Blattaria, or cockroaches, are an order of insects that includes over 4,600 species worldwide. Four species are significant pests that are commonly found in human dwellings. Cockroaches have been around for over 350 million years, predating dinosaurs, and the order includes the common pest species like the American cockroach and German cockroach. While cockroaches can carry diseases and contaminate food, they also play important roles in ecosystems as decomposers and parts of the food chain. A variety of natural and chemical remedies can be used to control cockroach infestations in homes.
5. Taxonomy
Blattaria comes from Latin word “Blatta”
which simply means (to avoid) and “Aria”
means (Light)
Total 4600 species and 460 Genera
worldwide
30 out of total species are associated with
human beings
4 species are well known as pests
Cockroaches are insects of this Order
Average Life Span: 18 Months
6. History Of Cockroaches
The word “Cockroach’’ comes from Spanish word
“Cucaracha” which means “Crazy Bug”
Cucaracha transformed by 1620s English Folk Etymology
into Cock and Roach (Cockroach)
120 million years before Dinosaurs
50-60 species in United States
Prefer warm,humid and dark areas
Favorite Food; Decaying and Organic matter
Can live without head for an entire week
Earliest Cockroaches like fossils(Roaches) from
Carboniferous Period 350 million years ago
9. Important Species
American Cockroaches (Periplaneta americana)
Brown Banded cockroaches (Periplaneta brunna)
German Cockroaches (Blattela germanica)
Oriental cockroaches (Blatta orientalis)
10. Distinguished Features
Omnivores
Reddish brown, 3 to 5 cm in length and 1.5 to
2cm in breadth
Nocturnal
Oval, flattened body shape
Thorax covered by large plate(pronotum)
Chewing (Mandibulate mouthparts)
11. Compound eyes and simple eyes or ocelli like
spots
Male genetalia asymmetrical and cerci
larger than style
Long and Setaceous ( Bristle like) Antenna
Eggs present in Ootheca, (Chitinous body
Hypognathous
Tegmina
legs Cursorial
12.
13. Comparison Of Blattaria And Mantodea
Blattodea
Head is not mobile in all
directions
Pronotum is shield like and
cover the part of thorax
Body is flattened
Antenna long and setaceous
Legs are cursorial type
Ootheca is chitinous
Omnivores
Common family; Blattidae
e.g. American Cockroach
Mantodea
Head is mobile
Pronotum is elongated and
do not cover the head
Body elongated and some
cylindrical
Long and filiform antenna
Legs are raptorial type
Carnivores
Common family; Mantidae
e.g. Preying mantid
18. Engrossing Features
Can run on two legs and speed almost 5 ft per
second and Maximum speed 3 miles per hour
Higher radiation resistance than vertebrates
4 times faster than Cheetah
The world’s heaviest cockroach
They can live full month without any food and
two weeks without water
Species have wings but not ability to fly like
German Cockroach
20. Do not speak but one variety is exception . The
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach is being only insect
that uses its air passageway to produce sound
CRAM
Used in Movies
Super food in future
Racing
Cockroach Novel
SPRC
World Record
Song “La Cucaracha”
Half life (Science-fiction video game)
21.
22. EFFECTS OF COCKROACHES
Food contamination
Inoculation of disease causing bacteria
Cockroaches biting
Invasion of body parts
Food poisoning
Asthma
Allergies
23. REMEDIES
Keep your house clean
Clean the food preparation area
Empty dustbins in your kitchen should be
cover always
Sealed containers
Never keep old newspapers , magazines and
books
Avoid use of foggers , bombs or aerosol sprays
Cockroaches baits and sprinkle Boric acid
Block all entrances
24. Catnip Tea (Nepetalactone)
Use Bay leaves (powerful fragrance)
Sugar + Baking Soda Solution
Pine sol + Bleach
Borax
Listerine (act as hindrance)
Cayenne Pepper+ Garlic + Clove+ Onion
Coffee grounds
Mint Oil spray
Garlic Powder
Fipronil
Guardian powder
25.
26. Significance In Ecosystem
Considered Mother Nature Recyclers
Involve in Pollination
Part of food chain
Used in Medicine: Lafcadio Hearn (1850-
1904) Cockroach Tea used for Tetanus, By
Aristotle Silphe used for Injury
A poultice of boiled cockroaches placed
over wound
27. Fried with garlic for digestion
Farming in China
Several species like Blaptica dubia as a food
for insectivores
Used for space tests: A cockroach given
name “Nadezhda” was sent into space by
Russian Scientists during Foton-M Test
Become first terrestrial animal to give birth
in space
31. Part of food chain
As a Token insect in Movies
It could Potentially live up without head
Can be trained like dogs
As a food for birds, lizard and larger insects