Noel Hudson

October 16, 2008

University of Florida entomologists Phil Koehler and Roberto Pereira are worried about the Turkestan cockroach. The species has already colonized Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, most likely after riding into the United States in the luggage and equipment of soldiers returning from the Middle East. Koehler and Pereira worry that Florida--with its damp, tropical, roach-friendly environment--will be next. If so, the species could magnify the public health problems caused by the preexisting roach population, namely, the spread of allergens and dysentery-causing bacteria. In an effort to head off the species' introduction to Florida, Koehler and Pereira have published information on the Turkestan roach in Florida Pest Pro, a trade magazine of the commercial extermination industry, and have asked exterminators to keep a look out for the Turkestan roach.

This effort may be an uphill battle. In fact, odds are good that the Turkestan roaches are being deliberately shipped to Florida, and some of its citizens may even be breeding them in permanent artificial colonies. As it turns out, Turkestan roaches make great lizard food. Previously, reptile hobbyists depended on crickets as feed, but crickets are expensive, noisy, and delicate. Now, for a relatively small initial outlay, pet reptiles can be fed with a self-sustaining roach colony instead. Turkestan roaches are a favored species for this practice, as are other exotic roaches, such as the large Madagascar hissing roach. All are easily available over the internet from specialty dealers, and it is probably only a matter of time before these roaches are accidentally released into the wild.

A feral exotic roach population in Florida is not too difficult to imagine, as the state is already grappling with other alien feral species, namely, the exotic pets themselves. Boa constrictors, iguanas, and gigantic Burmese pythons have all established wild breeding populations. These animals would never survive on their own in more temperate climates, but in tropical Florida, they--and their food--are happy to fend for themselves in the great outdoors.

Sources:

Exotic Cockroaches Appear in Florida, Environmental News Service (Oct. 9, 2008), http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2008/2008-10-09-092.asp (last visited Oct. 16, 2008)

Mickie Anderson, UF entomologists warn Floridians new roaches may be on the way, University of Florida News (Oct. 8, 2008), http://news.ufl.edu/2008/10/08/rogue-roaches/ (last visited Oct. 16, 2008)

Florida's Snaky Dilemma, Extension (July 24, 2007), http://www.extension.org/pages/Florida%27s_Snaky_Dilemma

Crunchy Critters, http://www.crunchy-critters.com/products.php?cat=7 (last visited Oct. 16, 2008)

The Cockroach Forum, http://blattodea.net/ (last visited Oct. 16, 2008)