Cryonite® Service Guidelines for German Cockroaches

 

Cockroaches are largely reviled by most people due to their association with unsanitary conditions and the fact they can carry bacteria and other pathogens on their bodies and legs. Nearly all cockroach species, however, occur only outdoors with a relative few that have successfully adapted to living with man in his homes and businesses. Successful control of cockroaches is multifaceted and includes the following:

 

1.  Inspection to determine areas of activity within a kitchen, room, apartment, or home.
2. Physical removal of as many cockroaches as possible by vacuuming (when populations are significant).
3. Application of Cryonite to cracks and voids where these insects are known or suspected.
4. Application of void, crack & crevice and spot treatments with residual insecticides and/or cockroach baits.
5. Working with the customer to correct conditions that promote or harbor cockroaches.

 

Cryonite can be a useful tool in a German cockroach management program when combined with sanitary efforts and residual treatments. Cryonite is especially useful in sensitive situations where most conventional treatments cannot be used, such as hospitals, medical clinics, daycares, pet stores, and zoos. People and pets can remain in areas being treated with Cryonite though it is recommended treatment areas be vacated as often residual treatments will be made following Cryonite application.

 

It is important to note that Cryonite is most effective on smaller insects. Properly applied, it will kill German cockroaches on contact but larger species, such as American or Oriental cockroaches, can survive an initial treatment with Cryonite. An application of Cryonite will flush and knockdown larger species, but additional applications of Cryonite may be need to ensure kill, or better yet, affected cockroaches can be removed by vacuuming after being chased from harborages and/or knocked down by an initial Cryonite application.

 

The following guidelines are directed primarily at control of German cockroaches.

 

 

1. Inspection.

• Cockroaches spend most of their time hiding within cracks and voids. These are nocturnal creatures that spend 75% or more of their time in hiding. It takes a good flashlight, an inspection mirror, and experience to ferret out all of the active harborages in or around an infested building.

• Ask the customer or customer’s employees to point out sites where they have seen cockroaches.German cockroaches rarely travel more than 10-12 feet from harborages so where a cockroach is seen will be close to active harborages.
• Carefully check all sides, edges, and cracks for fecal spots that indicate a an old or active infestation. Look for live insects.
• Cryonite can be applied (see application tips below) to cracks and voids to flush cockroaches out of hiding.

 

2. Physically remove as many live and dead cockroaches as possible with a vacuum.

• Vacuuming provides immediate population reduction.
• Vacuuming is needed only when significant numbers of cockroaches are present or when working in a sensitive environment.
• It is easiest and best to vacuum any exposed cockroaches harboring on exposed surfaces instead of attempting to treat them with Cryonite or other treatment.

 

3. Prepare the Cryonite equipment for application.

• Is the Cryonite Lance and Hose hooked up to a CO2 tank with a dip tube?
• All connections are tight and not leaking?
• System is producing dry ice snow as designed?

 

4. Use Cryonite to treat cracks, crevices and voids of identified and suspected cockroach harborage sites.

• Cracks should be treated using the Jet Nozzle (for cracks & crevices). DO NOT use the Jet Nozzle to treat surfaces! 
• When using the Jet Nozzle, only depress the handle on Cryonite Lance about half way (50%). Applying at full pressure wastes gas and blows insects and debris around.

 

5. When treating into voids that may contain cockroaches, using the Jet Nozzle tip.

• Apply about 5 seconds per application site into voids.
• The CO2 produced when the dry ice snow evaporates will typically flush cockroaches from cracks and voids where they can be removed by vacuum or treated directly with Cryonite.
• Flushing action may take 5 to 10 minutes to occur so continue with the service and return later to vacuum any flushed cockroaches.
• If insects are present within the void, follow the Cryonite application with a void treatment using an application of residual insecticide dust.

 

6. Apply residual insecticide treatments.

• Use appropriately labeled gel cockroach bait, dust, aerosol, or water-based formulations to cracks, voids and surfaces where cockroach activity was found or is suspected.
• Residual treatments kill cockroaches missed by vacuuming or Cryonite applications, particularly those hidden within voids or other less accessible sites.
• Follow products’ label directions for treating cockroaches.

 

7.  Vacuum both live and dead cockroaches. 

• Removal of dead and live cockroaches provides the customer with the visual perception of significant immediate control.
• When using Cryonite against larger cockroach species, additional application to flushed, knocked-down cockroaches or removal by vacuuming is typically needed.