π Steps
1
Confirm German cockroach species
German cockroaches: 12-16mm; two dark parallel stripes on pronotum (behind head); found near heat and moisture (kitchen, bathrooms). Confirm before treating β brown-banded roaches require bait placed high; oriental roaches require exterior treatment.
2
Place sticky monitoring traps first
Place glue traps in every cabinet, under appliances, and under the sink. After 24-48 hours, the pattern of catches shows where roaches are most concentrated β this tells you where to concentrate bait.
3
Apply Advion gel bait in harborage areas
Apply match-head size placements of Advion Ant & Roach Gel (indoxacarb) every 12-18 inches in: cabinet hinges, under refrigerator and dishwasher, behind stove, under sink at pipe entry points, and in any crack where activity was confirmed. Never spray in these areas.
4
Apply CimeXa dust in wall voids
Use a bellows duster to apply CimeXa in wall voids accessible through outlet covers. Roaches in wall voids contact the dust and are killed β this reaches populations the gel bait can't.
5
Replenish bait at 2 and 4 weeks
Gel bait dries and becomes less effective after 1-3 months. Replenish at 2 weeks and again at 4 weeks. If monitoring traps show dramatically fewer catches by week 3, the protocol is working.
π‘ Tips
- The most important rule: never spray where you've applied gel bait β the spray's repellent effect prevents roaches from contacting the bait
- Initial increase in roach activity near bait placements is normal and means the bait is working β don't spray if you see more roaches near the bait
- Gel bait alone will NOT eliminate a population in an untreated, heavily infested apartment building β coordinated building-wide treatment is necessary
β οΈ Warnings
- Never use spray and gel bait simultaneously β repellent spray makes the bait worthless