Practical efficiency of insecticide products intended for the destruction of cockroaches in local spaces (CEB N° 159: 2012, Method)
The CEB method No. 159 is intended to evaluate the effectiveness of insecticidal products against cockroaches (Dictyoptera, Blattoidea) present, or that may infest food processing and similar local spaces, including their annexes and spaces for the collection, transport and treatment of domestic waste, waste of animal or plant origin and homes.
This method describes two types of tests: treatment test by applying insecticides to surfaces causing damage or death and treatment test by applying products to surfaces with products containing insect growth regulating substances (IGR). In our laboratory, insecticide tests are carried out using a classic mode of action, evaluating the impact and death of insects.
In the test for insecticidal products applied to surfaces, test surfaces of 15 cm evaluate the residual effect, are kept for evaluation on at least 5 dates: 1 day, 2 weeks (14 days), 4 weeks (28 days), 8 weeks (56 days), 13 weeks (91 days) after application or even longer depending on the expected effectiveness and as indicated by the client. In both cases, to evaluate the effectiveness of the product, 15 adults male Blatella germanica cockroaches (Blatta orientalis, Periplaneta americana) aged 2 to 15 days are placed on each test surface (a test replica). After a contact period of 4 hours, the insects are removed from the treated surfaces and the effect of affectation or immobility is evaluated and, 24 and 96 hours after removing the insects from the treated surfaces, the mortality caused is observed. According to this method, the test must be carried out on 4 different typical surfaces, at least one of which must have a high absorption and/or adsorption capacity. A "typical surface" is a sheet of material used in the construction of agro-industrial premises likely to be frequented by cockroaches (places of refuge and daytime feeding). These surfaces are, for agro-industrial local spaces, tiles, cement, plasterboard and concrete block; and for homes: tiles, wood, wood coated with glycerophthalic lacquer, plastic panel and white wood. 4 replicates must be carried out per contact surface and dose. The treatment, surface storage and testing conditions established by the CEB method are 25°C and 70% relative humidity (RH) for agro-industrial local spaces and 20°C and 50± 10% RH for homes. In addition to carrying out the procedure with the test product, a negative control, treated with water, and a positive control (authorized product with similar characteristics to the test product) must be carried out.
The CEB 159 method does not indicate the requirements to consider when a product demonstrates effectiveness against cockroaches.