First Residents of Larissa Desperate to fight flying cockroaches, they can take solace in the idea that Europe’s most sought-after resorts and tourist destinations: the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, the coast of Catalonia and Andalusia, face the same problem. On the outskirts of Barcelona, they report a 30% to 40% increase in cockroaches this year.
could climate change Could it be one of the reasons why cockroaches are not only increasing in population, but also increasing in size and durability?
Since Spain has been experiencing a massive decline in cockroaches since April (and they still haven’t disappeared), the question has already occupied the media and local authorities.
High temperature favors cockroaches
According to a related Euronews article, the main reason for the increase in cockroaches in Spain is the rise in temperature. In fact, it should be noted that the uninvited guests of the Iberian Peninsula are not the same as ours – the guests we see in Larissa and beyond.
The Spanish keep swarms of the so-called German cockroaches, which are now called mutants because they are resistant to insecticides. Greece mainly has Periplaneta Americana, whose name comes from Africa. However, both species thrive in heat and humidity—conditions abundantly offered in dark cupboards in home kitchens, but unfortunately also in mass catering.
“Climate change may cause an alarming increase in the number of cockroaches in Spain, as well as changes in their genetic makeup,” writes Euronews.
Experts say record temperatures are to blame for these ‘mutated’ cockroaches. Increased heat means that the metabolic cycle of pests is accelerated – and this is especially evident in German cockroaches. This is a concern because this variety is prevalent in homes and food-related establishments,” the report continues.
All aerial insects
In the international press, especially in dozens of articles about Spain, we see the words “climate change” and “cockroaches” used side by side, along with references to “experts” who associate the former with the latter.
However, as we know, correlation does not necessarily imply causation. The fact that this year’s “massacre” of brown beetles coincided with high temperatures does not prove that heat alone is responsible for their reproduction. What is certain is that they will thrive in any climate as highly adaptable organisms.
Global warming-related mutation?
Another possible explanation is that warmer temperatures mean the cockroach breeding season is longer. It is also thought to help increase their genetic resistance to conventional insecticides.
How did climate change cause these changes in cockroaches?
Jorge Galvan, director of the country’s National Association of Environmental Health Companies (ANECPLA), was asked to answer this question on the occasion of the insects’ arrival in Spain. Speaking to Spain’s 20 Minutos newspaper at the time, he said experts were concerned that this genetic change made it difficult to effectively control the cockroach population.
Warmer weather means longer cockroach breeding season. This is believed to contribute to the improvement of their genetic resistance
He explained that as cockroaches become resistant to chemicals, the relevant health services are trying to combat the increasingly serious problem using less invasive and more sustainable methods. The first step is improved sanitation practices against mechanical traps.
The need that led to these different methods seems to be global warming. As the climate in Spain gradually changes from subtropical to tropical, the periods of infestation by parasitic insects such as cockroaches are lengthening.
The same is supported by the authorities in Greece. For example, officials of DEVAL, the Public Water Supply and Sewerage Company of Larisa city, keep repeating that the early and massive appearance of the disgusting creatures is caused by the mild winter and the earlier high temperatures. Only their earlier promises that the problem would subside in a few weeks do not seem to have come to pass, as we are approaching the middle of summer and, as they say, the “NATO” cockroaches are still partying.