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Two new species of Eupolyphaga (E.bicolor Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov. and E.nigra Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov.) and six new species of Pseudoeupolyphaga (P.flava Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov., P.deficiens Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov., P.magna Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov., P.longiseta Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov., P.latizona Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov., and P.baimaensis Han, Che & Wang, sp. nov.) are described and illustrated. The female external genitalia and spermathecae of these two genera are reported and the role of these characters in species delimitation is discussed.

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Mantodea (praying mantises) is a group of exclusively predatory insects, which, together with nonraptorial blattodeans (cockroaches and termites) and groups exclusively found in the fossil record, form the group Dictyoptera. A central characteristic of Mantodea is the specialization of their first pair of legs as raptorial grasping appendages, but the evolution from walking to raptorial legs is not yet fully understood. Here, we trace the evolution of the raptorial appendages in Dictyoptera through time using a morphometric (morphospaces) approach. We also describe two new mantodean nymphs preserved in amber from the Cretaceous and Eocene, which expand the scarce mantodean fossil record. Blattodean and mantodean appendages appear distinct in morphospace, but several appendages of fossil non-mantodeans can be considered raptorial, providing a potential transitional link between walking and raptorial morphotypes. Therefore, we discuss potential mantodean affinities for other predatory fossil dictyopterans. We examine changes across extant mantodeans, characterized by a straightening of the tibia especially associated with the rise of the diversification of the Mantidea and discuss whether a thickening of the femur could reflect an early adaptation to cursorial hunting.

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Typical cockroaches are flat, broad, with large pronotum and wings covering the body. This conserved morphotype dates back to the Carboniferous, during which the ancestral cockroaches, or roachoids, originated. On the other hand, the ovipositor of cockroaches gradually reduced during the Mesozoic, coupled with a major shift of reproductive strategy. By the Cretaceous, long external ovipositors became rare, most cockroaches used very short or even hidden internal ovipositors to fabricate egg cases (oothecae), which is an innovation for egg protection. Here, we describe two cockroaches from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber: Ensiferoblatta oecanthoides gen. et sp. nov. (Ensiferoblattidae fam. nov.) and Proceroblatta colossea gen. et sp. nov. They are slim, elongate, fusiform, with longitudinal pronotum, and have long external ovipositors. The combination of these traits represents a unique morphotype, which resembles crickets and katydids (Ensifera) more than general cockroaches. Ensiferoblatta and Proceroblatta may be arboreal, feeding on and/or laying eggs into certain angiosperms that newly emerged. Their open habit causes latent impairment to viability, and may contribute to their extinction. These new taxa are the youngest members of the ancient, extinct group of cockroaches, namely Eoblattodea, which are characterized by long ovipositors. We speculate that the extinction of certain gymnosperm hosts almost ended the 200-My triumph of Eoblattodea. Despite an attempt to adapt to angiosperm hosts, Ensiferoblatta, Proceroblatta and suchlike cockroaches as an evolutionary dead end failed to save Eoblattodea from extinction. The lack of protection for eggs (maternal care in particular) might accelerate the extinction of Eoblattodea as a whole.

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Pseudoglomeris magnifica (Shelford, 1907) is bred as a pet because of its beautiful appearance. Its complete mitochondrial genome (GenBank accession number MW630139), obtained from the Manwan Town population, was characterized as the first complete mitogenome of the genus Pseudoglomeris. The mitogenome consists of a circular DNA molecule of 16,627 bp with 76.23% AT content. It comprises 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and one control region. The PCGs have the traditional ATN (Met) start codon, except cox1 and nad1 (which have TTG (Met) as the start codon), and are terminated by the traditional TAN stop codon.

