Invasive Cockroaches
From:Florida Pest Pro
University of Florida News
Phil Koehler and Roberto Pereira of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences have an article in Florida Pest Pro alerting people to the fact that several new species of cockroach may invade Florida. They are particularly concerned aboput the 'Turkestan cockroach' which has already been introduced into the southern United States by miliatry personnel returning form the Middle East.
Koehlern is also concerned that Madagascan hissing cockroaches may also become naturalised.
One statistic from the UF news article is quite telling: "We have 69 species of cockroaches in the United States and 29 of them were bought in from other countries".
One possible threat comes from people rearing exotic cockroaches as pets os a s food for reptiles and amphibians. In the San Diego area the stick insect Carausius morosus has naturalised.