Blattella germanica Surveillance Method

The best way to prevent a German cockroach infestation is to practice basic sanitation (i.e. clean up spilled foods, store food in airtight sealed containers, repairing potential entry points). However if an infestation is suspected, it is important to do a thorough inspection. Surveys involve bait and trapping German cockroaches to determine the extent of an infection.

More specifically, cockroach surveys, also known as trapping, comprise of placing sticky traps around the house or facility, preferably along walls; in the corner of the floor, shelf, or drawers; under equipment and counters. Most traps come with a bait to encourage cockroaches to enter the trap. It is recommended to have 10 trapping sites over the duration of a week to gather adequate information for control. Once the traps have been collected, identification and control can be performed. German cockroaches are approximately 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch long and are a tan or light brown in color. They have two dark brown stripes on their body just behind their head. Additionally, the adults have wings that span the length of their body. German cockroaches prefer indoor environments that are close to moisture and food. German cockroaches are found throughout the world, but are limited to human inhabited dwellings in cooler regions.

Additional Links:
https://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/German-cockroaches