Arthropoda:Insecta:Blattodea (Cockroaches)

Introduction: Cockroaches are among the most primitive pterygotes, the earliest fossils dating back to about 400 million years fossil records reveal their abundance during the precarboniferous period (Cornwall, 1968) and fortunately less than 1 percent of the total population are known to be pests and affect public health.In India, there are about a total of 181 species under 72 genera belonging to 6 families so far reported from India (Gupta and Chandra 2019).Cockroaches being generalist feeders play an important ecological role as they are capable of digesting a wide range of substances due to the variety of symbiotic bacteria and protozoa present in their digestive systems.They form an indispensable part of the food web as they feed on forest litter and animal faecal matter and they in turn become food for many animals including small mammals, birds, amphibians and lizards.Global diversity: Globally, 5733 species accommodated under 790 genera belonging to 12 families (Beccaloni,2014) distributed globally, except for Antarctica. Diversity in India:In India, 180 species belonging to 63 genera and 7 families in 3 super families are recorded.