Italy's Cities Affected by Cockroach Infestation

June 17, 2025, 5:11 pm | Read time: 2 minutes

Rome Battles Invasion of American Cockroaches Italy’s capital, Rome, is grappling with a veritable invasion of American cockroaches. Heat and humidity create ideal conditions, causing the infestation to spread and increasingly worry both tourists and locals.

In Italy, American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) are currently spreading rapidly—especially in the capital, Rome. According to BILD, citing the Italian news portal “Rainews.it,” other cities are also affected. The Italian Institute for Pest Control attributes the mass proliferation to unusually high temperatures combined with humid air. These conditions are considered ideal for the insects’ reproduction and have caused a veritable cockroach infestation in Italy.

As early as June, temperatures in Rome climbed above 30 degrees Celsius. In this heat, the nocturnal giant cockroaches find optimal living conditions in dark basements and hidden corners. There, they find water sources, shelter, and breeding grounds—much to the dismay of residents and tourists.

Videos of Cockroach Infestation in Italy Circulate Online

Numerous videos currently circulating on social networks show the extent of the cockroach infestation in Italy. They depict giant roaches climbing building facades and populating streets.

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According to experts, the American cockroach is among the fastest of its kind. Despite its name, it originally hails from South Asia and has spread worldwide from there. Measuring up to five centimeters in length, it is significantly larger than the German cockroach common in Europe, which measures only about one centimeter.

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Threat to Health and Tourism

The cockroach infestation is becoming an increasing economic and health problem for Italy. The tourism sector is particularly affected. Restaurants, bars, and cafes are forced to drastically tighten their hygiene measures out of concern for losing guests.

The XXL insects pose not only an aesthetic problem. According to the Institute for Pest Control, “they transmit salmonella and mold.” Additionally, their droppings can trigger allergic reactions—a danger that should not be underestimated, especially in heavily frequented tourist areas.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TRAVELBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@travelbook.de.