What is Scientific Name of Cockroach?
WouterCockroaches are members of the insect order Blattodea. Historically, termites were a separate order, but recent genetic research suggests that they evolved from within the cockroach lineage. This evolutionary connection explains why termites and cockroaches share the same scientific name.
The cockroach belongs to the Blattodea order, which includes over 4,600 species of insects. It is a primitive winged insect. Its name is a corruption of the Spanish word cucaracha, meaning “cockroach”. Its features include a flattened body with long, threadlike antennae. In addition, it has long legs and a thoracic shield.
A dark brown species of cockroach, Periplaneta americana, is native to America. The scientific name for this insect follows a binomial nomenclature system: first, it is a genus, then a species. The scientific name for each species is written in italics.
A female cockroach lays eggs in a hard-shelled egg case called an ootheca. During its peak reproductive stage, the female cockroach lays two or three egg cases per week. Some species can lay up to fifteen nymphs. The nymph stage is characterized by gradual metamorphosis. During its first few hours of development, a cockroach egg resembles a tiny adult.
The cockroach lives in a wide range of habitats around the world. It is most common in tropical and subtropical climates. Although it is thought to have originated in tropical climates, it adapted to colder temperatures over the last 300 million years. Scientists believe the first cockroach appeared approximately 355 million years ago. They are now regarded as household pests and have become widespread.
