Overview

• The German cockroach evolved from the Asian cockroach about 2,100 years ago.
• It spread globally by hitchhiking with human activities such as trade and military movements.
• The species is now found exclusively in human-built environments, lacking any wild populations.
• Cockroaches have developed significant resistance to insecticides, complicating pest control efforts.
• Understanding the genetic evolution of these pests could lead to more effective management strategies.