Comparative Efficacy of Pyrethroid-Based Paints against Turkestan Cockroaches

The Turkestan cockroach, Periplaneta lateralis (Walker), is an invasive urban pest prevalent in dry areas of the southwestern United States. Treatment with liquid spray formulations containing insecticides is the most conventional method to decrease Turkestan cockroach population abundance around buildings. Intensive application of insecticide treatments near natural environments has prompted concerns regarding the impacts on non-target aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Technologies embedding insecticides in a paint matrix have successfully been used for the long-term reduction in disease-vector populations in tropical areas. Here, we evaluated the potential effectiveness of three pyrethroid-based paints against Turkestan cockroach nymphs on common surfaces inhabited by this species. Turkestan cockroaches continuously exposed for 1 h to 1-month aged alphacypermethrin and deltamethrin paints applied to concrete, metal, or PVC caused moderate to high mortality. Evaluations using choice boxes indicated that deltamethrin and transfluthrin paints had combined lethal and repellent effects on cockroaches. Alphacypermethrin also caused repellency and killed cockroaches rapidly. We discuss the implications of these findings on cockroach control practices.