Four Decades. Two Generations. One Approach.
Second-generation pest management specialists serving NYC and Long Island since 1983.
Our Story
Graduate Pest Control was founded in 1983 by Arnold Katz, who earned his Bachelor of Science in Entomology from the University of Georgia. From the beginning, the company was built on a scientific foundation — understanding the biology and behavior of pests in order to solve problems at their root, not just treat the symptoms.
Today, Graduate is led by Ryan Katz, Arnold's son and a second-generation pest management specialist. Ryan has expanded the company's capabilities beyond traditional pest control — introducing structural exclusion and remediation as a core service, K9 detection and abatement, thermal imaging, BurrowRX direct burrow treatment, and neighborhood-level data collection systems. He presents internationally on rodent exclusion and is active in pest management research and education.
The result is a company that has remained scientifically rigorous, structurally focused, and deeply committed to long-term solutions over the 40+ years since its founding. Our first client from 1983 is still a client today.
We Treat Every Job as a Building Problem, Not a Pest Problem.
Every protocol is grounded in pest biology, behavioral tracking, and structural assessment.
Proper Identification First
If you misidentify the pest, you treat the wrong problem. Before any treatment begins, our specialists perform a full structural assessment — opening wall voids, appliance cavities, and pipe chases that standard inspections skip entirely. We read behavioral evidence: grease marks, travel patterns, pressure points. K9 detection teams and thermal imaging are deployed where activity is suspected but not yet visible.
Structural Correction, Not Chemical Dependence
Most pest problems are structural problems. Entry points are sealed using galvanized metal mesh and mortar — not foam, not lightweight mesh, not shortcuts. Habitat modification, source reduction, and building envelope correction eliminate the conditions that sustain pest activity. We do not rely on recurring chemical applications to manage a problem that structural work would solve.
Long-Term Monitoring and Prevention
Real pest management is ongoing. We collect data at the property and neighborhood level over time — tracking seasonal pressure, structural changes, and emerging conditions. Our goal is to shift clients from reacting to problems to preventing them.
Licenses & Credentials
Licensed, certified, and trained to the highest industry standards.
If you want someone to spray and leave, we are not the right fit. If you want it handled the way we would expect it done in our own home or office — that is what we do.
— Ryan Katz, Owner, Graduate Pest Control
Work With Us
Schedule a complimentary inspection with one of our certified specialists.