Order Blattaria

also known as Blattodea

cockroaches

1. Blatta, the Greek for cockroach
2. Diagnosis:
   1. Small to large insects, body flattened; wings reduced in many species
   2. Flattened dorsoventrally, with head hidden from above, generally dark in color
   3. Key feature is large shield-like pronotum that covers head
   4. Mandibulate (chewing mouthparts)
   5. Compound eyes usually well-developed, 2 ocelli in some
   6. Antennae very long and filiform
   7. All legs walking legs (cursorial) with large coxae and 5-segmented tarsi
   8. Forewing is leathery (called a tegmen); hindwings are membranous and larger than forewings
   9. Tegmen is shared by most of the orthopteroid groups
   10. Abdomen has distinct cerci
   11. Eggs layed in capsule (sometimes kept within body of mother)

• Blattodea from NCSU
• Gordon's Blattodea Page