TAXONOMIC STUDIES OF COCKROACHES (ORDER: BLATTODEA) IN EGYPT

Abstract

During this study, 23 cockroach species belonging to16 genera and 4 families were recorded. Periplaneta brunnea Burmeister, Pycnoscelus indicus (Fabricius) and Heterogamisca boliveri (Adelung) were recorded for the first time in Egypt. Collecting, identifying, revising and examining the specimens in main Egyptian collections were carried out. For each taxon keys, synonyms, diagnosis, material examined, distribution, diagnostic characters in addition to colored photos were given. Dissection of the male genitalia for available specimens was also carried out. Gene sequence of 28s nuclear gene were given to chorisia reducta (Walker) species for the first time. The PCR product was found to be about 512 bp long, after sequencing this result aligned with the gene bank data then constructing the phylogenetic tree by using Mega 0.6 program. Key words: Taxonomic revision, Cockroach, Blattodea, 28s, Egypt.