What Are the Classification of Cockroaches?
WouterThere are several factors that differentiate cockroaches from other insects. For instance, they are scavengers and belong to the superorder Dictyoptera. Because of their size and habits, cockroaches and their close relatives are also classified as part of the superorder Blattodea.
The Cockroach Species File is an online resource that provides the latest taxonomic information about cockroaches. The Cockroach Species File contains more than six thousand scientific names and 4,600 valid species. It also includes images of museum specimens. Pictures of living cockroaches are being added as the database continues to grow.
Cockroaches have long antennae that help them to detect vibrations and odours. Their head contains the brain and powerful mouthparts. Some species also have compound eyes. The thorax follows the head and includes three pairs of legs and two pairs of wings. The forewings of most species are thick and leathery, while the hind wings are very thin and fan-like.
Various species of cockroaches can be classified according to the habitat they live in. The Periplaneta cockroach is similar to the German cockroach, but is a little smaller. The male is light-coloured and has fully developed wings, while the female has short wings and has a dark stripe across its back. The eggs of a brown-banded cockroach are laid in wood moldings or cracks in the floor.
Cockroaches belong to the Insecta class, which exhibits tremendous diversity. All insects have three-segmented bodies, head antennae, and wings. The American cockroach can fly, whereas the oriental cockroach cannot fly.
