1. Integrated Pest Management Cockroaches/Bed Bugs
Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles

2. The link between housing and health

3. What is a healthy home?

4. What is so important about a healthy home?
Housing conditions can affect health both directly and indirectly.
Children spend close to % of their time indoors.

5. Health effects that are associated with housing conditions
Respiratory infections
Asthma
Injuries and burns
Allergies
Poisonings
Neurodevelopmental and behavioral problems
Cancer
Death

6. Steps to a healthier home
Keep the Home/Building:
Dry
Clean
Ventilated
Safe
Contaminant-free
Maintained
Pest-free
Today we are going to focus on keeping the home pest-free.

7. Why Pest Free? - the health effects of pest exposure
More than just a nuisance-pests in the home are a health issue…
Cockroaches, flies, fleas, rats and mice carry disease.
Roaches and house dust mites can make allergies and asthma worse.
Roaches can also bite and crawl into children’s ears.

8. Why Pest Free? -the health effects of pesticide exposure
Acute health effects of pesticide exposure include:
Eye, nose, and throat irritation
Skin rashes
Nausea and
Asthma attacks.
Long-term effects of pesticide exposure include:
Cancer
Birth defects
Central nervous system damage
Respiratory damage and
Endocrine disruption.

9. Drawbacks of Conventional Approach to Pest Control
Potential liability for property owners and managers (tenant injury from pesticide exposure).
Ineffective in controlling pests.
Little or no communication between tenant, property manager and pest control operator.

10. What is the alternative? -Integrated Pest Management
IPM Methods emphasize:
Pest Exclusion- block pest entry points, hiding places and passages;
Reduction of pest food and water sources- repair leaky plumbing, proper food storage and disposal; and
Control existing pests with low-risk control measures- boric acid, baits, and cleaning with borax.
Least-toxic pesticides are used only as a last resort…

11. How is the pest getting into your building?
Cracks around baseboards and under doors.
Holes in walls where plumbing or heating ducts come through.
Doors or windows left open or damaged screens.
Unscreened vents.

12. Find their path and block it!
Install screens on windows and doors.
Install door sweeps.
Caulk cracks and crevices in walls, floors, around baseboards and windows.
Seal holes around pipes.

13. Reduce Pest Food and Water Sources
Pests can find food in:
Trash cans
Appliances
Unsealed food on countertops
Dirty dishes
Pet bowls
Pests can get water from:
Leaky roofs
Leaky plumbing (toilet/sink)
Air conditioners
Sink and tub drains
Standing water in pet bowls/houseplants

15. Control Pests with Low-risk Measures

16. Take Home Message Pest Control = Shared Responsibility
Effective pest control requires a partnership between the building owner/property manager, the tenant, maintenance staff and the pest control operator.

17. Review Questions
There are seven steps to a healthier home- name three of them.
True or False Cockroaches can make asthma and allergies worse?
Name two health effects or symptoms of pesticide exposure.
What are three methods of blocking pest entry points to the home?
Name three places in the home pests can find food or water.
True or False IPM advocates the use of pesticides prior to blocking pest entry points and reducing food and water sources in the home.

18. -What they are -What they eat -Where they live -Prevention and control
Cockroaches
-What they are
-What they eat
-Where they live
-Prevention and control

19. 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

20. 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

21. Signs of Cockroaches
Live cockroaches
Dead cockroaches
Frass
Egg Cases

22. 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

23. What cockroaches eat Crumbs Grease Trash Cardboard glue
Just about anything

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

25. What’s the problems here?
-How would you fix it?

26. IPM for Cockroaches Inspect: Prevention and Control What kind?
How many?
Where are they living?
Prevention and Control
Sanitation
Exclusion
Least toxic pesticides

27. Inspect Where are they hiding? Monitor
Look for evidence where cockroaches would find food, water, or a hiding spot: up, down, behind, and under.
Monitor
By placing sticky traps near areas where cockroaches might travel—at corners and near warmth, food, and water.
Traps help find cockroaches when and where people can’t.

28. Prevention and Control -Sanitation
Eliminate hiding spots, food, and water available at night by
Reducing clutter
Throwing away dead cockroaches
Cleaning frass and areas where there were cockroaches with soap and water
Cleaning with Borax (washing floors in kitchen/bathroom)

29. Prevention and Control -Exclusion
Seal or fix cracks, peeled wallpaper, or holes that cockroaches could get through with:
Screens on windows and doors
Door sweeps
Silicone caulk
Copper mesh

30. Prevention and Control -Least Toxic Pesticides
-Exclusion and Sanitation first!
-Maintenance staff and residents should never spray pesticides!!
Bait Stations (roach motels)
The bait needs to be the only food in the area—sanitation first!
Won’t work if contaminated by strong- smelling cleaners or other chemicals, pesticide sprays or foggers, or nicotine from cigarette smoke.

