22
10
Cockroaches are some of the oldest insects around. They’ve
lived on Earth for at least 300 million years. Scientists think
the first termites developed from roaches about 220 million
years ago. That’s 70 million years before the first butterflies
appeared. Wow!
Like bees and ants, termites live together in colonies.
When the nymphs hatch, they’re helpless.Worker termites
feed them. And guard termites protect the whole
colony
from enemies. Only the queen lays eggs.
Cockroaches usually live alone.But they come together
when it is time to mate. Each female lays an egg case
with up to thirty developing nymphs. She carries it
around for almost a month. Finally, she hides the sac in
a dark, safe place. Then the nymphs break out and start
searching for food.
Termites and
Cockroaches
