A new comprehensive review of Blattodea systematics in the genomic era updates clade definitions and underscores large gaps in knowledge for extinct lineages and derived relationships. The study emphasizes how phylogenomic data refine our understanding of cockroach and termite lineages, while also pointing to the persistent uncertainties surrounding ancient lineages and their evolutionary connections. In related work, genetic analyses of cave-dwelling Nocticolidae reveal markedly higher substitution rates, suggesting two distinct clades diverged around 115 million years ago, a finding that may influence how researchers interpret deep evolutionary splits within Blattodea. Public engagement has also aided science, with internet forum data contributing to the tracking of the invasive drywood termite Cryptotermes domesticus in South Korea, illustrating a growing role for citizen-sourced information in pest monitoring. Broader ecobiological efforts continue to map morphological variation in fossorial cockroaches to predict microhabitat preferences and ecosystem roles across deadwood and soil habitats, aligning with contemporary frameworks that integrate termites into ecological and pest paradigms.