Troy Athens High School Receives Madagascar Cockroaches

By DIANA DILLABER MURRAY
diana.dillaber@oakpress.com; Twitter: @DDillybar

TROY — The giant, hissing Madagascar cockroaches visiting Troy Athens High School for a science project this week didn’t phase seniors such as R. J. Sharp and Kotomi Obayashi

R.J. picked up one of the huge, oval insects and placed it on his nose. Kotomi didn’t go that far, but she didn’t mind letting it roam the palm of her hand.

The large insects, which are known for their size and hissing noise, were donated to the Troy Athens science program through the Rose Pest Solutions’ Madagascar Giveaway Program.

Advanced placement biology teacher Brenda Clippard said students will be learning about the life cycle of the unusual cockroach.

Athens was one of the first schools to take advantage of the program Rose Pest Solutions is offering to raise interest among children in the science of entomology.

The Madagascar Giveaway Program is available on a first-come, first-served basis to schools and children’s groups while supplies last. The package provided by Rose Pest Solutions includes live insects, a plastic habitat, a fact sheet and care instructions.

There is a limit of two habitats per school or organization.  

“We hope our Madagascar Giveaway Program will motivate children to learn more about biology and the sciences while having a little fun caring for this amazing insect,” said H. Russell Ives, president of Rose Pest Solutions.

“With so many science-based problems facing our society today, a good science education is vital for our young people,” he said.   

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