To mention cockroaches in school playground to school?

[FruitbatAuntie]

I really don't think IABU, but wanted to double check I'm not being precious!

When I collected my DS (Y4) from school yesterday, I waited in the playground as usual - leaning on the wall at the edge of the playground, next to where DS comes out.

So DS came out, and I was asking him how his day went, when I felt something tickling my neck. I assumed it was my hair blowing in the wind, but when I went to move it out of the way, something 'flew' off me and landed on the wall. I thought at first it was a bee or a wasp and was feeling lucky not to have been stung - then I noticed it was a bloody cockroach!

'Ew!' I said, and pointed it out to DS. 'THAT'S a cockroach?' says DS. 'But there's loads of those in our playground - we all call them shield bugs and play with them!'. Urgh...

I didn't have time to speak to the school there and then as had to dash off to somewhere, but AIBU to mention this to school? If they are all over the playground, surely they will be inside school too? It's an old building, and I know that roaches are common in large building, hospitals etc. but something should be done to try and get rid of them, surely? Or does the fact it was outdoors (though just outside the door) mean I will be mocked for being precious?

I kept itching all night last night just thinking about it!

Was it definitely a cockroach? For sure?

Definitely. It wasn't a shield bug, I am 100% positive!

I tried to get a quick pic on my mobile but it was blurred and it scuttled off.

UK cockroaches can't fly. It was probably a Shield bug

I would mention it.

If politely ask the school what they are doing about it

You do realise that insect life in the playground, tells you very little about the cleanliness etc inside the school. Finding an ants nest in the playground doesn't mean and infestation in the classroom.

Cockroaches can't fly. It was probably ly just a beetle.

They're also nocturnal, apparently.

Cockroaches can fly in the UK but they are usually nocturnal.
If the children play with them in the playground the teachers knows they are there, what ever they are.
You could ask, no harm in it.

Some cockroaches can fly. The brown banded for example, apparently. Which is now in the UK

www.rentokil.co.uk/cockroaches/species/

and the german cockroach, which is common in the UK, also flies.
www.ealing.gov.uk/info/200360/pest_control/562/types_of_pest/3

You do realise that insect life in the playground, tells you very little about the cleanliness etc inside the school.

Thanks, I did think that which is why I was hesitant to mention it. I didn't want to come across as someone who was being hysterical over nothing! Don't want them to think I will be demanding they ban flies and dirt from the playground next!

It 'flew' off me because I brushed it off me with considerable force and speed ! It didn't actually fly at all.

I will mention it to DS's teacher today I think, but not go OTT about it.

Shield bugs can vary hugely in their appearance. I always thought they were small and green but we had a huge brown one in the house flying about the other day.

but yes, professor google doesn't seem to find me a day flying cockroach.

But who knows?

I read though that no matter where you are, you are within spitting distance of cockroaches.

I've made myself itch now

I also believe cockroaches also do anything to avoid contact with humans we are as repellent to them as they are to us!

It's a very unlikely scenario for a cockroach! I'd make doubly sure before you risk alerting the school to an innocent shield bug!

I've never heard of a shield bug!

Have I missed something?

dont worry. the teachers might be as clueless as you about wildlife. our kids school would love to wage war on innocent insect life i am sure

mind you, sounds like someone at school has identified it

it is 99.99999999% certain it is not a cockroach if there are lots of them, outside in the day, flying around.

Shield bugs stink, don't they? I'm not sure kids would want to play with them having got that smell on their hands once.

No harm in asking school about the bugs in the playground. You don't have to come across militant/hysterical - just say that you saw a bug that looked very like a cockroach, and your DS says there are loads in the playground and the kids play with them - ask if this is the case, and if so if the school know what the bugs are.

Stink bugs and shield bugs are the same beastie (in the USA they are more usually called stink bugs and in the UK, shield bugs)

www.orkin.com/other/stink-bugs/

There is lots of variation in appearance: www.gardensafari.net/english/shieldbugs.htm

I didn't realise shield bugs were stinky til I googled this morning. We get loads of our allotment and around the house, the kids quite happily play with them and we've never noticed a smell

First look at pictures on the internet. If you're sure don't hesitate. I wouldn't even go to the school. I would go to the environmental health department of the council. Do not trust the school. My dad was an environmental health officer and from all the stories we would hear, I know you cannot trust people to sort these problems properly by themselves

What on earth would an environmental health team do about ONE cockroach OUTSIDE a school?

We used to have cockroaches in our school swimming pool... they crunched very satisfyingly under foot. If there were too many on the floor of the pool swimming would be cancelled.

Mind you, we once broke the ice to swim.

Schools days.... Happy Memories.

I wouldn't worry about a possible sighting of a cockroach outside, OP. And I'm sure if they're in the building the teachers will want Environmental Health in.