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Choose IPM: Managing Cockroaches

July 2025

Cockroaches are a pest commonly found at schools. They can spread diseases, decrease indoor air quality and some species are considered a public health risk, like the German Cockroach (illustration above). Check out the School IPM Program's resources to find safe and effective sustainable cockroach management practices.

Cockroach identification

Cockroach species have different behaviors and location preferences, so it is important to identify which species is present in order to effectively manage them. To view our Cockroach ID infographic, click the "View Infographic" button below.

Outdoor cockroach management tips

Check out our video for helpful tips on managing outdoor cockroaches - produced in collaboration with the University of California Statewide IPM Program, Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership and Sacramento Area Sewer District.

For additional information, check out UC IPM's resources on cockroach management.

Why choose cockroach baits?

IPM prefers non-chemical and minimum risk approaches, with pesticides used as a last resort. If a pesticide must be used, cockroach baits offer an effective, safer, and more
sustainable option compared to general insecticide sprays. An insect growth regulator is another reduced-risk option that can be used in combination with bait for better control as it will help disrupt the cockroach life cycle. To check out our infographic on Bait & Growth Regulators, click the "View Infographic" button below.

What is IPM?

Integrated pest management, or IPM, is a sustainable pest management strategy you can use everyday. IPM focuses on a variety of pest prevention and non-toxic or least-toxic pest management techniques to effectively solve pest problems. IPM strategies use practices that exclude pests so they can’t cause problems and use pesticides only as a last resort. By using integrated pest management practices, it’s possible to effectively, safely, and more sustainably manage pests at your school or child care center while protecting staff, children, and the environment. 

What is SPM?

Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) is a holistic, whole-system approach applicable in agricultural and other managed ecosystems and urban and rural communities that builds on the concept of integrated pest management (IPM) to include the wider context of the three sustainability pillars: Human Health & Social Equality, Environmental Protections, and Economic Vitality.

Follow DPR's social media outlets throughout the year to learn more!

Questions? Contact Us:

Please contact the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s IPM Branch by emailing school-ipm@cdpr.ca.gov. For additional information about the School IPM Program please visit DPR’s website.

Who We Are

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation protects human health and the environment by fostering safer and sustainable pest management practices and operating a robust regulatory system to monitor and manage the sale and use of pesticides across the state. DPR’s work includes registering all pesticides sold or used in California, conducting scientific evaluation of pesticides to assess and mitigate potential harm to human health or the environment, investing in innovative research to encourage the development and adoption of integrated pest management tools and practices, monitoring for pesticides in the air and water, conducting outreach to ensure pesticide workers, farmworkers and local communities have access to safety information, and enforcing pesticide regulations in coordination with 55 County Agricultural Commissioners and their 500 field inspectors.