary mortality compared to two-week-old baits.…”

“…Compared with most other types of pesticides, baits limit technicians' and residents' risk of exposure to harmful substances and should consequently be the method of choice against the long-tailed silverfish when control efforts are deemed necessary [21,22,27,49]. Traditional spray application may also require treatment in many rooms as the long-tailed silverfish disperse to many parts of the building or the infested dwelling [11].…”

“…If, however, the available modern baits are sufficiently attractive or nutritionally stimulating enough to encourage feeding, a potential tool against this new European nuisance pest may become available. A bait strategy is particularly favourable because of the low health risk they hold compared to conventional application of spray insecticides [21,27]. Baits may also be durable when applied in secluded spots and in cockroach control, as they induce primary poisoning through ingestion, secondary poisoning through excretions, necrophagy or emetophagy and tertiary poisoning through the same mechanisms, but are delivered by secondary donors [28].…”

Correction: Wang, C.; et al. Changes in Indoor Insecticide Residue Levels after Adopting an Integrated Pest Management Program to Control German Cockroach Infestations in an Apartment Building. Insects 2019, 10, 304

“…Following the publication of our article [1], we found that an incorrect data set was used in the regression analysis. Figure 1 and the associated analysis results need to be changed.…”