Blattodea is an
order of
insects that contains the
cockroaches and the
termites. Formerly, the termites were considered a separate order,
Isoptera, but
genetic and
molecular evidence suggests an intimate relationship with the cockroaches, both cockroaches and termites having evolved from a common ancestor. The Blattodea and the
mantises (order
Mantodea) are now all considered part of the
superorder Dictyoptera. There are approximately 4,400 species of cockroach in almost 500 genera, and about 3,000 species of termite in around 300 genera.
