Of all the posts in this thread, only farragut makes a valid point: that roaches, like ALL creatures on this wretched planet we call earth, are just trying to make a living.

Roaches are not in this world to live up to our expectations, nor did they evolve in order to be used by humans for whatever purpose humans might devise, whether medical or otherwise.

Insects and other living creatures exist for their own purposes that have nothing to do with us. 

And, just because you don't happen to like the way an insect looks does not mean that said insect is necessarily 'nasty' or 'horrible' or 'icky,' but, rather, that you have no real understanding of the animal world in all its marvelous forms.

And that is just plain sad.

Many, many years ago, we travelled extensively in Georgia and visited people we knew, so we know from roaches big-time.  What the family did was to put all non-perishable food into glass jars, and everything else in the fridge, and keep the kitchen as clean as humanly possible.  Also, we noted that when somebody would turnon the light, the roaches would jump out, so we avoided going into the kitchen at night if at all possible. 

Here in New Zealand, we have something called a weta -

www.naturespic.co.nz/newzealand/result_s...

And these guys can look scary, I suppose, although they're harmless.  They like wet, dark conditions, so sometimes I'll find one hiding in the wash basket.  I just put him outside.  No big deal.

Over the years, I have grown to realise that all creatures have their place.

Or at the very least, I am going to need sensitivity training.

Sep 15, 2010 -- 12:38AM, solfeggio wrote:

Over the years, I have grown to realise that all creatures have their place.

Solfeggio,  I really admire your compassion for all living creatures!

Sep 15, 2010 -- 12:38AM, solfeggio wrote:

Many, many years ago, we travelled extensively in Georgia and visited people we knew, so we know from roaches big-time.  What the family did was to put all non-perishable food into glass jars, and everything else in the fridge, and keep the kitchen as clean as humanly possible.  Also, we noted that when somebody would turnon the light, the roaches would jump out, so we avoided going into the kitchen at night if at all possible. 

Here in New Zealand, we have something called a weta -

www.naturespic.co.nz/newzealand/result_s...

And these guys can look scary, I suppose, although they're harmless.  They like wet, dark conditions, so sometimes I'll find one hiding in the wash basket.  I just put him outside.  No big deal.

Over the years, I have grown to realise that all creatures have their place.

Yes, all creatures have their place, but roaches multiply so quickly and can cause unsafe conditions if they take over a home and are allowed to live and stay there. If you have one roach you either do or will have many. Their feces can irritate asthma and even induce it, especially in children. While they may have their place...their place is not in my home.