# Ebay listing: "New Type of Cockroach: Man Made" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 22, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006 "2016-06-22T01:31:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/1 "2016-06-22T01:31:51Z")
This is just too weird. It seems like it must be some type of scam or illegal activity. Warning if you are squicked out by cock roaches, there are pictures at the link. [http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-TYPE-OF-COCKROACH-MAN-MADE-/291791182168?hash=item43f01c1958](http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-TYPE-OF-COCKROACH-MAN-MADE-/291791182168?hash=item43f01c1958) > [@](#): > > These are the only Roaches of this type on this Planet, made by our Biology research team in Alvin, TX. > Here is your chance to own a new species of the famous American Cock-Roach widely used in CHINA for drug making and for Food !! Of course, we are not selling our Roaches for food at this time, only as a newly designed Biological Entity !!! > Scientific name (Not registered yet) ALVINICUS AMERICANA !!! “Curl Winged American Roach” > selling: 2 ea. specimens or selling the entire rights for this new species !!! They are a very nice, elegant and unique new forms of Roaches. Video Clip available. Good luck with your new pets !!! Can someone create a new species of cockroach and then just sell it on Ebay? Surely there should be concern about it escaping into the wild and there must be some sort of regulations concerning this. Can someone sell “entire rights for this new species”? I should add that this is not my sale and I have no financial interest in this. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/2 "2016-06-22T04:30:23Z")
It’s bullshit. Those look like regular American cockroaches with a mutation that deforms their wings (or maybe they have a vitamin deficiency or some other developmental problem). I don’t believe anyone who can’t spell cockroach right (and doesn’t know how to capitalize) has been able to create a new species. Of course you don’t “register” a new species, you describe it in a scientific paper. And if you publish a name like “Alvinicus americana” before publishing the formal species description, you invalidate the name forever. In any case, if this was a new form of American Cockroach the first part of the name would be the same, _Periplaneta_. These guys don’t even know how to compose species names. Some countries, including the US, do allow patenting of animal types that have been created in the lab, and do not occur in nature. If you did create a new transgenic roach, you might be able to patent it. But it’s obvious these guys, whoever they are, are a couple of stoners who somehow got a hold of a box of funny looking roaches. I dunno, maybe they fed them meth. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/3 "2016-06-22T04:46:52Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > And if you publish a name like “Alvinicus americana” before publishing the formal species description, you invalidate the name forever. Explain, please. How is it invalidated? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/4 "2016-06-22T05:19:35Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Explain, please. How is it invalidated? According to the rules of scientific nomenclature, a species name published without a formal description becomes a _nomen nudum_ (“naked name”), and becomes unavailable to use with that species or with any other. I don’t know if putting a name on eBay constitutes publication, but if they have published it in a newspaper it may be invalid. No scientist will ever publish a proposed name before the species description comes out for that reason. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/5 "2016-06-22T08:16:57Z")
**Colibri** is pretty much echoing why this struck me as weird, although he’s more versed in the details of naming, patenting, etc. than I am. I suspect that, as well as being fraudulent, the sale is a violation of eBay’s rules regarding the selling of wildlife. I do notice that no one has bid on them. It would be surprising to me if someone did. It would be like bidding on a mating pair of bedbugs. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/6 "2016-06-22T10:11:28Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > But it’s obvious these guys, whoever they are, are a couple of stoners who somehow got a hold of a box of funny looking roaches. This is slander against stoners. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/7 "2016-06-22T11:08:06Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > This is slander against stoners. That’s right. We won’t take this lying down, either. Too often we get treated like what’s that thing you shouldnt treat people like, you know, that thing. Anyway, I’m getting a bunch of friends together and if it doesn’t rain later today maybe we’ll meet up at the park. If it rains maybe we’ll go see a movie. Anyone know if there are any good 3D movies playing, or that thing where the screen is really, really huge, what’s that called? Nothing with Antman, though cause ugh. Maybe we can each carry in a 40, but it’s going to be 88 degrees do you think we’ll look weird if we wear coats so we can hide the 40s ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/8 "2016-06-23T00:16:50Z")
Cockroaches exposed to certain pesticides while young often have deformed, curly wings. They tend to not live very long and cannot breed. ---
**Author:** ![appleaday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@appleaday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleaday)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/9 "2016-06-23T05:54:05Z")
I might be a little dim-witted here, but why would anyone want to buy cockroaches anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/10 "2016-06-23T06:30:33Z")
“Do you like our cockroach, Mr davidm?” “It’s artificial?” “Of course it is.” “Must be expensive” “_Very_” “I’m fuzzydog2011” “davidm” “It seems you feel our work is not a benefit to the public.” "Artificial cockroaches are like any other machine - they’re either a benefit or a hazard. If they’re a benefit, it’s not my problem. " ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/11 "2016-06-23T07:31:29Z")
Errrm, who googles eBay for cockroaches?? Just sayin’. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/12 "2016-06-23T12:34:26Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Errrm, who googles eBay for cockroaches?? > > Just sayin’. 😃 Not me. Someone pointed it out to me. I think they were browsing eBay’s “weird stuff” category for laughs. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/13 "2016-06-23T13:05:37Z")
I think the can of [Unicorn Meat is more practical](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thinkgeek-Canned-Unicorn-Meat-New-/141640755946?hash=item20fa726aea:g:n9sAAMXQ1d1TILWL) ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/14 "2016-06-23T13:21:01Z")
I thought eBay had a prohibition against selling live animals/etc. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/15 "2016-06-23T15:37:51Z")
> [@appleaday](#): > > I might be a little dim-witted here, but why would anyone want to buy cockroaches anyway? They say that cockroaches are used in China for “drug-making and food.” However, they say they are not selling them for food. So one presumes they are selling them as drugs. Sounds like they are so stoned they’re confused about what kind of roaches you’re supposed to eat. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/16 "2016-06-23T16:04:53Z")
Still no bids and only 7 hours left. You’d think that people would be tripping over each other racing to buy these things! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/17 "2016-06-23T22:13:34Z")
Reptile/Amphibian pet food? I’ve seen wax-worms, meal-worms, wingless fruit-flies, etc for sale at the pet shop. We supplement our chicks (replacement layers) with mealworms. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/18 "2016-06-23T22:17:42Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Reptile/Amphibian pet food? > > I’ve seen wax-worms, meal-worms, wingless fruit-flies, etc for sale at the pet shop. We supplement our chicks (replacement layers) with mealworms. They’re selling them two at a time, so I doubt they’re being sold as pet food. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/19 "2016-06-23T22:25:24Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > They’re selling them two at a time, so I doubt they’re being sold as pet food. Oh. Didn’t go to the eBay page out of concern for the NSA knowing about my online roach habits. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006/20 "2016-06-24T17:29:21Z")
> [@spamforbrains](#): > > Cockroaches exposed to certain pesticides while young often have deformed, curly wings. They tend to **not live very long** and cannot breed. That’s got to be an awkward conversation. > [@](#): > > (Praline) Hello, I wish to register a complaint…Hello? Miss? > (Shopkeeper) What do you mean, “Miss”? > (Praline) Oh I’m sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint! > (Shopkeeper) Sorry, we’re closing for lunch. > (Praline) Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this cockroach what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique. > (Shopkeeper) Oh yes, the, the American Curl. What’s wrong with it? > (Praline) I’ll tell you what’s wrong with it, my lad. It’s dead, that’s what’s wrong with it! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-listing-new-type-of-cockroach-man-made/758006.md?page=2)