Laboratory Evaluation of Commercial Insecticidal Baits Against Oriental cockroaches (Blatta orientalis L.) from Pig Farms in Bulgaria

The oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis L.) is a common synanthropic pest in livestock farms, acting as a potential mechanical vector of pathogens. This study evaluated the insecticidal efficacy of four commercially available food baits against B. orientalis collected from seven industrial pig farms in Bulgaria. A no-choice bait feeding test was applied under controlled laboratory conditions. Indoxacarb gel exhibited a rapid knockdown effect, reaching 100% immobilization by 96 h. The imidacloprid + S-methoprene gel induced early knockdown (66.7% by 48 h) and progressive mortality, achieving 96.7% by 168 h. The inorganic desiccant-based baits did not induce sufficion knockdown (<25%) but also resulted in complete mortality by the end of the test (168 h), although with delayed dynamics. The results demonstrate the high potential of food baits for integrated pest management in swine facilities, with product choice depending on desired speed of action and infestation intensity.