31. Prevention and Control -Least Toxic Pesticides
Insecticidal Dusts-Boric Acid
Effective if used correctly.
Light dusting instead of piles.
Use in walls before fixing them.
Under and behind cabinets at turnover or when making large repairs…but clean first!
Because dust can become airborne Respirators must be worn when applying and Ventilation Systems should be turned off!

32. Prevention and Control -Insecticidal Dusts
Incorrect use of insecticidal dust

33. Never Use Sprays and Foggers

34. Review Questions
True or False cockroaches are most active during the night.
What are two signs that a home is infested with cockroaches?
Name three places in the home where cockroaches can find water.
What tool is used to monitor for cockroaches in a home?
Name two ways to eliminate cockroach hiding spots and/or food and waters sources in the home.

35. -What they are -What they eat -Where they live -Prevention and Control
Bed Bugs
-What they are
-What they eat
-Where they live
-Prevention and Control

36. What is a Bed Bug A blood-sucking insect Most active at night
Usually feeds at night
Bed bugs do not transmit disease, but they
cause secondary infections after people scratch their bed bug bites; and
result in stress, loss of work, loss of sleep, and financial burden.
Adult bed bug feeding on human

37. Bed Bug Behavior Hide in cracks and crevices, often in groups.
Hitchhike on bags, furniture, wires, or pipes.
Cannot fly, jump, or burrow into skin…they crawl.

38. Signs of Bed Bugs Bites Blood spots Shed skins Dead bed bugs
Live bed bugs
Bed bugs and fecal spots.
Adult bed bug and droppings on mattress.

39. Signs of Bed Bugs
Shed skins
Bed bug signs on a mattress seam

40. Signs of Bed Bugs
Bites

41. What bed bugs eat and drink
Blood

42. Where do bed bugs live? In the building
In any crack or crevice where a credit card edge could fit
In anything near where people rest
Beds, sofas, bedside tables, recliners, picture frames…

43. How do bed bugs spread? Through walls along wires and pipes
On anything coming from an infested unit:
Furniture
Backpacks
Laundry

44. Inspection is key
A thorough inspection is important to determine how widespread the infestation is.
Inspection for bed bugs starts in the place where people sleep and moves out from there to other parts of the room
Mattress
Box Spring
Bed Frame/Head Board
Other furniture/storage areas
Bed bugs may turn up in unexpected places in moderate and large infestations (desks, nightstands, picture frames, etc…)

45. Bed bug control If residents find bed bugs they should:
Report the problem
Not throw the mattress out—cover it
Not spray
Prevent carrying the bed bugs to other places
Prepare the unit for control measures

46. Bed bug control -Resident’s Role
Residents can:
Bag and remove all bedding, clothing, and other soft washable items from the infested area in plastic bags.
Wash and dry sheets, blankets, clothing, etc…on hot setting.
Isolate the cleaned items until bed bugs are gone.
Wash headboard and bed frame and other infested furniture with hot water and soap/vinegar.
Use a mattress encasement.

47. Bed bug control -Mattress encasement
Traps live bed bugs inside.
Zip, seal, and check for rips.
Leave it on for 1-1/2 years (don’t let it rip).

48. Bed bug control Residents should never spray or use foggers or bombs
Sprays cause the bugs to scatter- making them harder to control

49. Bed Bug Control -Pest Control Operator’s Role
PCO may:
Inspect units (infested and adjacent units)
Take apart furniture
Put infested items in sealed plastic bags or discard heavily infested items
Use
A Hepa vacuum-to remove bed bugs and debris
Heat or steam- to kill bugs
Return in three weeks for follow up inspections

50. Bed bug control -Maintenance Staff’s Role
Empty dumpsters weekly
Damage furniture left out for the trash so it can’t be reused
Inspect the laundry room weekly
Be very cautious when working in units—never set items on or under beds, recliners, or sofas
Eliminate bed bug hiding spots
Fix peeling wallpaper and paint
Caulk or seal cracks and crevices around the room and on furniture
Seal floors or the spaces between floor boards and tiles

51. Bed bug control -Manager’s Role
Maintain building free of pest harborage (hiding) places
Communicate with the Pest Control Operator and residents
Notify and assist residents in preparing for the Pest Control Operator visit
Ensure all units which are infested (as well as adjacent units) are inspected and IPM strategies are employed by the Pest Control Operator

52. Bed bug prevention Launder clothing/bedding frequently
Inspect donated/used furniture and clothing carefully and wash thoroughly
Resident education
Stress to residents that bedbugs are Not a sign of poor hygiene
Encourage residents to come forward immediately at first signs of infestation

53. Review Questions True or False bed bugs are found only in beds.
How do bed bugs get into a multi-family building?
True or False bed bugs can only crawl.
Once a unit is infested with bed bugs what are three ways residents can assist in controlling them?
True or False foggers or bug bombs are effective in controlling bed bugs.
Name two ways a manager can help control bed bugs in a multi-family building.

54. For more information on low-risk pest control or IPM please contact:
Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles at or
Acknowledgements:
Presentation was adapted from the National Center for Healthy Housing’s Integrated Pest Management for Multi-family Housing Course