"roaches" in the news
I saw an interesting photo in today's Raleigh News & Observer that was accompanied by a brief article about a race between Madagascar hissing cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blaberidae: Gromphadorhina spp.): one named John McCain, and one named Barack Obama. The results of this insect competition, of course, are meant to serve as a Punxsutawney-Phil-like predictor of the presidential election. (FYI - the McCain cockroach won this particular race.)
I am happy to see Dictyoptera finally secure some positive (or at least neutral) press, even if the article focuses on something largely non-biological. Too often we read about how nasty, repulsive, smelly, allergenic, and pestiferous cockroaches are, but here we see none of that negativity. One thing that does bother me here - and in numerous other casual (and even professional) communications - is the reference to these dictyopterans as "roaches."
Maybe I'm a pedant, but to me "roaches" are fish. Blattarian Dictyoptera should always be referred to as "cockroaches," or, if the word must be shortened one should use the apostrophized 'roaches.
Ok...so I am a pedant.
A mass of Madagascar hissing cockroaches captured by Steve Lodefink. These critters frequently serve as the thoroughbreds of the insect world.
I am happy to see Dictyoptera finally secure some positive (or at least neutral) press, even if the article focuses on something largely non-biological. Too often we read about how nasty, repulsive, smelly, allergenic, and pestiferous cockroaches are, but here we see none of that negativity. One thing that does bother me here - and in numerous other casual (and even professional) communications - is the reference to these dictyopterans as "roaches."
Maybe I'm a pedant, but to me "roaches" are fish. Blattarian Dictyoptera should always be referred to as "cockroaches," or, if the word must be shortened one should use the apostrophized 'roaches.
Ok...so I am a pedant.
A mass of Madagascar hissing cockroaches captured by Steve Lodefink. These critters frequently serve as the thoroughbreds of the insect world.
