Transcript Pest Management - Californians for Safer Pesticide Control

Integrated Pest Management
Cockroaches/Bed Bugs
Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los
Angeles
The link between housing and health
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What is a healthy home?
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What is so important about a healthy
home?
 Housing conditions can
affect health both
directly and indirectly.
 Children spend close to
80-90% of their time
indoors.
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Health effects that are associated with
housing conditions
 Respiratory infections
 Asthma
 Injuries and burns
 Allergies
 Poisonings
 Neurodevelopmental and
behavioral problems
 Cancer
 Death
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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.
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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.
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Why Pest Free?
-the health effects of pesticide exposure
 Acute health effects of pesticide exposure include:
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Eye, nose, and throat irritation
Skin rashes
Nausea and
Asthma attacks.
 Long-term effects of pesticide exposure include:
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Cancer
Birth defects
Central nervous system damage
Respiratory damage and
Endocrine disruption.
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.
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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…
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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.
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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.
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Reduce Pest Food and Water Sources
Pests can find food in:
 Trash cans
 Appliances
 Unsealed food on
countertops
 Dirty dishes
 Pet bowls
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Pests can get water from:
 Leaky roofs
 Leaky plumbing
(toilet/sink)
 Air conditioners
 Sink and tub drains
 Standing water in pet
bowls/houseplants
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Control Pests with Low-risk Measures
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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.
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Review Questions
 There are seven steps to a healthier home- name three of
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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.
Cockroaches
-What they are
-What they eat
-Where they live
-Prevention and control
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
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German Cockroach
 Medium size (3/4''), bronze,
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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
Signs of Cockroaches
 Live cockroaches
 Dead cockroaches
 Frass
 Egg Cases
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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
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What cockroaches eat
 Crumbs
 Grease
 Trash
 Cardboard glue
 Just about anything
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Where cockroaches find water
 Sinks
 Counters
 Floors
 Pet bowls
 Leaky pipes
 Refrigerator drips
 AC units
 Shower stalls
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What’s the problems here?
-How would you fix it?
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IPM for Cockroaches
 Inspect:
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 Prevention and Control
 What kind?
 Sanitation
 How many?
 Exclusion
 Where are they living?
 Least toxic pesticides
Inspect
 Where are they hiding?
 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.
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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)
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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
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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.
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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 andVentilation Systems should be
turned off!
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Prevention and Control
-Insecticidal Dusts
Incorrect use of insecticidal dust
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Never Use Sprays and Foggers
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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.
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Bed Bugs
-What they are
-What they eat
-Where they live
-Prevention and Control
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.
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Adult bed bug feeding on human
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.
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Signs of Bed Bugs
 Bites
 Blood spots
 Shed skins
 Dead bed bugs
 Live bed bugs
Bed bugs and fecal spots.
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Adult bed bug and droppings on mattress.
Signs of Bed Bugs
Shed skins
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Bed bug signs on a mattress seam
Signs of Bed Bugs
Bites
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What bed bugs eat and drink
Blood
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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…
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How do bed bugs spread?
 Through walls along wires and
pipes
 On anything coming from an
infested unit:
 Furniture
 Backpacks
 Laundry
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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…)
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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
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Bed bug control
-Resident’s Role
Residents can:
 Bag and remove all bedding, clothing, and other soft washable items from the
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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.
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).
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Bed bug control
 Residents should never
spray or use foggers or
bombs
 Sprays cause the bugs to
scatter- making them harder
to control
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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For more information on low-risk pest control or IPM please
contact:
Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles at 213-689-9170 or [email protected]
Acknowledgements:
Presentation was adapted from the National Center for Healthy Housing’s
Integrated Pest Management for Multi-family Housing Course
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