If you work for a school, whether it be high school or elementary, you understand that there are a variety of pests that could invade each of your classrooms. From ants to rodents, each of these pests poses a potential threat to your students and faculty.
Many pests commonly discovered throughout classrooms threaten, not only student health but also staff and guardians who pick these students up every day. Here, we will discuss the most common classroom pests, along with how you can take a few steps to ensure you are protecting your schools from them.
Most Common Classroom Pests
Bed Bugs
The dreaded bed bug infestation is not one we wish on anyone. However, they are prevalent in classrooms due to higher traffic from different homes. With many belongings and even nap time for the younger attendees, some classrooms provide the perfect breeding grounds. Bed bugs do not transmit disease; however, their bites can leave red itchy welts after feeding and will quickly upset parents.
Rodents
Perhaps the most frightening pest found in schools—mice and rats—invade buildings in search of food, water, and shelter. Not only will they distract students in the class, but they also pose a health risk as they carry a number of serious diseases, parasites, and could even damage student’s belongings. Unfortunately, rodents are difficult to eradicate as classrooms provide them with many places to hide and an abundance of resources.
Flies
Many different flies could infest classrooms by simply gaining access through ripped window screens. Along with that, many schools have set temperatures throughout each building to save on electricity. Not to mention, teachers may often open their windows for some fresh air for them and their students. As a result, it’s that much easier for flies and other flying insects to gain access to the room.
Ants
Ants are a problem in most classrooms because they infest buildings quickly and they are difficult to eradicate. They will commonly infest classrooms after discovering a food source they want to share with the rest of their colony, sending an alert via pheromone trail to inform the others. Ants don’t pose a serious health threat to your students. However, with rapidly growing colonies, ant infestations can quickly frustrate students, faculty, and visitors.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches commonly invade classrooms in their search for moisture, shelter, and food. This pest quickly becomes a concern not only because of their creepy appearance but mostly due to health and safety concerns. They can spread over 30 different types of bacteria and are even known to trigger asthma attacks. Needless to say, this is not a pest issue you want your students dealing with while in a classroom setting, chaos will surely follow.
Tips To Control Pests In Classrooms
These are just a few tips that we would recommend to better manage a pest situation in classrooms. These tips alone will not singularly solve your pest problems and should not replace a current IPM protocol. If you currently have a pest problem, please contact a pest professional for assistance.
- Place trash cans around buildings on the property as well as each classroom and ensure that your staff empties them daily
- Keep food and drink out of the classroom setting and confined strictly to the cafeteria
- Keep dumpsters at least 50 ft away from each building
- Ensure that leaks are quickly reported and fixed
- Ensure that window screens are checked each season for tears and report structure issues as soon as they arise
- Install door sweeps on all external doors to keep pests out
- Educate faculty and staff and advise them to regularly inspect rooms for risk factors such as trash and storing food in unsealed containers.
- Educate students on the importance of a clean facility
To assist in educating your students on the importance of keeping the classroom clean, download the PDF for teachers by completing the form. This 1-page download is easy for you to provide to your educators and take extra steps to protect the school through a team effort.
Contacting A Pest Professional
American Pest has been protecting schools across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. from ants and other pests for almost a century. With our experienced technicians and access to the latest pest elimination technology at our disposal, we can solve any pest problem you may be facing.
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