Answer
May 13, 2013 - 09:02 PM
German cockroach infestations in food areas such as Ice Cream Shops, can be tricky. The problem is that they can get just about anywhere, and if the population has had some time to develop, you could be dealing with a significant number of adult as well as immature (baby) cockroaches.
The first thing you need to make sure of, is that there is adequate clean-up, and that there is no spillage of ice cream on the floor, under equipment, under freezers, etc. If there is spillage, then the cockroaches have a food source, and getting rid of them will be difficult. Mop the floors daily with a bleach or cleaning solution that keeps them dry and residue free.
Spraying anything in a food area can be a futile attempt at control, especially if you only spray baseboards. This is because cockroaches will live and breed inside equipment, cracks, crevices, etc. This is where the treatment needs to be targeted. Remove the fronts off of the freezers and inspect inside and under them to make sure there is no ice cream spillage, Then spray the entire area with Cykick Pressurized Aerosol. Spray everything under each freezer liberally until wet. Do not spray electrical switches or wires directly.
Also spray behind each freezer and in cracks, crevices, etc. This takes some time, and is tedious, but this it what it takes to get control.
After you replace the covers on the freezers, spray the outside vent and around each freezer.
Also treat under shelves, under equipment, get on your hand and knees and inspect with a good flashlight the wheels and casters, rollers of tables, etc.
Basically, you need to spend about an hour and do a really good inspection with a good flashlight, and while inspecting, inject cracks, crevices, voids, and similar areas as well as those areas described above.
Cykick also comes in a residual concentrate that can be mixed with water and sprayed. You will need a good sprayer.
We have a great page with more info on how to kill cockroaches in food areas of food handling establishments. Click here
There are a number of other treatments such as dusting, fogging, using insect growth regulators, etc. Most pest companies would use a combination of these methods as well as use a chemical rotation technique (change chemicals on each service) to try and prevent cockroach resistance or immunity to these products. This treatment is easy to do and can be done by almost anyone.
The main thing to remember is that you need to do this on a regular basis, at least every 30 - 60 days. Don't let the cockroaches get bad before you start spraying. Spray to prevent them.
Add New Comment