A University of Oxford professor who lectured in a cockroach costume has reacted to an infestation of the creatures at a local service station.

Tim Coulson is the head of the University of Oxford’s Biology Department and gave a talk at the Sheldonian Theatre dressed in the costume this week.

The zoology professor was reading a section of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka in which a character wakes one morning to discover he has turned into a giant insect.

Prof Coulson's costume stunt oddly came on the same day that news broke out of a cockroach infestation at the M40 Oxford Welcome Break services.

READ MORE: Cockroach infestation at Oxford services shuts down three eateries

Oxford Mail: Tim Coulson gave the talk in the cockroach costume.Tim Coulson gave the talk in the cockroach costume. (Image: Tim Coulson)

Food outlets onsite including KFC, Chopstix and Starbucks were shut down after a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice was issued by South Oxfordshire District Council.

“The outbreak of cockroaches at the M40 services is unfortunate,” said Prof Coulson.

“Cockroaches can spread diseases, so it is a sensible precaution to shut the effected businesses until the infestation has been dealt with.

“The infestation does mean there was plenty of food for the roaches to eat, which does, of course, make one question whether adequate hygiene standards were in place.”

READ MORE: M40 services speaks about ‘significant’ cockroach infestation for first time

The 55-year-old professor also gave some expert facts about the species which have infested the Oxford service station near Wheatley.

“Cockroaches are remarkable animals,” added Prof Coulson. 

“There are over 4,000 species of cockroach, but less than 50 are associated with human habits, and only a few species are considered pests.

“Some species can survive extremes of temperature, living in icy environments, by making a form of antifreeze. However, most species live in the tropics.”

A criminal investigation into any food hygiene offences committed at the services is ongoing and the three stores will remain closed until officers deem the health risk has been removed.

READ MORE: Luxury hotel had ‘cross-contamination risk’ and stored food on floor

Oxford Mail: A cockroach infestation has been discovered at the Welcome Break services.A cockroach infestation has been discovered at the Welcome Break services. (Image: Newsquest)

Prof Coulson’s giant cockroach outfit was borrowed from the University’s Museum of Natural History and helped establish his impressive knowledge of the creatures.

“The earliest cockroach-like fossil dates to 320 million years ago,” he said.

“Earth was hotter and much more humid and was the time that the coal we used to build our civilisation formed.

“In contrast, modern humans have only been around for about 300 thousand years.

READ MORE: Police helicopter circles Oxford as 'five police cars descend on street'

Oxford Mail: KFC is one of the businesses which has been shut down at the services.KFC is one of the businesses which has been shut down at the services. (Image: Newsquest)

"Cockroaches have consequently been around for nearly 300 million years longer than us.

“A few species have learned to thrive off our food waste.”

Prof Coulson’s upcoming science book, The Universal History of Us: A 13.8-billion-year tale from the Big Bang to You, published by Penguin on Thursday, June 13, talks about how life started and how it spread.

Although cockroaches do not feature heavily, the academic does explain why the geological period when the first cockroaches evolved was important for our existence over 300,000,000 years later.

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