Scientific Name of Cockroach

There are about 4,600 species of cockroaches, but only a handful are considered pests. While cockroaches may be known for their resilience and rapid reproduction, many do not know about their scientific classification. This article delves into the nomenclature and taxonomy of the cockroach to provide a comprehensive understanding of its place in the animal kingdom.

What is the Scientific Name of Cockroach?

The scientific name for cockroaches is Blattodea. Actually, the Blattodea is the order to which cockroaches belong, and many different species exist within this order. Some of the scientific names of specific cockroach species include,

Cockroach Name	Scientific Name
American cockroach	Periplaneta americana
German cockroach	Blattella germanica
Oriental cockroach	Blatta orientalis
Australian cockroach	Periplaneta australasiae
Brown-banded cockroach	Supella longipalpa
Pennsylvania wood cockroach	Parcoblatta Pensylvanica
Smokybrown cockroach	Periplaneta Fuliginosa
Florida woods cockroach	Eurycotis Floridana
Surinam cockroach	Pycnoscelus Surinamensis
Madagascar hissing cockroach	Gromphadorhina Portentosa
Japanese Cockroach	Periplaneta Japonica
Asian cockroach	Blattella Asahinai
Pacific Beetle Cockroach	Diploptera Punctata

Each species has its unique scientific name to ensure clarity and avoid confusion in the scientific community.

Cockroach Classification

We can look at its classification to understand where the cockroach fits into the vast animal kingdom. The scientific classification of organisms begins with the broadest categories and narrows to the most specific ones.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropods
Subphylum: Hexapods
Class: Insects
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
Superorder: Dictyoptera
Order: Blattodea

Phylum of Cockroach

All cockroaches belong to the phylum Arthropoda. Arthropods are invertebrate animals characterized by their exoskeletons, segmented bodies, and jointed appendages. This phylum includes other creatures like spiders, crabs, and insects.

Order of Cockroach

Cockroaches are classified under the order Blattodea. This order also includes termites, once considered a separate order, but recent genetic studies have shown that termites are essentially social cockroaches. Both cockroaches and termites have similar characteristics, like a flattened body and a love for warm and humid environments.

Family of Cockroach

Within the order Blattodea, cockroaches are divided into several families. Some of the common families include Blattidae (which contains the American cockroach), Blattellidae (which includes the German cockroach), and Cryptocercidae (a family of wood-feeding roaches).

Genus of Cockroach

Moving a step further into specificity, we reach the genus level. A genus is a way to group species that are closely related and share a common ancestor. As mentioned earlier, the German cockroach belongs to the genus Blattella, while the American cockroach belongs to the genus Periplaneta. Each genus can contain multiple species.

Periplaneta Americana

The American cockroach is the largest cockroach found in the United States. It is brown or reddish-brown and has a yellow band around the edge of its body. This cockroach can grow to be about an inch and a half long. It is commonly found in homes, restaurants, and other commercial buildings.

Common Name: American Cockroach

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Dictyoptera
Family: Blattidae
Genus: Periplaneta
Species: Periplaneta americana

Blatta Orientalis

The Oriental cockroach is a black or dark brown cockroach that can grow about an inch long. It is commonly found in sewers, basements, and damp areas. This cockroach is attracted to light and can often be seen in homes or businesses.

Common Name: Oriental Cockroach

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Dictyoptera
Family: Blattadae
Genus: Blatta
Species: Blatta orientalis

Blattella Germanica

The German cockroach is the most common cockroach found in the United States. It is light brown or tan in color and has two dark stripes on its back. This cockroach is small, only growing to be about half an inch long. It is commonly found in homes, restaurants, and other commercial buildings.

Common Name: German cockroach

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Blattellidae
Genus: Blattella
Species: Blattella germanica

Supella longipalpa

The Brown-banded cockroach, Supella longipalpa, is a light brown roach with two dark brown bands across its back. It is about one-half to five-eighths of an inch long and has a wingspan of about one-quarter of an inch.

