BLATTODEA

CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
(Cockroaches)
Why was it called so?
- etymology: “Cucaracha” – a
Spanish term which means
creeping into the chests they
eat and defile their ill-scented
dung. Then name later
evolved into cockroach.
 DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Body Shape: oval and flattened
Thorax: covered by a large plate (the
pronotum), which extends partly over
the head
Head: chewing (mandibulate)
mouthparts, long threadlike antennae,
compound eyes and simple ocelli-like
spots
Appendages: 2 pairs of membranous
wings when present. Forewings are
more sclerotized than hind wings. Wings
are folded left over right when at rest
Abdomen: divided into 10 segments,
prominent cerci
• Male cockroaches usually have two pairs of wings, whereas
females, in some species, are wingless or have vestigial
wings
• Male: Tenth abdominal segment carries two pairs of
abdominal appendages – i) segmented and cerci & ii)
unsegmented anal styles or caudal styles. Posterior part of
abdomen is less broad and elongated. Sternum of 7th
segment is not divided. 8th sclerite is overlapped by sclerite
of 7th segment. Second and third basal segment of antennae
is equal.
• Female: Tenth abdominal segment carries only one pair of
abdominal appendages and many segmented anal cerci.
Posterior part of abdomen is broad and boat shaped.
Sternum of 7th segment is
divided into two. Sclerite of 8th
and 9th segment are overlapped
by that of 7th sclerite. Third
basal segment of antennae is
larger than second basal
segment.
 Life Cycle
• Have incomplete metamorphosis
• Lay eggs in an ootheca (egg case)
• Egg stage lasts from a few weeks
to a few months
• The young resembles the adults
but usually lighter in color and
lacks wings.
• Nymphal instars – young
cockroaches
• 1-12 months span of time until
they reach maturity depending
on the type of species.
Adult: - Antennae slender, filiform Nymph: - Structurally similar to
- Pronotum oval, shield-like, adults
covering much of head and thorax - Developing wing pads
- Legs adapted for running; tarsi often visible on thorax
5-segmented
- Front wings thickened; hind
wings membranous, pleated
- Cerci short, multi-segmented
Feeding Habits
• Majority are omnivorous
• Scavengers and will consume any
organic food source available to
them.
• Some feed on rotting wood
• Some harbor symbiotic gut
protozoa that aids in cellulose
digestion
• Most domestic species eat
almost everything.
 Habitat
• Can thrive in both wet and dry
environments
• Most species are nocturnal and
ground dwelling usually hiding
during the day in crevices,
bark and logs, rocks and
burrows
• Some occur in plants or on
litter
• Some are associated in human
habitation
 Ecological Significance
- Paige (1998) cited that cockroaches play a vital
role in recycling of nutrients.
- Involve in pollination and a part of the food
chain.
- Medical Significance – historical accounts
claimed that these insects are used to treat
Asthma, Stroke, and Bronchitis and Urinary
Retention.
 Economic Importance
• Cockroaches are among the most cosmopolitan of all
insect pests. The decomposing remains of dead roaches
(and their feces) are an important source of household
"dander" that becomes airborne and provokes
respiratory allergies in sensitive people.  But
cockroaches also have proven to be very useful as
research tools, particularly for the study of insect
physiology and toxicology.
 Families
1. Blattidae – black and brown
to red in color, but a few are
even iridescent green. Some
species have distinctive bands
or spots, while others such as
Methana marginalis have pale
borders.
2. Cryptocercidae – it is the
most primitive family and
consists of one genus with
fewer than 10 species. They
live as isolated family groups
in decaying logs and occur in
the United States, Korea,
China and Russia. They are
large, reddish brown insects
that are wingless as adult.
3. Blattellidae – it is also a
diverse family with many
genera and around 1000
species. They are widely
distributed in the world but
are concentrated in the
tropics and subtropics. The
genus Blatella contains the
German cockroach.
4. Polyphagidae – it is a
small family with only a few
described genera and 100-
200 species. Females of most
species are wingless. Some
members of the genus
Arenivaga have evolved
structures that can absorb
moisture from humid air.
5. Blaberidae – it is the
largest family of
cockroaches with dozens of
genera and more than 2000
species. Some members of
the genus Blaberus are
extremely large, reaching
more than 80 mm in length.
Most highly evolved
cockroaches having
developed the ability to
incubate, and in some cases
nourish their eggs
internally.
 New Species
Common Name: Jumping cockroach
Family: Blattidae/Blattella
Species: Saltoblattella montistabularis
Saltoblattella montistabularis – saltoblattella is Latin for
“jumping cockroach” and montistabularis refers to Table
Mountain – is a delicate creature just a centimeter (less
than a third of an inch) long with powerful hind legs and
bulging eyes. It could endear itself even to those who
recoil at the thought of a household cockroach.
 Evolution
• This new species of • In addition to the leg
cockroach exhibits unusual modifications, it has
morphology. It has legs that hemispherical shaped eyes
are highly modified for that protrude from the sides
jumping. Prior to its of the head instead of
discovery jumping kidney shaped and the
cockroaches were only antennae have an
known from the Late additional fixation point to
Jurassic. This extant help stabilize them during
cockroach has jumping jumping.
ability that is on par with
grasshoppers.
 Facts
•Cockroaches have been around since
the time of dinosaurs!
•A cockroach can live almost a month
without food.
•A cockroach can live about two
weeks without water.
•Some female cockroaches only mate
once and stay pregnant for life!
•A cockroach can live for up to one
week without its head!
•Cockroaches can hold their breath
for up to 40 minutes!