'One female can produce 350 offspring': Middle Eastern cockroach species found in Busan

An invasive cockroach species native to the Middle East and Central Asia has been found in Busan, prompting calls for investigation and control measures to prevent further spread.

Researchers from Pusan National University's Life Systems Research Institute and the Department of Plant Medicine at Gyeongsang National University recently confirmed the presence of the Turkestan cockroach (Periplaneta lateralis) — commonly known as the "red runner" — at Gamman Port in Busan, Yonhap reported Saturday.

The research team conducted five field surveys between November last year and June this year, collecting specimens representing every stage of the Turkestan cockroach's life cycle — adults, nymphs and egg cases. The findings are considered key evidence that the species has established itself in the Korean ecosystem.

The Turkestan cockroach is dark reddish-brown and grows up to 3 centimeters in length. It reaches adulthood in roughly 220 days and is notable for its reproductive capacity — a single female can produce around 350 nymphs.

Busan's relatively mild winters, with average temperatures ranging from 3.6 to 5.8 degrees Celsius based on the 1991–2020 climate normal, make it favorable for invasive species to take hold. Researchers noted that the area around Gamman Port experiences particularly small temperature fluctuations, potentially serving as a "cold-snap refuge" for the Turkestan cockroach.

For that reason, Gamman Port could serve as a staging ground for the species. Specimens have already been found in a park outside the port, and the full extent of the spread remains unknown.

The Turkestan cockroach has already become a problem in the United States, Japan, Russia and parts of Europe. Like other cockroaches, it is classified as an urban pest, and its high reproductive rate allows it to compete with native species, potentially disrupting local ecosystems.

At Gamman Port, native Oriental cockroaches were also observed near the drainage ditches and food waste bins where the Turkestan cockroaches were found.

The researchers concluded that the species likely entered through port cargo transport and called for integrated pest management through continuous monitoring.

"The appearance of the Turkestan cockroach near Gamman Port suggests that maritime transport is the likely entry route and that the species may already be circulating domestically," the researchers said. "Because excessive use of insecticides to control cockroaches in outdoor environments can negatively affect surrounding ecosystems, integrated pest management — including status surveys, monitoring, removal of food sources and bait-based control — should be implemented."