New York City is the most populous metropolitan area within the United States. The city’s population is particularly dense as well, which means that living in close-quarters with complete strangers is the name of the game in the Big Apple. Of course, densely populated cities also contain garbage piles that are densely located around the city. In a city that contains more than eight million inhabitants, you can expect to see a fair amount of food waste overflowing in dumpsters behind grimy eateries. Naturally, the massive amount of food waste within New York City attracts a number of pests. Perhaps the most despised pest that is known to populate every corner of the city is the cockroach. In addition to food waste, cockroaches are also attracted to the humidity levels that rise dramatically in the city during the summer. Not only is New York a relatively humid place, but the massive amounts of body heat that radiate within subways creates even more humidity. Cockroaches thrive within humid conditions, and when tons upon tons of food waste are contained within small humid environments, cockroaches become so abundant in the city that residents of New York feel as though they are below cockroaches in the food chain. The staggering population growth of New York City cockroaches during New York City heat waves can make residents feel unsettled. Unfortunately, this year may see the most terrifying cockroach-related phenomenon that can possibly occur in the natural world–a mass invasion of flying cockroaches!
Although cockroaches are tremendously resilient creatures, the cool weather slows their movements, much to the appreciation of New York City residents during the winter. However, the extreme heat and humidity causes the opposite effect. This weekend, forecasters predict that an expected heat wave will dramatically increase roach activity in New York City. Temperatures are supposed to become high enough to cause roaches to do something that they normally do not do, which is fly. Cockroaches will soon be swarming, which means that New Yorkers living within roach-infested apartments stand a very good chance of finding themselves in the middle of a terrifying roach swarm.
Does the rare, but very real occurance of swarming cockroaches in New York City make you want to avoid moving to the big apple?