Because of their long, persistent association with humans, cockroaches are frequently referred to in art, literature, folk tales, and theater and film. In Western culture, cockroaches are often depicted as vile and dirty pests. Their size, long antennae, shiny appearance and spiny legs make them disgusting to many humans, sometimes even to the point of phobic responses.[1][2]
For on-screen moments, TV shows and movies often employ the Madagascar hissing cockroach due to its large size and relatively slow speed.