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Oral Presentation

Poster Display

Student Competition

Ticketed Event

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Student Poster Display Competition

Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology

Student Competition

Student

Grad Poster Competition: MUVE, General

D3019: The development of a lethal harborage: A low-impact management tool for German cockroach (Blattodea: Ectobiidae)

Monday, November 10, 2025

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Pacific

Location: Exhibit Hall A-A1, OCC

Presenting Author(s)

Rattanan Chungsawat (he/him/his)

Graduate student
University of California
Colton, California

Co-Author(s)

Dong-Hwan Choe, BCE

University of California
Riverside, California
Michael Rust

Professor of Entomology, Emeritus
University of California
Hemet, California

Co-Author(s)

Chow-Yang Lee, BCE (he/him/his)

Professor & Endowed Chair in Urban Entomology
University of California
Riverside, California

Present control of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), relies heavily on synthetic and semi-synthetic insecticides. Over time, this has led to the development of insecticide resistance within many populations, contributing to repeated control failures. In contrast, inorganic insecticides such as boric acid and desiccant dusts operate through different modes of action and have remained effective for over a century. However, application challenges often limit their practical use, as they can be messy, labor-intensive, and restricted to specific locations. This study aims to improve the deployment of insecticidal dust by developing a lethal harborage, a containerized structure designed to exploit the natural shelter-seeking behavior of cockroaches. Various dust formulations will be screened for efficacy and repellency. Selected dust formulations will be incorporated into harborage prototypes and evaluated alongside conventional dust applications to compare effectiveness and repellency. The findings and implications are discussed.