Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background Cockroaches transmit pathogens, including fungi, parasites, and bacteria, contaminating surfaces and materials in homes, underscoring the need for control. While insecticides are effective, they carry risks of exposure and adverse effects on humans and other organisms. This study tested safer, food-based alternatives using baking soda mixed with peanut butter and sugar as bait and assessed cockroach mortality counts in students’ bedroom, home kitchen, and storeroom settings. Results Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana were trapped, with peanut butter and sugar attracting 578 and 326 cockroaches, respectively. Mortality was significantly higher with baking soda in peanut butter [χ2(1) = 41.39; p < 0.0001] and sugar [χ2(1) = 33.99; p < 0.0001] compared to controls in students’ bedroom. Comparable results were observed in the home kitchen and storeroom settings. The mean rank cockroach counts for peanut butter-baited and sugar-baited traps were 50.26 and 40.74, respectively (U = 798, p = 0.083). Conclusions These findings suggest that baking soda is an effective non-insecticidal agent for controlling populations of B. germanica and P. americana.
Institution: University of Ghana
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: University of Ghana
OpenAlex ID: W4409805276