PubHawk
Biol Lett June 2007 PMID 17412673

Death of an order: a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study confirms that termites are eusocial cockroaches.

Daegan Inward, George Beccaloni, Paul Eggleton

Download social card

Mentions

27
Peak: 10 in Oct 2019
across 5 sources since Mar 2018

Extended reach

389,221
potential audience

Total likes

4,950

Video views

168,984

Mentions per month

Mar 2018 – Mar 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter15 posts
  • News6 articles
  • Facebook3 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions show enthusiasm and curiosity about the reclassification, with mentions of the paper from 2007 and reactions like 'surprise,' indicating interest and engagement. The tone varies from casual remarks to references to scientific sources, reflecting an overall recognition of the study's importance and its potential impact on entomology.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge and support the study's conclusion that termites are eusocial cockroaches, indicating general agreement with the findings.

InterestHigh interest

The varied comments, from surprise to sharing factual details, demonstrate high interest in the topic and its implications.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts reference the reclassification, past research, and related media, showing moderate but thoughtful engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions reflect an acknowledgment of the study’s significance, potentially influencing how people view insect classification and evolution.

Abstract in brief

  • Termites, often called white ants, are actually social cockroaches and not a separate insect order, as confirmed by comprehensive molecular studies.
  • These findings suggest that termites should be reclassified as a family (Termitidae) within the cockroach order (Blattodea), rather than as a distinct order (Isoptera).
  • The evolution of complex social behavior in termites is surprising because full sociality has mainly developed in other insects like ants, bees, and wasps, which are typically predatory and solitary in their ancestors.]
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
InsetoLand
@InsetoLand · X

Fontes: https://t.co/HtV61tvTWT https://t.co/QwzmnGT9a8 Créditos ao @wikitermes pelo trabalho incrível! https://t.co/hrhTL8BxFc

Apr 30, 2020 · 51 likes · 2 shares · 81,250 followers View post →
Nancy
@scibugs.bsky.social · Bluesky

Here we go ... termites are cockroaches. Surprise youtu.be/QmZ2182m0ao?...

Mar 19, 2025 · 41 likes · 9 shares View post →
SciShow
@SciShow · X

In the final SciShow Quiz Show (at least in its current form

Oct 17, 2019 · 26 likes · 4 shares · 112,480 followers View post →
Vyn
@derLanzsknecht · X

@jprmercado Oh, another explosive one: in 2018, termites have officially been reclassified from being a separate order to being part of Blattodea – the cockroach order. And it all started with this paper from 2007 by Inward et al. https://t.co/jNtSW5wuJ2

May 27, 2024 · 5 likes · 1,969 followers View post →
Johannes Lüke
@JohannesSLueke · X

New video by SciShow: Hank vs Aranda: The FINAL FACE-OFF | SciShow Quiz Show https://t.co/oePLhjDANa

Oct 16, 2019 · 1 like · 84 followers View post →
Eons
@EonsShow · X

RT @SciShow: In the final SciShow Quiz Show (at least in its current form

Oct 17, 2019 · 4 shares · 12,857 followers View post →

All mentions

Nancy
@scibugs.bsky.social · Bluesky

Here we go ... termites are cockroaches. Surprise youtu.be/QmZ2182m0ao?...

Mar 19, 2025 · 41 likes · 9 shares View post →
Vyn
@derLanzsknecht · X

@jprmercado Oh, another explosive one: in 2018, termites have officially been reclassified from being a separate order to being part of Blattodea – the cockroach order. And it all started with this paper from 2007 by Inward et al. https://t.co/jNtSW5wuJ2

May 27, 2024 · 5 likes · 1,969 followers View post →
manic pixie dream girl
@friamasgostosa · X

RT @InsetoLand: Fontes: https://t.co/HtV61tvTWT https://t.co/QwzmnGT9a8 Créditos ao @wikitermes pelo trabalho incrível! https://t.co/hrh…

Apr 30, 2020 · 2 shares · 2,126 followers View post →
Marina Tonini
@tonini_marina · X

RT @InsetoLand: Fontes: https://t.co/HtV61tvTWT https://t.co/QwzmnGT9a8 Créditos ao @wikitermes pelo trabalho incrível! https://t.co/hrh…

Apr 30, 2020 · 2 shares · 15 followers View post →
InsetoLand
@InsetoLand · X

Fontes: https://t.co/HtV61tvTWT https://t.co/QwzmnGT9a8 Créditos ao @wikitermes pelo trabalho incrível! https://t.co/hrhTL8BxFc

Apr 30, 2020 · 51 likes · 2 shares · 81,250 followers View post →
Eons
@EonsShow · X

