Capt. Karen Corsetti, a Georgia Army National Guard environmental officer and trained entomologist, has made the humane and effective eradication of the pest into an award-winning pest control treatment program that has saved the National Guard millions of dollars.
Her Invasive Species Management program was proclaimed the best environmental pest control treatment at the National Guard Environmental Workshop held in April in Orlando, Fla.
"Whenever we substitute with organic pesticides, we protect our environment," said the 18-year Guard veteran. "We also save by eliminating hazardous chemical pesticides for common pests."
Corsetti's interest in entomology began when a biologist at Georgia Southern University asked if she would be interested in assisting him in research.
She went on to conduct independent research on spiders, which led her to a three-year study of ticks and Lyme disease.
"I suppose ticks led to me to a career in medical entomology," she said.
The cornerstone of her cockroach extermination program is the discovery of the organic pesticide "Orange Guard."
"It's as simple as it is effective," Corsetti said. It is a non-toxic, organic pesticide that is not harmful to humans or the environment, but extremely effective against insects.
"It works by dissolving a cockroach's exoskeletons, thus starving the insect of air," she said.
Corsetti conducted her own laboratory research with the organic pesticide and found the treatment more effective than chemicals, with far less harmful side effects.
The active ingredient, she said, is actually orange peel extract.
Under Corsetti's guidance, the Army Guard's pest management program is now conducted in-house throughout the state. All costs and fees associated with administering expensive pest management contracts have been eliminated.
"Rather than having 17 separate contractors servicing Army Guard facilities, we train our Soldiers who occupy our buildings to oversee routine pest management," she said. "It all starts with good basic housekeeping, cleaning and maintenance principles."
Corsetti maintains five-year treatment schedules for each of the more than 50 National Guard armories or installations around the state. She also routinely visits armories to check on problem areas.
"In the past, the Guard signed pest control contracts with commercial exterminators amounting to as much as $40,000 per facility," she said. "There was little accountability and even less documentation to determine pesticide usage rates."
Under Corsetti's management, these costs and gaps in data collection have been virtually eliminated.
Her 'do-it-yourself' pest control protocol has already captured the interest of several other states.