Every day, 49 million children attend school in the United States, served by nearly seven million teachers and staff. But they're not alone. Schools are also frequented by a number of pests including cockroaches, mice, dust mites and more, according to School IPM. A local school district is dealing with a roach infestation, leaving many parents concerned.

German cockroaches commonly infest classrooms and food service areas. The less common brownbanded cockroach, also lives indoors, but prefers warm environments and often lives near electrical appliances. You’ll often find the oriental cockroach, living underneath cracked and raised asphalt and concrete. The American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, usually lives in sewers and basements. The smoky brown cockroach and field cockroach, live outdoors, but occasionally come inside.

What do roaches want most?

Food, shelter, and water! Eliminate these as much as possible and you’ll drastically reduce infestations.

Roach Biology and Behavior:

• Active at night – if you see them during the day, you have a heavy infestation!
• Live in cracks and crevices near food sources
• Prefer to crawl along edges of counters or floors – rarely venture into the middle of rooms
• Scatter when they sense vibration such as the sound of pesticide sprays

Inspection and monitoring

• Locate hiding places by putting sticky traps on the floor next to walls and under refrigerators, dishwashers, sinks, and ranges.
• Monitor the traps on a regular basis and note how many per trap and the age range. Lots of young roaches – they’re smaller and wingless – indicate you have an active infestation.
• Use a flashlight and small mirror to check behind or under cabinets and appliances.

How many roaches are too many?

You may be able to tolerate a few roaches in garbage areas, but zero in kitchens or the teachers’ lounge. Keep the threshold in mind when you monitor. Remember that even one female German cockroach can produce thousands of offspring.

Cockroach control and management are important for health and safety reasons. If you suspect a cockroach infestation, contact your Albany NY pest removal professional to remedy your pest problem. Over the counter products are risky, if instructions are not followed properly they can harm you, your family, co-workers, pets and/or plants. Pests are common in the Albany NY area, but if they become a nuisance, your Albany pest control professional can help!

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