Final answer:
The best option to control German cockroaches is option B: Sanitation, residual insecticides, and insect growth regulators. This integrated approach combines immediate eradication with long-term population control, emphasizing environmental protection and cost-effectiveness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the presented options, the recommended method to control German cockroaches is option B: Sanitation, residual insecticides, and insect growth regulators. Sanitation is a crucial first step in pest control as it reduces the food, water, and shelter that pests such as cockroaches need to survive. Residual insecticides are chemicals that remain active for a period after application, continuing to kill cockroaches that come into contact with treated surfaces. Insect growth regulators (IGRs) disrupt the life cycle of cockroaches, rendering them unable to reproduce and effectively lowering the population over time. Unlike other methods that may treat the symptoms rather than the causes, these three approaches address both immediate pest eradication and ongoing population management. Both biological control tools and chemical pesticides are essential for this comprehensive pest management strategy, which aims to reduce pest populations while also minimizing cost and environmental impact.
Using biological control such as IGRs can be an effective strategy in an integrated pest management program. These tools have been shown to be effective not only in suppressing insect populations but also in managing insect resistance, preserving the environment, and reducing costs associated with pest control. The methodology generally favors a targeted approach that reduces reliance on broad-spectrum pesticides, and instead emphasizes strategies that are more sustainable and have less negative impact on non-target organisms and the surrounding ecosystem.