India home to 191 species of cockroaches, 60% of them are endemic, says ZSI study

A recent publication by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) highlighted that India is home to 191 species of cockroaches and 119 of these species (over 60% of the species) are endemic to India. Endemism is the ecological condition in which a species or taxonomic group is endemic to a single, fairly defined geographic location.

publication titled DNA barcodes and species delimitation reveal overlooked diversity in Indian cockroaches (Blattodea)It reveals that India’s hidden cockroach diversity is much greater than previously known.

The article states that currently 191 species of Blattodea cockroach have been documented in India, distributed in 74 genera, and 126 species have defined type localities within the country.

“119 of these species are endemic to India, but less than 20% of this diversity is represented by genetic data in public databases. This significant gap in molecular data limits the resolution of the systematics of Indian cockroaches and their representation in the global phylogeny,” the paper says.

According to research recently published in the journal Zootaxa, scientists from ZSI and Prof Ramkrishna More College have developed the first and largest DNA barcode reference library for cockroaches in the Indian subcontinent.

DNA barcoding functions like a supermarket scanner, using short, standardized DNA sequences to provide rapid and highly accurate species identification.

“The study highlights the growing power of DNA barcoding as a globally recognized tool for revealing hidden species diversity, resolving taxonomic ambiguities and documenting little-known groups such as cockroaches,” said Dhriti Banerjee, Director of the Calcutta Zoological Survey of India.

The study noted that of the 126 species originally described in India, only 40 have been collected and confirmed with fresh specimens, while the remaining 86 species are known only from their original descriptions, with type specimens stored in museums abroad and direct physical comparisons not currently possible.

“DNA barcoding studies of cockroaches from the Indian subcontinent have opened new avenues for understanding the evolutionary diversity of endemic lineages, revealing possible Gondwanan biogeographic affinities, and highlighting how long-term geographic isolation and continental history have shaped the fauna of the Indian subcontinent,” said Shabnam, lead author of the paper.

KP Dinesh, DNA Barcoding Studies team leader from ZSI’s Western Regional Center Pune, said cockroaches are widely misunderstood and stereotyped as mere household pests, but the vast majority of wild species are harmless.

“As one of the oldest and most diverse groups of insects on Earth, they play a vital role in maintaining natural ecosystems by decomposing organic matter, recycling nutrients, and supporting the food webs of forests. Additionally, since these wild species are highly sensitive to environmental disturbances, they serve as important indicators of ecosystem health,” said Dinesh.

The scientist said the findings underline the urgent need for continued research and molecular documentation to preserve the country’s rich biological heritage.

A few months ago in March 2026, researchers discovered a new species of cockroach. Neoloboptera peninsula, It lurks in the agricultural lands of the Deccan Peninsula. Scientists went beyond traditional physical descriptions and used DNA barcoding to discover the new species. There are approximately 5000 species of cockroaches worldwide and India represents approximately 3.8% of global cockroach diversity.