Strategies for behavioral manipulation of German cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) populations

German cockroach Blattella germanica (L.) control has relied heavily on broad-spectrum neuro-toxic insecticides. However, concern with human and environmental safety, and prevalence of resistance has prompted research on safer and environmentally compatible approaches. Behavior manipulation strategies can safely and effectively control cockroaches.; The effectiveness of behavior manipulation strategies requires that cockroaches perceive the stimuli that are applied. Thus cockroaches have to find and feed on insecticide baits, find the traps with lures or contact repellent treated surfaces. This research examines the attractiveness of several insecticide baits, trap lures and some domestic foodstuff using olfactometer assays in the laboratory and trapping experiments in the field. The attractiveness of insecticide baits to the brown-banded cockroach, Supella longipalpa (F.) in the field was also investigated. Results show that cockroaches orient to odorants from a distance. There were significant differences among baits and lures in their attractiveness to the German cockroach. Domestic foodstuffs were equally or more attractive to cockroaches than some insecticide baits and trap lures. The baits that were most attractive to the German cockroach were also attractive to the brown-banded cockroach. In shelter selection and short-range attractant assays, German cockroaches preferred to rest in shelters that contained the aggregation pheromone-based lure (Victor) but this lure was the least attractive to cockroaches in olfactometer assays.; The "Push-Pull" strategy was also investigated. This behavior manipulation strategy integrated attractants and repellents with a pest control agent. Methyl neodecanamide was used to repel ("Push") and aggregation pheromone was used to attract ("Pull") or both "Push-Pull" to vector adult males or 1st instar nymphs toward a hydramethylnon based bait in laboratory arenas. "Push-Pull" enhanced the mortality of cockroaches by concentrating cockroaches into a limited area and facilitating the precision-targeting of the pest population.; These results contest the efficacy of crude fecal extracts that purport to contain attractant pheromones. The "Push-Pull" strategy promises to enhance bait efficacy and to reduce insecticide use in cockroach control. The need to develop better attractants and repellents for incorporation into German cockroach control is highlighted.