Common Name: Brown-banded cockroach

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Dictyoptera
Family: Blattellidae
Genus: Supella
Species: Supella longipalpa

Periplaneta Australasiae

The Australian cockroach, Periplaneta australasiae, is the largest species of cockroach found in Australia. It is reddish-brown in color and has a wingspan of about two inches.

Common Name: Australian cockroach

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Blattidae
Genus: Periplaneta
Species: P. australasiae

Parcoblatta Pensylvanica

The Wood cockroach, Parcoblatta fulvescens, is a light brown roach that is found in wooded areas. It is about three-quarters of an inch long and has a wingspan of about one-half inch.

Common Name: Pennsylvania wood cockroach

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Ectobiidae
Genus: Parcoblatta
Species: P. pensylvanica

Periplaneta Fuliginosa

The Smokybrown cockroach, Periplaneta fuliginosa, is a dark brown or black roach that is often found near homes. It is about one and one-half inches long and has a wingspan of about three-quarters of an inch.

Common Name: Smokybrown cockroach

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Blattidae
Genus: Periplaneta
Species: P. fuliginosa

Eurycotis Floridana

The Florida woods cockroach, Eurycotis Floridana, is a dark brown roach that is found in wooded areas. It is about three-quarters of an inch long and has a wingspan of about one-half inch.

Common Name: Florida woods cockroach

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Blattidae
Genus: Eurycotis
Species: E. floridana

Pycnoscelus Surinamensis

The Surinam cockroach, Pycnoscelus Surinamensis, is a light brown roach that is found in the rainforest. It is about one and one-half inches long and has a wingspan of about three-quarters of an inch.

Common Name: Surinam cockroach

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Blaberidae
Genus: Pycnoscelus
Species: P. surinamensis

Gromphadorhina Portentosa

The Madagascar hissing cockroach, Gromphadorhina portentosa, is a light brown roach that makes a loud hissing noise. It is about two inches long and has a wingspan of about three-quarters of an inch.

Common Name: Madagascar hissing cockroach

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Blaberidae
Subfamily: Oxyhaloinae
Tribe: Gromphadorhinini
Genus: Gromphadorhina
Species: G. portentosa

Periplaneta Japonica

The Japanese Cockroach, Periplaneta Japonica, is a light brown roach that is found in Japan. It is about one and one-half inches long and has a wingspan of about three-quarters of an inch.

Common Name: Japanese Cockroach

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Blaberidae
Genus: Periplaneta
Species: P. japonica

Blattella Asahinai

The Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai, is a light brown roach that is found in Asia. It is about one and one-half inches long and has a wingspan of about three-quarters of an inch.

Common Name: Asian cockroach

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Ectobiidae
Genus: Blattella
Species: B. Asahina

Diploptera Punctata

Diploptera punctata or the Pacific beetle cockroach is a small, dark brown cockroach that is found on the Pacific Islands. It is about one-half inch long and has a wingspan of about one-quarter of an inch.

Common Name: Pacific Beetle Cockroach

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Blaberidae
Subfamily: Diplopterinae
Genus: Diploptera
Species: D. Punctata

Conclusion
The study of cockroaches, their taxonomy, and their significance offers a lens into the broader world of scientific nomenclature. Understanding the cockroach’s scientific name is more than an academic endeavor. It underscores the importance of precise scientific communication and highlights the intricate relationship between humans and the natural world.

Giant Sea Cockroach

References

Bell, W.J., Roth, L.M., & Nalepa, C.A. (2007). Cockroaches: Ecology, Behavior, and Natural History. The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Schal, C., & Hamilton, R.L. (1990). Integrated suppression of synanthropic cockroaches. Annual Review of Entomology, 35(1), 521-551.
Willis, E.R., & Riser, G.R. (1958). Some observations on the biology and ecology of the cockroaches. Journal of Economic Entomology, 51(5), 570-573.