A new study uses genetics to chart cockroaches’ spread across the globe, from humble beginnings in southeast Asia to Europe and beyond. The findings span thousands of years of cockroach history and suggest the pests may have scuttled across the globe by hitching a ride with another species: people.

“It’s not just an insect story,” said Stephen Richards, an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine who studies insect genes and was not involved with the study. “It’s an insect and humanity story.”

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[–] Plopp@lemmy.world 9 points 5 months ago

Plus with all the people around, they're not really scared of humans. These aren't the roaches in movies that scatter when a light comes on or they see a person. They're used to us by now.

I'm picturing a dark alley late at night. A human opens a door, and the light from inside spills out on the ground just outside. Right there, an enormous cockroach grimaces slightly from the sudden light, takes a drag on a tiny cigarette and nods hello at the human.