Resident perceptions of cockroaches and cockroach control in multifamily housing

Effective management of cockroaches in multifamily housing presents a significant challenge. Despite the negative impacts of German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattodea: Ectobiidae), on human health and well-being as well as data-based integrated pest management (IPM) solutions to cockroach problems, infestations continue to persist. Residents of multifamily housing, who are facing cockroach infestations, represent a critical insight into this gap in implementation of effective pest solutions. Thus, there is a need to understand what factors drive the lack of adoption of IPM for cockroach control in multifamily housing. A nationally distributed survey of renters living in multifamily housing with cockroaches was used to gauge resident experiences with and perceptions of cockroaches and cockroach control in their homes. The results of this survey (N = 926) reflected that a majority of respondents (i) had previously experienced cockroaches during childhood and were unbothered; (ii) associated cockroaches with negative impacts to human health; (iii) will either report cockroach problems to property management or do something about it themselves (eg, mechanical control, apply pesticide products, hire professional pest control); (iv) are mostly and equally satisfied with products they purchase and apply and professional pest control they hire (despite a noted continual presence of cockroaches in their homes). These findings establish a comprehensive dataset of perceptions of and experiences with cockroach infestations, which can be applied to developing more successful management strategies for German cockroaches in multifamily housing.