’Only a few of these species are pests’

A team from the University of Münster hosts the first conference on cockroaches and termites / Biologist Mark Harrison offers insights into research. Cockroaches do not have a good reputation. Yet only a few of over 4000 cockroach species in the world are pests. Erik Karits on Unsplash It is a premiere: from 3 to 4 April, the first "International Conference on Blattodea Research" will take place in the castle of the University of Münster - the insect order "Blattodea" includes cockroaches and termites. The approximately 50 participants from Europe and other parts of the world, such as Japan, the USA and South Africa, come from various disciplines and are researching, for example, questions about the evolution, sociality and ecology of the Blattodea. Dr. Mark Harrison from the Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics group at the Faculty of Biology at the University of Münster was one of the initiators and organisers of the conference. In an interview with Christina Hoppenbrock , he explains why cockroaches and termites are so exciting and what he hopes to achieve with the conference, which can also be attended virtually.