Overview

• Infestation hotspots include Rome’s suburbs of Fiumicino, Boccea, Aurelio and Monte Mario where Periplaneta americana populations have surged.
• Experts at the Institut für Schädlingskunde caution that these cockroaches can carry bacteria and mold spores for up to 72 hours and worsen allergic reactions.
• Tourists and residents are posting videos and photos of roaches in homes, sewers and hospitality venues, highlighting the growing public alarm.
• Biologist Antonio Pizzuti Piccoli links the outbreak to an abundance of food sources combined with unseasonably high temperatures.
• Researchers warn that warming climates and aging infrastructure could allow the species to become entrenched across Southern Europe, driving calls for stronger hygiene and pest-control measures.