Department of Entomology

Blattaria (Blattodea) (Cockroaches)

Family Fact Sheet

Back to Order List

Go to Tree of Life

Blattaria - D. Mullins

I. Background information

A. Origin of name

1.
2.

B. Classification

1. Suborders - none
2. America north of Mexico - 5 families, 32 genera, 70 species
3. World - ? families, ? genera, 4,000 species
4. Estimate of undescribe species - 10% in N. America

C. Common names - Cockroach or roach

D. Type of metamorphosis - Paurometabolous

E. Phylogenetic relationships

1. Orthopteroid

II. Morphological characteristics

A. Body flattened and oval

B. Head concealed from above by pronotum

C. Wings usually present

D. Tarsi five-segmented.

E. Antennae long and slender

A. Life history

1. Eggs -enclosed in ootheca and may be carried by the female internally or externally
2. Some species viviparous
3. Nymphs - similar to adults.
4. Adults
5. Several generations per year

B. Habitat

1. Households in areas where there is available food, water, and harborage.
2. Some species under bark outdoors

C. Habits (mode of existence)

1. Omnivores

D. Collecting and preserving

1. Baits (e.g., beer-soaked bread)
2. Under bark of fallen logs
3. Mount on pins
4. Soft species in 80% alcohol

F. Behavior

1. Usually nocturnal
2. Move very rapidly.
3. Females often carry eggs in oothecae
4. Oothecae dropped and protected in crevices, a prepared hole.
5. Some females cover oothecae with substrate and mix with glue substance to form a clay-like substance.
6. Some secrete a foul smelling odor others hiss like the one below

Hissing Cockroach - D. Mullins

G. Significance

1. Economic - Major household problem. Seldom associated with disease even though health officials treat them as a health hazard.
2. Sometimes pests in greenhouses.
3. Ecological -