cockroach
Sign in to saveCockroaches (or roaches) are insects belonging to the order Blattodea (Blattaria). About 30 cockroach species out of 4,600 are associated with human habitats. Some species are well-known pests.
AI overview
Cockroaches are insects that make up a large group of about 4,600 species worldwide, with roughly 30 of these species living in human homes and buildings. They matter because some cockroach species are considered significant pests, making them a concern for households and public health.
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Article
24 sectionsContents
- Taxonomy and evolution
- Description
- Distribution and habitat
- Behavior
- Collective decision-making
- Social behavior
- Sounds
- Biology
- Digestive tract
- Tracheae and breathing
- Reproduction
- Parthenogenesis
- Hardiness
- Relationship with humans
- In research and education
- As pests
- Control
- As food
- Medicinal use
- Other uses
- Conservation
- Cultural depictions
- References
- External links
Cockroaches (or roaches) are insects belonging to the order Blattodea (Blattaria). About 30 cockroach species out of 4,600 are associated with human habitats. Some species are well-known pests.
Modern cockroaches are an ancient group that first appeared during the Late Jurassic. Their ancestors, known as "roachoids", likely originated during the Carboniferous period around 320 million years ago. Those early ancestors, however, lacked the internal ovipositors of modern roaches. Cockroaches are somewhat generalized insects lacking special adaptations (such as the sucking mouthparts of aphids and other true bugs); they have chewing mouthparts and are probably among the most primitive of living Neopteran insects. They are common and hardy insects capable of tolerating a wide range of climates, from Arctic cold to tropical heat. Tropical cockroaches are often much larger than temperate species.