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Safety Products

Please be sure to read the product label of any insecticide you choose to use to get information on the personal protective safety gear you will need. In most situations, it is recommended that you wear long pants, a long sleeved shirt, closed toe shoes with socks, chemical resistant gloves, and goggles. In areas where ventilation is poor, a manufacturer may recommend you wear a mask or a respirator. We have put together two different safety kits that will make selecting the correct safety gear easier for you.

How To Get Rid of Firebrats

By DoMyOwn staff

Step 1) Perimeter Treatements with Pesticides

The most effective chemical control method for Firebrat control is to apply a perimeter treatment both inside and outside the infested structure.

  • Next, using a Hand Duster, apply waterproof residual Delta Dust Insecticide (lasts up to 8 months) underneath baseboards, inside of cracks and crevices, and behind cabinets.

  • CB Intruder HPX may also be used and kept on hand for contact kill when firebrats are sighted on countertops or walls. This aerosol product may also be used around window and door frames (providing a 4 to 8 week residual).


Step 2) Nonchemical Control Methods

In Firebrat managment, it is important to use both chemical and non-chemical methods for total control. Pesticide application will go a long way to reduce firebrat populations, however total population control can only be achieved by also eliminating existing conditions that support the infestation.

Nonchemical methods for firebrat control are:

  • Physical Removal- For heavier infestations, large numbers of firebrats may be removed using a vacuum. After removal, the vacuum bag should be sealed in a plastic bag and discarded.

  • Harborage Removal- Harborage removal is key to lasting firebrat control. This includes eliminating piles of lumber, bricks, and other stacked items that create clusters of tight spaces, elimination of grass and leaf litter near homes and buildings, trimming back tree and shrub limbs from walls and roof, and keeping gutters clear of leaves and other debris.

  • Managment of Excess Moisture- Firebrats thrive on excess moisture. Foundation moisture can by minimized by adjusting the direction of irrigation sprinklers, and watering in the morning rather than the evening so that the sun can dry vegetation quickly. Attics and crawlspaces should be properly ventilated.

  • Exclusion- Firebrats and other pests can be kept out of structures to a large degree by installing tight-fitting screens, weather-stripping around doors and windows, and caulking cracks and crevices.

  • Traps- Sticky traps placed in or near infested areas may reduce firebrat populations.

 

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