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Background: Cockroaches are usually typical omnivorous detritivores and their cephalic morphology is considered to be ancestral in various aspects. Thus, several studies addressed the morphology and function of the blattodean head, and the cockroach usually serves as a model for standard mouthparts in text books. However, so far only two of the three major lineages of Blattodea have been studied and no detailed information for the head of any Corydioidea was available. The present study closes this gap by providing a detailed morphological description of the head of Ergaula capucina, studying some important functional parameters of the mandible and discussing it in a phylogenetic framework. Methods: The cephalic morphology of Ergaula studied in detail using a broad set of different techniques including digital microscopy, µ-computed tomography, and 3-dimensional reconstructions. Concerning the functional morphology of the mandible, we compared the volume and effective cross sections of the eight compartments of the primary mandibular adductor muscle for Ergaula, Blattella germanica, and Salganea rossi and measured the mechanical advantage, i.e., the force transmission ratio for all teeth of the mandible of Ergaula. Results: The head capsule of Ergaula is characterized by a strong sexual dimorphism and typical orthopteran mouthparts. It resembles the head capsule of other roaches in several respects and confirms oesotendons, the reduction of the mesal occelus, and bipartite M. verticopharyngealis and M. hypopharyngosalivaris as blattodean apomorphies. But it also shows some unique adaptations. It is the first described cockroach that lacks the dorsal tentorial arms which has various consequences for the cephalic musculature. On the maxillary lacinia, Ergaula is the first described blattodean to show strong and blunt setae instead of a lacinula, which might be homologues to the dentisetae of dragonflies and mayflies. Like other corydiid roaches that inhabit xeric areas, Ergaula has an atmospheric water-vapor absorption mechanism that includes a gland and a ductus on the epipharnyx and bladders on the hypopharynx. The mandibular adductor is in cockroaches asymmetric, a pattern not found in termites, mantids, or other closely related insects.

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The list of known Mantodea in Belize is updated, with notes of 12 new country records, bringing the total known species of Mantodea in Belize to 21. Further information on habitat and microhabitat observations are included. A regional dichotomous key and Lucid interactive key are provided to known species in Belize. A list of other possibly endemic species is provided. Remarks on the merit of further sampling efforts in central America are made, based on recent studies. Our findings suggest that our understanding of Central American Mantodean diversity could be vastly improved by further documentation.

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We describe the first two Blattodea from the early Eocene Palana Formation of the Gurha opencast lignite mine, western Rajasthan, India. Although it is not possible to attribute them to a precise family, these large wings suggest a warm and humid paleoclimate for the area at that time.

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Brazil is one of the most diverse countries in the world, hosting more than 250 known species of mantids (Mantodea). Studying natural history collections is crucial to identify, describe new taxa and solve taxonomic issues, improving the knowledge about the biodiversity. Here we document the transference of the mantids collection from the Entomological Collection of Instituto Butantan (São Paulo, Brazil) to the Museu Nacional (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and provide a morphological assessment on the 33 transferred mantids. We recognized 13 genera and 12 species, with diversified distribution in Brazil, although 6 specimens from 4 genera could not be identified at a specific level. The transference of this collection starts a new phase of restructuration and recognition of the Medical Entomology scope of the donor collection, aside from helping the rebuilt of the Entomological Collection of the Museu Nacional, lost in the 2018 fire, and allowing further researches within the group.

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We present here the first illustrated checklist of the praying mantids (Mantodea) collected at the Panguana Field Station in Central Peru over the course of 50 years. The examination of over 430 specimens obtained mainly by light-trapping, but also other methods, revealed 44 species in 28 genera. Mantoida brunneriana, Mantoida cf. argentinae, Pseudomiopteryx cf. decipiens, Angela trifasciata, Liturgusa neblina, Cardioptera squalodon, Metriomantis cf. pilosella, Acontista festae, and Heterovates pardalina are new Peruvian records. Microphotina panguanensis n. sp. is new to science and the first species of the genus Microphotina described from the Western Amazon. The checklist of confirmed Peruvian Mantodea species is raised to 80. Thus, more than half of the currently known Peruvian Mantodea species is found at Panguana. We discuss the reasons for this diversity and comment on putative additional species which might be sampled if collection efforts are intensified. The results highlight the Conservation value of ACP Panguana for Western Amazonian Mantodea.

