The cockroach that emerged from your sink drain and scuttled under the fridge? The nocturnal critter was most likely a German cockroach, and its ancestors were pestering people more than 2,000 years ago in southern Asia, a new study found.

The research, published May 20 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that the insects&rsquo journey from scavenging in ancient Asian civilizations to getting cozy beneath your kitchen floor closely aligns with major historical shifts in global commerce, colonization and war.

German cockroaches, scientifically known as Blattella germanica, are ubiquitous in cities in the United States and around the world. The hardy pests first appeared in scientific records from 250 years ago in Europe, hence the German moniker, but little is known about their origin.

The insects also demonstrate social behaviors, communicating with one another about where to find food.／Pexels

Humans have been making them at home ever since, she said. &ldquoThe things that have allowed humans to thrive &mdash indoor plumbing, indoor heating &mdash are things that have also allowed cockroaches to thrive,&rdquo Ware said. &ldquoBy creating sewers underneath our cities, we couldn&rsquot have provided a better buffet.&rdquo

Next, Tang wants to sequence the full genomes of his hundreds of specimens to learn how German cockroaches have adapted so successfully to the human environment. &ldquoFor example, the German cockroach has insecticide resistance that is not detected in many other pests,&rdquo he said. &ldquoHow can they evolve so fast? Is it something that&rsquos already in their genes, but has become revealed because of anthropogenic pressures?&rdquo

The insects also demonstrate social behaviors, communicating with one another about where to find food. Tang wants to find out if this ability, too, is a survival trait for which roaches have humans to thank.