ABSTRACT
The success of cockroaches in peridomestic and domestic habitats is based largely on their biology and habits. The pest status of cockroaches is based primarily on their presence in the living space and human emotion. Fossil cockroaches with the body shape and general wing structures of current species are known from Carboniferous rocks dating from the Paleozoic era. German and American cockroaches foraging for food and water in kitchens of modern society may encounter a variety of dangerous substances such as cleaning fluids and materials that may be hazardous. The pest status of household cockroaches is traditionally linked to their medical importance. They are known to be carriers of fungi, viruses, protozoa and about 40 species of bacteria that are pathogenic to vertebrates. The aesthetic or emotional impact of the presence of cockroaches in the living space is also an important contributor to their pest status.
