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Depopulation of cockroaches in post-Soviet states refers to observations that there has been a rapid disappearance of various types of cockroaches since the beginning of the 21st century in Russia and other countries of the former USSR. Various factors have been suggested as causes of the depopulation.
A mass depopulation of cockroaches has been observed since the beginning of the 21st century in Russia and other countries of the former USSR. Observers[ who?] have noted a rapid disappearance of various types of cockroaches from cities and towns in Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus.[ citation needed] However, no such depopulation has been observed in larger Russian megalopolises such as Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Nizhny Novgorod. [1]
Scientists from Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg have suggested that the Oriental cockroach should be added to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. [2] [3]
The depopulation of cockroaches may be exaggerated, or this phenomenon may be temporary or cyclic. [1] [4] A number of explanations of the phenomenon are discussed in the media, of varying degree of credibility.
Results indicated throughout the study period that P. megacephala preferred the freshly-killed lobster cockroach (more than 40%)