Where is the German cockroach actually from? We tested its DNA to trace its true origins
It’s likely the urban pest first emerged from its native lands about 1,200 years ago. As global trade accelerated, the hitchhikers made their way more rapidly around the worldGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastGerman cockroaches thrive in buildings all over the world. They’re one of the most common cockroach species, causing trouble for people both here and overseas. But in nature, they’re nowhere to be found.Just how this urban pest evolved and populated our dwellings was unknown – until now. Continue reading...

It’s likely the urban pest first emerged from its native lands about 1,200 years ago. As global trade accelerated, the hitchhikers made their way more rapidly around the world
German cockroaches thrive in buildings all over the world. They’re one of the most common cockroach species, causing trouble for people both here and overseas. But in nature, they’re nowhere to be found.
Just how this urban pest evolved and populated our dwellings was unknown – until now. Continue reading...