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A mass depopulation of cockroaches during 2000s is an urban legend that had a major coverage in Russian mass media in late 2000s. Reportedly, it has been observed since the beginning of the 21st century in Russia and other countries of the former USSR. Observers note quick disappearance of various types of cockroaches from cities and towns in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus.

Rational explanations

Cockroach killing products

• Depopulation of cockroaches is overexaggerated, or this phenomenon is temporary or cyclic.^[1][2]

• Usage of plastic bags to store domestic waste; discontinuation of rubbish chutes usage.^[3][4]

• Cockroaches might have migrated out of homes to other, more suitable places.^[5]

• New, improved chemicals and methods to fight cockroaches.^{[2][3][4][6][7][8][9]}

• Usage of modern construction materials — the population of cockroaches might have been reduced due to their purported ingestion of unsafe substances.^{[3][6][10][11][12][13][14][15]} However, cockroaches were noticed to disappear even in the houses where such construction materials were not used.^[4][16]

• Introduction of genetically modified food which might have a negative influence on cockroaches.^{[4][6][10][11][13][17][15][18][19]}

• Radioactive or chemical pollution (in Chernovtsy, Tambov, as well as due to Chernobyl disaster).^[1][16][20] However, there is an opinion that cockroaches are insensitive to radiation.^[10]

Esoteric explanations

• Widespread introduction of mobile phones and wireless networks.^{[6][10][13][21][22][23][24]}
• Ozone holes that lead to abnormal biorhythms in cockroaches.^{[6][11][15][16]}
• Forthcoming end of the world or catastrophic events.^[25][26]
• Internal battles between cockroaches.^[3]
• Some species of cockroaches are edible.^[27]

Scientific attention to the problem

• Scientists from Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg have suggested that the Oriental cockroach should be added to the Red Book of Endangered Species.^{[28][29][30][31][32][33]}

References