Blattodea

Shimmyrock by Mochi

Blattodea is an order of insects including cockroaches and termites. Termites are eusocial, colonial creatures, while cockroaches rarely colonial but often aggregate.

This expansive order sees almost fifty billion species in the Milky Way. More than 99.99999% of planets in the Milky Way have at least a hundred species of cockroach or termite.

Taxonomy

Blattodea is under the class Insecta. Termites make up just one family, Termitoidae. The original taxonomic group, categorising insects native to Earth, contained seventeen families - this number has novemdecupled.

Relationship With People

Brainmites by Mochi

Cockroaches and termites have an unfortunate reputation as being pests. While a handful of species are true pests and can cause serious devastation in urban areas, this accounts for less than 1% of species in this order.

A handful of termites are known to cause severe structural damage, feeding on cellulose in wood. Countless civilisations, both primitive and highly advanced, utilise wood in infrastructure and architecture, certain termite species causing mass structural damage.

Cockroaches are particularly devastating in food storage. Many species carry disease, posing severe health risks. Their ability to thrive in almost any environment means an infestation is easy to occur and difficult to remove.

A handful of species pose severe risks. Brainmites, as their name suggests, are brain-eating termites native to Norrab. They build hives inside one's skull cavitity, feeding on brain matter.

Genetic Descendants

• Shimmyrock

Scientific Name

Blattodea

Geographic Distribution

• Earth
• Milky Way
• Norrab
• Venviri

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