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Cockroach

Blattaria

Last updated: February 24, 2021
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
  1. Animals Home
  2. All Animals
  3. Invertebrates
  4. Insects
  5. Cockroach

Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Continue Reading after the facts...


Cockroach Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Blattaria
Scientific Name
Blattaria

Cockroach Conservation Status

  • Least Concern

Cockroach Locations

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Central-America
  • Eurasia
  • Europe
  • North-America
  • Oceania
  • South-America
Cockroach Locations

Cockroach Facts

Main Prey
Decaying Organic Matter
Habitat
Anywhere and everywhere
Predators
Spiders, Birds, Mammals
Diet
Omnivore
Average Litter Size
40
Favorite Food
Decaying Organic Matter
Common Name
Cockroach
Number Of Species
4000
Location
Worldwide
Slogan
Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Cockroach Physical Characteristics

Colour
  • Brown
  • Black
  • Tan
Skin Type
Shell

Cockroach Images

Click through all of our Cockroach images in the gallery.

View all of the Cockroach images!



The cockroach, also known as the roach, is found worldwide in every environment and every habitat with the exception of water. The cockroach is one of the most commonly known pests to humans of the insect world but plays a vital role in the ecosystem ingesting decomposing materials.

There are thought to be around 4,000 known species of cockroach in existence but only about 30 of the different species of cockroach are the ones that humans come into contact with. Cockroaches are generally not keen on close contact with humans and are only really present if there is enough for them to eat.

The cockroach is dated around 300 million years old, with fossil evidence suggesting that the modern cockroach is much smaller than the original roach. Today the cockroach is on average, about an inch long.

The cockroach is an omnivorous animal and feeds on decaying matter and therefore is often associated with things being dirty (you would not be happy to find them in a restaurant for example). Most cockroach species are nocturnal with the exception of the oriental cockroach, which is attracted to light. Cockroaches generally only eat organic matter but some have been known to even eat substances such as mouldy wallpaper paste.

Due to its small size and abundance, the cockroach is prey to numerous predators around the world including birds, spiders, small mammals and reptiles. The cockroach is even eaten by humans in some cultures and regions of the world.

Cockroaches are thought to be able to have up to four litters of young every year. The female cockroach lays between 10 and 90 eggs per time, which hatch in a matter of days. It takes just a month for the baby cockroach to become an adult cockroach. Female cockroaches are distinguishable from male cockroaches as the female cockroaches have a more rounded abdomen.

Unlike most other animals, the brain of the cockroach is in its body instead of its head. This means that a headless cockroach can live for nearly two weeks and will eventually die from malnutrition and not nerve damage.

View all 74 animals that start with C

Cockroach FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Are Cockroaches herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores?

Cockroaches are Omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and other animals.

What Kingdom do Cockroaches belong to?

Cockroaches belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What phylum do Cockroaches belong to?

Cockroaches belong to the phylum Arthropoda.

What class do Cockroaches belong to?

Cockroaches belong to the class Insecta.

What order do Cockroaches belong to?

Cockroaches belong to the order Blattaria.

What type of covering do Cockroaches have?

Cockroaches are covered in Shells.

Where do Cockroaches live?

Cockroaches are found worldwide.

In what type of habitat do Cockroaches live?

Cockroaches live anywhere and everywhere.

What is the main prey for Cockroaches?

Cockroaches eat decaying organic matter.

What are some predators of Cockroaches?

Predators of Cockroaches include spiders, birds, and mammals.

How many babies do Cockroaches have?

The average number of babies a Cockroach has is 40.

What is an interesting fact about Cockroaches?

Cockroaches are dated to be around 300 million years old!

What is the scientific name for the Cockroach?

The scientific name for the Cockroach is Blattaria.

How many species of Cockroach are there?

There are 4,000 species of Cockroach.

How many species of Cockroach are there?

There are 4,000 species of Cockroach.

How to say Cockroach in ...
Bulgarian
Хлебарка
Catalan
Blatodeu
Czech
Švábi
Danish
Kakerlak
German
Schaben
English
Cockroach
Esperanto
Blato
Spanish
Blattodea
Estonian
Prussakalised
Finnish
Torakat
French
Blattaria
Galician
Cascuda
Hebrew
תיקנאים
Croatian
Žohari
Hungarian
Csótányok
Indonesian
Kecoa
Italian
Blattodea
Japanese
ゴキブリ
Latin
Blattodea
Malay
Lipas
Dutch
Kakkerlakken
English
Kakerlakker
Polish
Karaczany
Portuguese
Blattaria
English
Gândac de bucătărie
Slovenian
Ščurki
English
Cucunguk
Swedish
Kackerlackor
Turkish
Hamam böceği
Vietnamese
Gián
Chinese
蟑螂
Sources
  1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife
  2. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals
  3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia
  4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species
  5. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals
  6. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals

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