A First Insight Into the Occurrence of Cockroaches in the Urban City of Thessaloniki (Greece)—Identifying Hot Spots

Blattodea is one of the most common orders particularly in urban centers. The most abundant species in Greece are Blatta orientalis and Periplaneta americana (Blattidae), Blattella germanica and Supella longipalpa (Blattelidae). They are cosmopolitan species occurring in homes, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, offices and libraries. They are omnivores, feeding on a variety of food resources, ranging from manure and feces to organic waste. They prefer dark and humid sites and pose a significant threat for public health as their occurrence is often associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis. As a consequence, mapping of cockroaches’ hot spots in urban areas is a prerequisite for any effective control program. Despite their significance, very little is known regarding the occurrence and distribution of cockroaches in the city of Thessaloniki (Macedonia). The aim of this preliminary study is the spatial mapping of the places where health services carried out disinfestations for cockroaches, in order to identify places with an increased presence of these pests.