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

* 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 *

Types of Cockroaches * 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 *

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 *

What cockroaches eat Crumbs Grease Trash Cardboard glue Just about anything *

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

Sticky Trap Used for Cockroach Sampling/Monitoring *

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 refrigerator o Underneath the kitchen sink o On the base of kitchen cabinets o Behind the stove *

Behind a refrigerator Make sure the sticky trap is against the wall * Where to place traps in the Kitchen

Underneath a kitchen sink o Leaky faucets can provide roaches with water * Where to place traps in the Kitchen

On the base of kitchen cabinets Place the sticky-trap against the wall * Where to place traps in the Kitchen

Where to place traps in the Bathroom Behind the toilet *

By the wall close to water pipes or behind water fixtures * 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 *

Placing traps in other areas Basements, boiler rooms, where pet food is located, where you have seen roaches *

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… *

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…) *

Example of Floor Plan

Example of Cockroach Report If you want to use this form, follow this link:

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 *

Sample Labeling

Sample Label

Set out Traps Opening of trap as close as possible to corner. Put in dry, tight place. *

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. *

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 *

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 if you have questions about the PowerPoint presentation