Blackbeetle

/ˈblækˌbitəl/ noun

Definition

A common name for the cockroach, particularly the Oriental cockroach, which is dark brown or black in color.

Etymology

From 'black' + 'beetle.' A folk taxonomy name that reflects the insect's appearance, though cockroaches are not true beetles (they're in a separate order).

Kelly Says

The name 'blackbeetle' is a perfect example of how everyday people classify insects wrongly—cockroaches are actually more closely related to termites than to beetles, but the name stuck for centuries.

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