The most disgusting creature to ever live.

I used to blame Noah for putting these revolting, useless things on the Ark.
Then, I realized he probably didn't put them on the Ark.
American cockroaches will give a devastating global flood the finger as they mock it.
These things can survive nuclear winter; I'm fairly sure they'd make it through a little water.

From Wikipedia:
"The insect can travel quickly, often darting out of sight when someone enters a room, and can fit into small cracks and under doors despite its fairly large size. It is known to be very mobile, and it also has wings which allow it to be quite a capable flier."

Read the entire disgusting article.

I find it absolutely hilarious that Wikipedia lists this vile animal's "Conservation Status" as "LC" or, of least concern.
I am hardly joking when I say that if I saw the last American cockroach on planet earth, and it was in a tiny Moses basket wearing a bonnet and sucking its roach thumb and cooing, I would not hesitate to squash it all the way back to hell, from whence it came.

I have had them dart onto my body, in my hair, fly at me.
Unlike German cockroaches, having these creatures in your house has nothing to do with cleanliness. They come in by themselves, when you open the door. They fly in when the window is open. They have huge cajones. They aren't afraid of squat.
They feed off your fear.
I was going to post a YouTube video of these things, but I got scared.
If you are so inclined, just search "Palmetto Bugs" on You Tube. There is an infested mailbox that I watched about 5 seconds of before the fear set in and I sort of freaked and closed out the video.
I actually based a large part of my move out of the South on the knowledge that I would no longer have to deal with these things.
I like spiders. I like praying mantises. I like all sorts of things. But I cannot abide the American cockroach.
Worst. creature. ever.