Cockroaches and Termites
Order Blattodea
The Cockroaches and Termites (Order Blattodea) includes 160 species across 12 families and 53 genera in our directory.
About Cockroaches and Termites
Blattodea includes ~4,600 cockroach species and ~3,000 termite species. Only about 30 cockroach species are associated with human habitats - less than 1% of all species.
Economic Impact
Termites cause $5-30 billion in damage to structures in the U.S. annually. They damage approximately 600,000 American homes each year, with average repair costs of $3,000-$17,000. A subterranean termite colony can consume one pound of wood per day.
Ecological Role
Termites contribute ~40% of soil arthropod biomass globally, far exceeding ants at ~10%. Cockroaches are ancient insects dating back 320 million years and are critical decomposers in tropical forest ecosystems, recycling leaf litter and dead wood.
Families in Blattodea (12)
Species in Blattodea (160)
Ectobius lucidus
Ectobius lucidus
Epilampra maya
Epilampra maya
Eremoblatta subdiaphana
Eremoblatta subdiaphana
Eurycotis lixa
Eurycotis lixa
Field Cockroach
Blattella vaga
Florida Dampwood Termite
Neotermes castaneus
Florida Sand Cockroach
Arenivaga floridensis
Formosan Subterranean Termite
Coptotermes formosanus
Fragile Cockroach
Euthlastoblatta abortiva
Fulvous Wood Cockroach
Parcoblatta fulvescens
German Cockroach
Blattella germanica
(c) Dave Bishop, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Giant Cave Cockroach
Blaberus giganteus
Gisborne Cockroach
Drymaplaneta semivitta
Harlequin Cockroach
Neostylopyga rhombifolia
Iberian Mediterranean Termite
Reticulitermes grassei
Incisitermes arizonensis
Incisitermes arizonensis
Incisitermes banksi
Incisitermes banksi
Indian Cockroach
Pycnoscelus indicus
Ischnoptera bilunata
Ischnoptera bilunata
Japanese Termite
Reticulitermes speratus
Latiblattella rehni
Latiblattella rehni
Least Yellow Cockroach
Cariblatta minima
Light Southeastern Drywood Termite
Incisitermes snyderi
Light Southern Subterranean Termite
Reticulitermes hageni
Light Western Drywood Termite
Marginitermes hubbardi
Little Gem Cockroach
Aglaopteryx gemma
Long-jawed Desert Termites
Gnathamitermes perplexus
Magnetic Termite
Amitermes meridionalis
Mediterranean Termite
Reticulitermes lucifugus
Milk Termite
Coptotermes lacteus
Myrmecoblatta wheeleri
Myrmecoblatta wheeleri
Neoblattella detersa
Neoblattella detersa
Nevada Dampwood Termite
Zootermopsis nevadensis
New Zealand Drywood Termite
Kalotermes brouni
Nocticola vagus
Nocticola vagus
Oriental Cockroach
Blatta orientalis
Pacific Dampwood Termite
Zootermopsis angusticollis
(c) Abby Hyde, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Paper-thin Cockroach
Compsodes mexicanus
Pennsylvania Wood Cockroach
Parcoblatta pennsylvanica
Ringant Termite
Neotermes insularis
Schwarz's Hooded Cockroach
Compsodes schwarzi
Small Yellow Cockroach
Cariblatta lutea
Small Yellow Texas Cockroach
Chorisoneura texensis
Smoky Brown Cockroach
Periplaneta fuliginosa
Southern Wood Cockroach
Parcoblatta divisa
Symploce morsei
Symploce morsei
Tenuirostritermes tenuirostris
Tenuirostritermes tenuirostris
Turkestan Cockroach
Periplaneta lateralis
Turkestan Cockroach
Shelfordella lateralis
Urban Subterranean Termite
Reticulitermes urbis
Virginia Wood Cockroach
Parcoblatta virginica
West Indian Drywood Termite
Cryptotermes brevis
Western Subterranean Termite
Reticulitermes hesperus
Western Wood Cockroach
Parcoblatta americana
Wheeler's Desert Termite
Amitermes wheeleri
Yellownecked Dry-wood Termite
Kalotermes flavicollis
Zebra Wood Cockroach
Parcoblatta zebra
common shining cockroach
Drymaplaneta communis
forest tree termite
Neotermes connexus
lowland tree termite
Incisitermes immigrans