白蚁原来被分类到等翅目,而蜚蠊目则只有蟑螂。在2007年,Beccaloni & Eggleton (2007)及随后的遗传及系谱发生学研究(Legendre et al. 2008; Ware et al. 2008; Cameron et al. 2012; Djernaes et al. 2012; Xiao et al. 2012)显示,原来白蚁是由蟑螂演化出来的。从此,白蚁成为了蜚蠊目蜚蠊总科之下的白蚁领科(Epifamily Termitoidae)[1][4][5]。
布鲁斯(Charles Thomas Brues)和梅兰德(Axel Leonard Melander)根据翅的有无及其特征、变态类型、口器的构造、触角形状、跗节及古昆虫(化石昆虫)的特征等来进行的分类(Classification of Insects, 2d, rev. ed., 1954),蜚蠊总科 Blattoidea包括有:
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Beccaloni, G. W.; Eggleton, P. Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness. Zhang, Z.-Q. (编). Order Blattodea Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1882 (英语). |journal=被忽略 (帮助)
Inward, D.; Beccaloni, G.; Eggleton, P. Death of an order: a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study confirms that termites are eusocial cockroaches. Biology Letters. 2007-04-05, 3 (3): 331–335. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2007.0102(英语).