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Two new species of Episymploce Bey-Bienko from China are described. Nine individuals of E. sichuanensis sp. nov. were collected from Sichuan Province and four individuals of E. maxima, sp. nov. were collected from Guangxi Province. Morphology, especially the wings, specialized abdominal tergum and genitalia of adults, are described and illustrated in detail. Episymploce sichuanensis sp. nov. is similar to E. kunmingi (Bey-Bienko, 1969), but can be easily distinguished by the reduced wings, bifurcated two processes at the hind margin of the supra-anal plate, and the unspecialized first abdominal tergum (T1). Episymploce maxima sp. nov. is similar to E. taiheizana Asahina, 1979 but is distinguished by its large size, the lateromedial margins of the subgenital plate without processes, and the unspecialized T1. A key to the recorded Episymploce species from China is provided in this paper.

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Praying mantises (Mantodea) are distinct for their rich diversity of cryptic adaptations. Among the many strategies, dry-leaf mimicry have evolved multiple times in unrelated lineages from different zoogeographic regions, among them the Neotropical Acanthopidae. Here we describe Metacanthops fuscum n. gen. et n. sp. based on male and female specimens from the Brazilian Amazon. The recognition of this new acanthopid lineage revealed that Acanthops amazonica Beier, 1930 (currently assigned to Metilia Stål) is a member of Metacanthops and thus we transfer this species, now referable to as Metacanthops amazonica (Beier, 1930) n. comb., redescribe the holotype, and provide new data on its distribution in Brazil and French Guiana. Metacanthops is closely related to Metilia, from which its number of forefemoral posteroventral spines, head and compound eye shape, pronotal configuration, wings features, and the entirely brown habitus of males, can distinguish it. We highlight some aspects of sexual dimorphism in Metacanthops fuscum in relation to their dimorphic cryptic strategies, where males resemble a dry leaf and females a lichenous twig. We additionally establish five recently published names under genus Metilia as nomina nuda.

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Two new species, Allactabruna sp. n. and Allactaalba sp. n., from China are described and illustrated. Allactahainanensis (Liu et al., 2017), comb. n. is proposed and re-described; figures including genitalia are provided. A key is provided to all species from China based on males. Notes on the bionomics of this genus in China are provided.

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The praying mantis subgenus Syngalepsus Beier, 1954 occurs in sub-Saharan region and represents the least diverse subgenus of Galepsus in Africa (Ehrmann 2002). All species included within the subgenus Syngalepsus are comprehensively revised with a distribution stretching from North of Congo Basin to South Africa. Two new species of Galepsus (Syngalepsus) Beier, 1954 (Mantodea, Tarachodidae) from the Central African Republic (CAR) and Malawi are described. Among several Galepsus specimens collected during scientific expeditions of SANGHA, Biodiversité en Terre Pygmée, in CAR's Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, a specimen differed by genitalia conformation and other morphological characters. Two specimens collected in Malawi proved to differ by genitalia morphology. Galepsus (Syngalepsus) buchetisp. n. and Galepsus (Syngalepsus) dudleyisp. n. are described. An identification key for the six species of the subgenus is provided.

RésuméLes mantes du sous-genre Syngalepsus Beier, 1954 se rencontrent en région sub-saharienne et représentent le sous-genre le moins diversifié des Galepsus en Afrique (Ehrmann 2002). L'ensemble des espèces du sous-genre Syngalepsus sont révisées avec leur distribution s'étirant du nord du bassin du Congo à l'Afrique du Sud. Deux nouvelles espèces de Galepsus (Syngalepsus) Beier, 1954, provenant de République centrafricaine et du Malawi (Mantodea, Tarachodidae) sont décrites. Parmi les différents spécimens de Galepsus rapportés des missions scientifiques du programme SANGHA, Biodiversité en Terre Pygmée, situées au sein du Parc National Dzanga-Ndoki, un individu diffère des autres par la conformation de sa morphologie et ses genitalia. Durant des recherches au Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, deux spécimens collectés au Malawi diffèrent par la morphologie de leurs genitalia. Galepsus (Syngalepsus) buchetin. sp. et Galepsus (Syngalepsus) dudleyin. sp. sont décrites. Une clé dichotomique est proposée pour l'identification des six espèces du sous-genre Syngalepsus maintenant connues.

