Flying cockroaches may invade New York City this weekend thanks to massive heatwave: scientists

It's not enough that urban dwellers on the East Coast are looking at record highs in heat and humidity this weekend, but entomologists are warning they can also expect to see flying cockroaches as the ever-present vermin take to the air for some exercise.

According to DNAinfo, the weekend's heat and humidity is expected to drive the bugs out of the darkness and into the air.

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

Added bug expert Louis Sorkin from the American Museum of Natural History, the heat makes the roaches more active and, "The more activity, the more flight."

Schumann also said that roaches have a distinctive way of flying, stating: "It’s not like a flight pattern like a butterfly would have. It’s almost like they just glide down.”

So now, New Yorkers will have flying roaches to contend with along with pigeons -- once described by comedian Woody Allen as "Rats with wings."