It's so hot outside, cockroaches might start flying

DETROIT – It's now hot enough to make cockroaches fly.

Apparently, a side effect of the above average heat, especially in the New York area, is cockroaches could start flying -- which is unusual.

“In hot steam tunnels, something with the temperature and the humidity encourages them to fly,” said Ken Schumann, an entomologist at Bell Environmental Services. “When it's warm and steamy that seems to be what they like."

All American cockroaches have wings and the ability to fly, but typically don't unless they're in humid climates. They more commonly take flight in parts of the deep south.

In Michigan, the most common cockroaches are German cockroaches and American cockroaches.

Cockroaches can carry the pathogens that cause food borne illness such as salmonella. German cockroaches have been shown to cause asthma attacks but these are not the only health problems associated with them, according to Rose Pest Solutions. 

Oriental, brown-banded and Pennsylvania wood roaches can also be found in Michigan.

If you have a cockroach problem, here are some tips to get rid of them.