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Assessing support for molecular phylogenies is difficult because the data is heterogeneous in quality and overwhelming in quantity. Traditionally, node support values (bootstrap frequency, Bayesian posterior probability) are used to assess confidence in tree topologies. Other analyses to assess the quality of phylogenetic data (e.g. Lento plots, saturation plots, trait consistency) and the resulting phylogenetic trees (e.g. internode certainty, parameter permutation tests, topological tests) exist but are rarely applied. Here we argue that a single qualitative analysis is insufficient to assess support of a phylogenetic hypothesis and relate data quality to tree quality. We use six molecular markers to infer the phylogeny of Blattodea and apply various tests to assess relationship support, locus quality, and the relationship between the two. We use internode-certainty calculations in conjunction with bootstrap scores, alignment permutations, and an approximately unbiased (AU) test to assess if the molecular data unambiguously support the phylogenetic relationships found. Our results show higher support for the position of Lamproblattidae, high support for the termite phylogeny, and low support for the position of Anaplectidae, Corydioidea and phylogeny of Blaberoidea. We use Lento plots in conjunction with mutation-saturation plots, calculations of locus homoplasy to assess locus quality, identify long branch attraction, and decide if the tree's relationships are the result of data biases. We conclude that multiple tests and metrics need to be taken into account to assess tree support and data robustness.

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The taxonomic records of Chinese perisphaerine cockroaches were scattered in literature, and therefore a dedicated study is desired to update our knowledge. This paper reviews the subfamilial diagnosis and Chinese species, mostly from southwestern China. We provide high-definition habitus photos and drawings, the latter emphasizes the genitalia of both sexes, which are generalized with diagrams, abstracted from specimens examined. A total of 18 species are recorded in four genera, including Perisphaerus, or pill cockroach, the type genus of the subfamily. Two new genera and three new species are proposed: Achatiblatta achates gen. sp. nov., Frumentiforma frumentiformis gen. sp. nov., and Pseudoglomeris montana sp. nov.. Pseudoglomeris has five new junior synonyms: Corydidarum, Trichoblatta, Kurokia, Glomerexis, and Glomeriblatta; the following combinations are thus revived or new: Ps. aerea comb. nov., Ps. angustifolia comb. nov., Ps. beybienkoi comb. nov., Ps. fallax comb. nov., Ps. magnifica comb. rev., Ps. montshadskii comb. nov., Ps. nigra comb. nov., Ps. sculpta comb. nov., Ps. semisulcata comb. rev., Ps. tibetana comb. nov., and Ps. valida moderata comb. nov.. The following species are revalidated and combinations revived: Pe. pygmaeus comb. rev., Ps. dubia comb. sp. rev., and Ps. planiuscla comb. sp. rev.

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The egg structure and outline of the embryonic development of Metallyticus splendidus of one of the basal Mantodea representatives, Metallyticidae, were described in the present study. The results obtained were compared with those from the previous studies, to reconstruct and discuss the groundplan of Mantodea and Dictyoptera. In M. splendidus, the egg is spheroidal, it has a convex ventral side at the center in which numerous micropyles are grouped, and it possesses a conspicuous hatching line in its anterior half. These are the groundplan features of mantodean eggs and the "grouped micropyles in the ventral side of the egg" are regarded as an apomorphic groundplan feature of Dictyoptera. A small circular embryo is formed by a simple concentration of blastoderm cells, which then undergoes embryogenesis of the typical short germ band type. Blastokinesis is of the "non-reversion type" and the embryo keeps its original superficial position and original orientation throughout embryonic development. During the middle stages of development, the embryo undergoes rotation around the egg's anteroposterior axis. These features are a part of the groundplan of Mantodea. It is uncertain whether sharing of the "non-reversion type" of blastokinesis by Mantodea and blaberoidean Blattodea can be regarded as homology or homoplasy.

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Mantodeans or praying mantises are flying insects and well known for their raptorial behaviour, mainly performed by their first pair of thoracic appendages. We describe here a new, exceptionally preserved specimen of the early mantodean Santanmantis axelrodi Grimaldi, 2003 from the famous 110 million years old Crato Formation, Brazil. The incomplete specimen preserves important morphological details, which were not known in this specific form before for this species or any other representative of Mantodea. Unlike in modern representatives or other fossil forms of Mantodea not only the first pair of thoracic appendages shows adaptations for predation. The femora of the second pair of thoracic appendages bear numerous strong, erect spines which appear to have a sharp tip, with this strongly resembling the spines of the first pair of thoracic appendages. This indicates that individuals of S. axelrodi likely used at least two pairs of thoracic appendages to catch prey. This demonstrates that the prey-catching behaviour was more diverse in early forms of praying mantises than anticipated.

