Flushing Applications
Using pyrethrin aerosols or other flushing agents to force pests out of hiding for counting, identification, or directing them to treated areas.
Detailed Overview
Flushing agents (usually pyrethrins) irritate pests causing them to emerge from harborage. Apply to cracks, voids, and suspected harborage - pests rapidly exit allowing visual count and species ID. Primary uses: counting roaches during inspections to measure infestation severity, flushing stored product pests from cracks in food facilities to identify species, forcing bed bugs out for customer to see proof of infestation, directing pests toward treated areas or traps. Flushing provides minimal residual - not a standalone treatment. Technique: Start from far end of room and flush toward exit, preventing pests from fleeing to unflushed areas. Apply short bursts into cracks and voids. Watch for emerging pests to count and identify. Document numbers flushed for severity assessment. In food facilities: flush equipment cracks to demonstrate pest presence and treatment effectiveness - before treatment flush shows problem, after treatment flush shows elimination. Customer relations benefit: flushing makes hidden infestations visible proving pest presence and treatment need. Combine with sticky traps to capture flushed pests for counting. Avoid overuse - constant flushing may cause pest avoidance behavior.
When to Use
Use during inspections to assess roach infestation severity. Flush stored product pest harborage in food facilities for species ID. Use to demonstrate pest presence to skeptical customers. Not for routine treatment.
Required Skill Level
Requires some training and experience in pest management
Benefits
- Reveals hidden pest populations for accurate assessment
- Provides species confirmation
- Demonstrates infestation severity to customers
- Quick assessment tool requiring minimal time
- Useful in food facility inspections
- Directs pests to traps or treated areas
Limitations
- Provides minimal residual control
- Not effective as standalone treatment
- Overuse may teach pests to avoid treated areas
- Requires quick observation as pests emerge
- May disturb pests causing scatter to new locations
Related Concepts
Other techniques that may be useful
Crack and Crevice Treatment
Pesticide application method that places insecticides directly into cracks, crevices, and voids where pests hide, minimizing exposure to people and pets.
HEPA Vacuuming
Non-chemical pest removal using High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum cleaners to physically remove pests, eggs, droppings, and allergens.
Steam Cleaning
Non-chemical pest control using high-temperature steam to kill pests, eggs, and larvae on contact.