Company Takes On Huge Roach Infestation

For more than two decades, Barry Beck has served the pest management needs of New York City and its boroughs. And just when Beck thought he had seen it all, a severe German cockroach infestation left this industry veteran slack-jawed.

“Every inch of the apartment – from top to bottom – was crawling with cockroaches,” Beck said. “It was as if the floor, ceiling and walls were moving.”

Throngs of German cockroaches had taken over an apartment on the city’s East side. Beck, senior managing director for Assured Environments in New York City, was called to the scene after his staff removed more than 20 pounds of roaches from the residence. “Every stage of the German cockroach was represented in that apartment,” Beck said. “The entire unit was covered with live and dead cockroaches, as well as cockroach droppings and empty egg cases.”

The unit was in an apartment complex that Assured Environments had serviced for more than 13 years. However, Beck and his team could not access this particular unit for nearly a decade. The apartment was home to a recluse who refused pest management services. Upon his eviction, Assured Environments was called to control the apartment’s infestation, which had spread to six neighboring units.

Beck’s crew used a HEPA vacuum to reduce the cockroach population but initially this approach only made a dent. It took six days of continuous HEPA vacuuming for the company to reduce the population to a manageable level. But, the infestation was still substantial.

To try to isolate a portion of the population, the staff wrapped each piece of the apartment’s furniture in plastic and removed it. Next, they employed a baiting strategy to eliminate the cockroaches in the apartment’s voids. Assured Environments turned to Prescription Treatment® brand Avert® Cockroach Gel Bait from Whitmire Micro-Gen.

“When it comes to cockroach baits, I’ve tried everything,” Beck said. “But I’ve never seen another bait work quite like this one. Avert Gel Bait has a very strong attractant – the cockroaches actually come out while I’m applying it.” And since Avert Cockroach Gel Bait is available in a piston can, Beck could apply it easily without a bait gun. Based on the severity of this infestation, the crew applied the bait in cracks and crevices throughout the entire unit.

“We used Avert Cockroach Gel Bait for six consecutive days,” Beck said. “Within four to five days, we were able to get the infestation under control.”

Through HEPA vacuuming and Avert Gel Bait, Assured Environments eliminated the apartment’s entire population within two weeks. The company also treated the six units that were affected by the infestation with Avert. Within two weeks, the cockroaches were eliminated from these apartments as well. — Kerry Carey, Kupper Parker Communications, St. Louis, Mo.

Editor's note: To view a video clip of this incredible clean-out CLICK HERE.