Dear colleagues,
I would appreciate your advice on a point of practice that has arisen with our
contracted pest‑control provider.
We have an active issue with American cockroaches in a small number of rooms,
and we requested the application of gel bait in the affected areas only. The
contractor has replied that they “cannot indiscriminately apply gel
everywhere,” which does not reflect what we asked for. From my perspective,
targeted gel placement in affected rooms — in cracks, crevices, and appropriate
bait‑point locations — is standard IPM practice. I am aware that gels should
not be placed on exposed public surfaces, in areas accessible to children, or
in ways that contradict COSHH/HSE guidance, but none of these apply to the
specific rooms in question.
At the same time, they have recommended the use of a Coopex Maxi smoke
generator insecticide (permethrin 13.5% w/w with potassium chlorate) in these
rooms that are used by school groups, and which contain museum exhibits in
cases, and in storage cupboards. This seems entirely inappropriate as the
exhibits would be exposed to chemical residues and particulates. I am
struggling to reconcile their reluctance to use targeted gel in affected rooms
with their willingness to propose a smoke generator in a mixed‑use public and
collections space.
Before I go back to them, I would be grateful for your views on:
* Whether there are legitimate technical or regulatory reasons why a
contractor might decline targeted gel placement in affected rooms
* Whether you would consider a permethrin smoke generator acceptable in a
room used by the public and contains museum collections
* How you would normally expect a contractor to manage a cockroach issue
under IPM principles in a museum environment
Any guidance or examples from your own institutions would be very helpful. I
want to ensure that our expectations are aligned with best practice and that we
are not being given an inconsistent or overly restrictive interpretation of the
regulations.
Kind regards
Geraldine
Prof G Finlayson, GA, GMD, MSc, PhD, FSA, RFUG
CEO, Gibraltar National Museum
&
World Heritage Site Coordinator
18-20 Bomb House Lane • P.O. Box 939 •
Gibraltar GX11 1AA
e <mailto:[email protected]>
[email protected] w <http://www.gibmuseum.gi/> gibmuseum.gi
t (+350) 200 74289
- - - - - -
Adjunct Professor
Liverpool John Moores University
- I said to the almond tree, "Sister, speak to me of God." And the almond
tree blossomed.
- Nikos Kazantzakis
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From: 'Armando Mendez' via MuseumPests [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 10 June 2026 14:29
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [PestList] Suggestion regarding pest treatment in an art gallery
stationed in Mumbai, India
<https://outlook-1.cdn.office.net/assets/reaction/like.png>
Armando Mendez reacted to your message:
_____
From: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > on behalf of
David Loughlin <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >
Sent: Wednesday, 10 June 2026 07:56:56
To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >
Subject: Re: [PestList] Suggestion regarding pest treatment in an art gallery
stationed in Mumbai, India
Hi Rahul
On the face of it, what PCI Rentokil are suggesting looks sensible, by using
chemicals with different active ingredients and modes of action. A classic
pesticide users’ approach to IPM. However, true IPM means using insecticides
as a last resort. Have they been monitoring already and have they identified
possible harbourages, and hot spots of activity. Any proposal to apply
insecticides should be based on a thorough survey and monitoring programme
first. American cockroaches can equally well live outdoors, especially in
hotter climates, so I would be challenging them to propose long term solutions
not just quick fixes. Prevention is better than control, so what are they
suggesting regarding improved hygiene, exclusion and changes to the building to
prevent this problem from developing further or reoccurring. Or are they just
wanting to come in and spray?
Fipronil is one of the most effective and highly recommended active ingredients
used in gel bait formulations to control Periplaneta americana (American
cockroach) and Blattella germanica (German cockroach) so not sure why they
would say it won’t affect them. The SDS is from Gaiagen which is the sister
company to PCI, so is one of their own products. If their own product won’t
work (according to them) what other gel baits can they propose? I would still
want to see them try the gel bait approach first before spraying anything.
Baits need time to work, so this will not be a quick fix. Effective pest
management may mean repeat visits. Is this part of their recommendation or are
they just suggesting a one-time visit?
You mention pantry areas. If you have an area of the building which contains
food or is used for food preparation, I would question using sprays in these
areas and look at how to improve hygiene here first. For voids in public
spaces, perhaps consider treatments such as Diatomaceous Earth or other
desiccant powders if available. Any such gaps and spaces should be sealed to
prevent insects from using these spaces as harbourages and also to facilitate
cleaning. Again, gels will help treat populations that live in ducts and voids
as the cokroaches should take the bait and return to the harbourage where they
die. It is often suggested that other cockroaches then feed on the dead roach,
creating what is known as the domino effect. That was certainly an early
marketing claim of brands such as Maxforce. Would they be able to treat these
ducts and voids any better with sprays?
I hope you find these suggestions helpful.
Regards
David
David Loughlin
Historyonics
www.historyonics.com <http://www.historyonics.com>
From: <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > on behalf
of R R <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >
Reply to: <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >
Date: Wednesday 10 June 2026 at 07:48
To: <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >
Subject: Re: [PestList] Suggestion regarding pest treatment in an art gallery
stationed in Mumbai, India
Hello David,
Thank you for this.
Pest management company is saying that the gel won't affect American
cockroaches which i highly doubt.
Also they recommend using sprays in pantry area and draining and ducts, and
skirting areas of the viewing space, which I am not sure of.
What do you suggest
On Wed, 10 Jun, 2026, 12:10 David Loughlin, <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]> > wrote:
Hello Rahul
Rentokil PCI are probably the largest pest control service company in India but
perhaps not the brightest. They seem to be wanting to throw everything
including the kitchen sink at your cockroach problem.
If they are proposing to use gels, that is great and fipronil based gel is a
decent one to use. However for gels to work, it is advised not to disturb the
population by applying any other insecticide, so why they would want to use a
repellent and a insecticidal sprays is confusing unless they are treating
different parts of your gallery, but even then I wouldn’t. Gels are placed
discretely so the cockroaches feed on them, then go back to their harbourages
to die. Sprays would disturb this effect.
Clothianidin Is a more modern chemical, an neonicotinoid and also used in gel
baits but the SDS you supplied is for WDG or water dispersable granules which
suggests they want to spray it. Again I would not recommend this alongside
gels. It has a broad spectrum effect so will take care of most crawling insects.
I wouldn’t allow propoxur anywhere near the gallery. Already banned in many
countries, carbamates are old technology and as acetylcholinesterase
inhibitors, not great for us.
Gumtree are a good Indian company making some decent insect traps so those are
fine and I would want to see PCI monitoring the situation. PCI also have
access to super sized traps from Gumtree like the Exoroach so that might be
worth exploring with them.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
David
Historyonics
On 10 Jun 2026, at 06:40, R R <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]> > wrote:
Hello everyone,
Recently in one of the galleries, the pest management company saw American and
german cockroach in our gallery.
Now they are suggesting following chemicals?
Are they safe for the art gallery which has artworks.
Request you to please advise.
Thank you
Rahul Raina
Senior Manager and Senior Conservator.
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<Fipronil Gel MSDS.pdf>
<MSDS-Bug-Beetle_Guard-_Nov-24__1_ (1).pdf>
<MSDS TRANSPORTEX (Propoxur 20% EC) 2021.pdf>
<Sumipride CLOTHIANIDIN 50 WDG-MSDS (2).pdf>
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