[Rear View] Cockroach Fun in the Classroom

The new pets piqued students’ curiosity.

Rose Pest Solutions, Troy, Mich., recently delivered Madagascar cockroaches to a pair of Detroit area schools as part of a project to give away 1,000 Madagascar cockroaches to schools and children’s organizations in Michigan, Ohio and northeast Indiana. The roaches were delivered to Thirkell Elementary/Middle School on Feb. 26 and to Edison Elementary on Feb. 27.

The Rose Pest Solutions Madagascar Giveaway Program is an annual project that provides teachers with live insects in a plastic habitat and a fact sheet with care instructions.

“Rose Pest Solutions’ program introduces young people to the science of entomology and improves their knowledge of nature in a fun and exciting way,” said Russ Ives, president of Rose Pest Solutions. “The curious and eager science students of today are the scientists of tomorrow.”

The free giveaway, which was expected to have been completed by the end of March, was limited to two habitats per school or organization. Ives added, “We hope this unique program provides meaningful opportunities for discussion, observation and drawing conclusions.”

The Madagascar hissing cockroach is one of several similar species native to the island of Madagascar that lives on the forest floor near rotten logs. They are large, non-biting insects with a relatively long life cycle that are easy to care for and fun to observe. Since they are sub-tropical insects, they will not survive in the North American temperature climate and must be cared for indoors.

Rose Pest Solutions is the nation’s oldest pest management company that was founded by Solomon Rose in 1860 in Cincinnati. Today, the Troy, Mich.-based company provides comprehensive pest control services for homes and businesses in Michigan, Ohio and northeast Indiana. — Brad Harbison

Right: Students from Jason Stewart’s fifth-grade class at Edison Elementary in Detroit receive delivery of Madagascar hissing cockroaches from Rose Pest Solutions. Left: Edison elementary students enjoying their new pets.