Cryptocercidae
Quick Summary
The family Cryptocercidae, consisting of the single genus Cryptocercus, is the cockroach group most closely related to termites. The brown-hooded cockroach (C. punctulatus) digests wood with the help of symbiotic protozoans in its digestive tract and develops very slowly, reaching maturity after six or seven years. While most cockroaches live in wild environments and are found in tropical or mild climates, some species are considered pests. Cockroaches are among the most primitive living winged insects, with fossils dating back over 320 million years.1
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