Blattaria of Colombia: List and distribution of genera

Abstract

Few scientists have dedicated themselves to the study of Colombia’s cockroach diversity. As a result, there are large gaps in the taxonomic knowledge of Colombian cockroach fauna that make species identification difficult and little information is available on their geographic distribution. Therefore, a taxonomic study of the suborder Blattaria was undertaken by examining the literature and studying specimens available in the country’s main entomological collections. A list of genera with their respective distribution in the various biogeographic regions was obtained. Two thousand, one hundred and forty six adult specimens, distributed in 4 families, 15 subfamilies, and 47 genera were examined and identified. The material examined comes from localities belonging to 31 of the Colombian territory’s 32 departments. Distribution data were obtained for 50 genera in seven biogeographic provinces, mainly in the North Andean and Chocó-Magdalena provinces. Seven genera are presented as new records for Colombia: Buboblatta, Cahita, Cariblatta, Euthlastoblatta, Litopeltis, Macrophyllodromia and Nahublattella. The total number of cockroach genera in Colombia is raised to 61.

Complete mitochondrial genomes of two cockroaches, Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana, and the phylogenetic position of termites

“…Cockroaches often carry microorganisms that are important in nosocomial infections, and their medical importance in the spread of bacteria cannot be ruled out (Fakoorziba et al 2010). Unfortunately, although there are approximately 4,000 species of cockroaches (Velez et al 2006), there are only two mitogenomes available in Blattaria, Periplaneta fuliginosa and Eupolyphaga sinensis (Yamauchi et al 2004;Zhang et al 2010).…”

Genome size evaluations in cockroaches: new entries

“…3 Consultation of several genome size (GS) databases shows that, despite these features, cockroaches constitute one of the least represented groups: there are only 12 records listed in the main GS database 4 even though it is estimated that there are more than 4,000 existing species. 5,6 New GS entries can benefit several research fields such as phylogenomics and sequencing projects. 7 New GS data can contribute, as a useful preliminary step, both to achieving greater knowledge of the general biological features of these animals and, in a broader view, to a better understanding of the evolutionary role played by GS.…”

Identification and Validation of Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Normalization in Nauphoeta cinerea (Olivier, 1789) (Blattodea, Blaberidae)

“…Cockroaches are a highly diverse insect with ∼4000 described species (Velez et al, 2006), most of which live in terrestrial habitats and have good adaptations to survive in extreme conditions (Bohn et al, 2010). A Blaberidae, ovoviviparous cockroach, the Nauphoeta cinerea (Olivier) is known as the gray cockroach and is the only representative of its genus.…”