-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Cockroaches and Termites (Order Blattodea)

-Typical Cockroachs and Termites (Superfamily Blattoidea)

-Household Cockroaches and Allies (Epifamily Blattoidae)

-Household Cockroaches (Family Blattidae)

-Subfamily Blattinae

-Genus Periplaneta

-American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) is the largest species of common cockroach, and often considered a pest. Outdoors, American cockroaches are found in moist shady areas such as hollow trees, wood piles, and mulch.