Laboratory and Field Evaluations of Food-Based Attractants for Monitoring German Cockroaches

Abstract

Sticky traps are standard tools for monitoring German cockroaches (Blattella germanica L.); however, because they lack an attractant, their ability to catch cockroaches is by chance and largely dependent upon the location of placement and length of time they are left in place. Currently, highly effective and economical cockroach attractants are not available. Food-based attractants have the potential to be employed in sticky traps and enhance their effectiveness on trapping German cockroaches. We conducted laboratory and field experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of novel food-based attractants. Laboratory results showed that sticky traps containing the following attractants: apple oil, blueberry oil, orange oil, or their combination, fish oil, peanut butter, Roach lure tablet, and bacon extract had significantly higher trap catch compared to those traps that do not contain an attractant. Apple plus blueberry oil mixture and Roach lure tablet enhanced the trap catch by ≥ 103%, and bacon extract enhanced the trap catch by 92% in the field assays. Apple plus blueberry oil mixture and Roach lure tablet were the most promising attractants based on laboratory and field experiments. Apple plus blueberry oil mixture aged for 2 wk was as attractive to German cockroaches as fresh mixture.

Keywords: German cockroach; apple oil; attractant; blueberry oil.