Alex Trelinski
A NEW cockroach species has been identified by scientists at the University of Oviedo which is giving pest control experts a cause for concern since it could be resistant to insecticides.
The university’s department of biology of organisms and systems spent two years going through rubbish bins in the Asturias region to find the lobster cockroach.
The new breed had not been previously been documented in Spain and now joins a list of invasive species.
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Scientists discovered 149 specimens of the lobster cockroach but its not yet clear where it originated from.
Researchers have two theories, namely it could have arrived via ships or it could have been accidentally released by a collector or amateur entomologist.
The new species appears to have adapted quickly to the climate in Asturias.
The discovery adds to growing concerns about cockroach resistance to insecticides and their ability to survive in conditions that were once lethal to them.
Recent studies have shown that species such as the blond cockroach, are developing a strong tolerance to pyrethroids- one of the most common insecticides available.
According to experts, these products could be ineffective against German cockroaches and possibly against the new lobster cockroach.
The Asturias discovery therefore adds a new challenge for pest controllers in the long battle against cockroaches.
