Crotonbug

/ˈkroʊtənbʌɡ/ noun

Definition

A common household cockroach, so named because it was originally observed around croton oil containers and heating systems.

Etymology

Compound word: 'croton' (the plant/oil) + 'bug.' Named from the historical observation that these cockroaches thrived around heated croton oil delivery systems in 19th-century buildings.

Kelly Says

The 'croton bug' was NYC's nickname for German cockroaches before they realized it was a misnomer—but the name stuck even though entomologists know they have nothing to do with croton oil!

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