blattoptera, or proto-cockroaches, is a name given to various "roachid" fossil insects related to cockroaches, mantises and termites, and of general cockroach-like appearance and possibly habit. the group is on the rank of an order, though being paraphyletic is most often given without formal taxonomic rank. several alternative names have been suggested for this fossil group, including blattodea, a name currently used for the group including the modern cockroaches as well as their fossil relatives.