RT @SciShow: In the final SciShow Quiz Show (at least in its current form

Oct 17, 2019 · 4 shares · 12,857 followers View post →
Asta Muratti
@AstaMuratti · X

RT @SciShow: In the final SciShow Quiz Show (at least in its current form

Oct 17, 2019 · 4 shares · 1,224 followers View post →
William Wallace
@bill14051 · X

RT @SciShow: In the final SciShow Quiz Show (at least in its current form

Oct 17, 2019 · 4 shares · 336 followers View post →
SciShow
@SciShow · X

In the final SciShow Quiz Show (at least in its current form

Oct 17, 2019 · 26 likes · 4 shares · 112,480 followers View post →
vanda romanov
@JarvinenPurik · X

Hank vs Aranda: The FINAL FACE-OFF | SciShow Quiz Show https://t.co/c9CJmX2sa0 käyttäjältä @YouTube

Oct 17, 2019 · 1,495 followers View post →
Ordo Fraterna Fibonacci
@OrdoFibonacci · X

Hank vs Aranda: The FINAL FACE-OFF | SciShow Quiz Show https://t.co/bF5xj5vdqX via @YouTube

Oct 16, 2019 · 2,563 followers View post →
Johannes Lüke
@JohannesSLueke · X

New video by SciShow: Hank vs Aranda: The FINAL FACE-OFF | SciShow Quiz Show https://t.co/oePLhjDANa

Oct 16, 2019 · 1 like · 84 followers View post →
Kitty
@kittybravofan · X

Hank vs Aranda: The FINAL FACE-OFF | SciShow Quiz Show https://t.co/MRO5CVwhIw via @YouTube

Oct 16, 2019 · 720 followers View post →
e-csce
@e_csce · X

Hank vs Aranda: The FINAL FACE-OFF | SciShow Quiz Show @ https://t.co/854Ou0oiRq https://t.co/0kXODdabFQ

Oct 16, 2019 · 118 followers View post →
Siegfried Treitner
@TreitnerS · X

Death of an order: a #comprehensive #molecular #phylogenetic study #confirms that #termites are #eusocial #cockroaches https://t.co/trQ6MzlRoQ

Jun 29, 2019 · 2,149 followers View post →
Walter P. Pfliegler
@WP_Pfliegler · X

Fun fact: the title refers to a paper from 2007 in which Termites were classified inside Cockroaches: Death of an order: a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study confirms that termites are eusocial cockroaches.

Jan 7, 2019 · 699 followers View post →
5b. Blattodea - Wikipedia | PDF | Zoology | Insects
News

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2007.0102 (https://doi.org/10.1098%2Frsbl.2007.0102). PMC 2464702 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti cles/PMC2464702). PMID 17412673 ...

Dec 17, 2025 View →
Billingham 2009 | PDF | Zoology | Biology
News

doi:10.1098/ Rivault, C., and Cloarec, A. (1998). Cockroach aggregation: discrimination rsbl.2007.0102 between strain odours in Blattella germanica. Animal ...

Dec 17, 2025 View →
有多少南方人家里快被白蚁吃空了？_防治_灭蟑螂_翅膀
News

org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0102. 发布于：广东省. 平台声明. 评论. 全部. 还没有人评论过，快来抢首评. 写评论. 微信好友; 朋友圈; QQ ...

Jun 30, 2024 View →
Entenda - Facebook
Facebook

... 10.1098/rsbl.2007.0102 Menhinick, E. F., & Crossley, D. A. 1969. Radiation sensitivity of twelve species of arthropods. Annals of the ...

May 23, 2024 View →
Wood cows
Facebook

org/doi/full/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0102. royalsocietypublishing.org. Death of an order: a comprehensive molecular. 2 yrs. Other posts.

Dec 17, 2023 View →
Entenda mais ciência - Facebook
Facebook

... 10.1098/rsbl.2007.0102 Menhinick, E. F., & Crossley, D. A. 1969. Radiation sensitivity of twelve species of arthropods. Annals of the ...

Mar 21, 2022 View →
It's official: Termites are just cockroaches with a fancy social life
News

Biology Letters. Vol. 3, June 22, 2007, p. 331. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2007.0102. Susan Milius ...

Mar 1, 2018 View →
Nature Magazine 7137 - 2007-04-12 | PDF | Global Warming ...
News

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2007.0102 (2007) What do you learn if you sequence of therapy. Termites should be classed with the 13,000 genes in 11 ...

Apr 12, 2007 View →
Neue Verwandtschaft für die Termiten - wissenschaft.de
News

... 10.1098/rsbl.2007.0102 ddp/wissenschaft.de ? Fabio Bergamin. Anzeige. © wissenschaft.de. Teilen: Facebook · Twitter · LinkedIn · Xing ...

Apr 4, 2007 View →