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We present the description of a new genus and new species of praying mantis, Hondurantemna chespiritoigen. n. & sp. n. This species of cryptic mantis, collected in National parks in Mexico and Honduras, remained unknown despite its considerable body size. Based on a phylogenetic analysis with molecular data and traditional morphological analysis, we place this new genus within Antemninae, a monotypic Mantidae subfamily. We update the subfamily concept for Antemninae and provide a key to the two genera. We describe the external morphology of immatures and adults of the new species as well as the genital complexes of both sexes and the ootheca of Antemna rapax. The observed morphological changes between immature and adult females suggests that the selection for an alternate strategy for crypsis is a response to size increase of the abdomen during development. Immatures exploit a stick/branch habitat based on their morphological appearance while adult females appear as a leaf to disguise the profile of the body.

ResumenSe presenta la descripción de un nuevo género y una nueva especie de mantis religiosa, Hondurantemna chespiritoigen. n. & sp. n. Esta nueva especie de mantis críptica, colectada en ciertos parques nacionales de México y Honduras, había permanecido hasta ahora desconocida para la ciencia a pesar de su gran tamaño corporal. Utilizando un análisis filogenético con datos moleculares y junto con análisis tradicional de morfología, se logró clasificar a este nuevo género dentro de la subfamilia monotípica Antemninae que pertenece a la familia Mantidae. Como resultado se actualiza el concepto taxonómico de Antemninae y se presenta una clave para identificar los dos géneros atribuidos a esta subfamilia. Se describe la morfología externa de los juveniles y adultos de la nueva especie, así como el complejo genital de ambos sexos y la ooteca de Antemna rapax. La diferencia morfológica observada entre juveniles y adultos sugiere que existen fuerzas selectivas divergentes, posiblemente en respuesta al aumento del tamaño del abdomen durante el desarrollo, para así mantener su camuflaje a lo largo de su ciclo de vida. Sobre la base de su apariencia general, los juveniles utilizarían una estrategia críptica asemejando ramas, mientras que las hembras adultas asemejan hojas verdes para ocultar el contorno corporal.

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As the first step in the comparative embryological study of Blattodea, with the aim of reconstructing the groundplan and phylogeny of Dictyoptera and Polyneoptera, the embryonic development of a corydiid was examined and described in detail using Eucorydia yasumatsui. Ten to fifteen micropyles are localized on the ventral side of the egg, and aggregated symbiont bacterial "mycetomes" are found in the egg. The embryo is formed by the fusion of paired blastodermal regions, with higher cellular density on the ventral side of the egg. This type of embryo formation, regarded as one of the embryological autapomorphies of Polyneoptera, was first demonstrated for "Blattaria" in the present study. The embryo undergoes embryogenesis of the short germ band type, and elongates to its full length on the ventral side of the egg. The embryo undergoes katatrepsis and dorsal closure, and then finally, it acquires its definitive form, keeping its original position on the ventral side of the egg, with its anteroposterior axis never reversed throughout development. The information obtained was compared with that of previous studies on other insects. "Micropyles grouped on the ventral side of the egg" is thought to be a part of the groundplan of Dictyoptera, and "possession of bacteria in the form of mycetomes" to be an apomorphic groundplan of Blattodea. Corydiid embryos were revealed to perform blastokinesis of the "non-reversion type (N)", as reported in blaberoid cockroaches other than Corydiidae ("Ectobiidae," Blaberidae, etc.) and in Mantodea; the embryos of blattoid cockroaches (Blattidae and Cryptocercidae) and Isoptera undergo blastokinesis of the "reversion type (R)," in which the anteroposterior axis of the embryo is reversed during blastokinesis. Dictyopteran blastokinesis types can be summarized as "Mantodea (N) + Blattodea [= Blaberoidea (N) + Blattoidea (R) + Isoptera (R)]".

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Six species of the order Mantodea (praying mantises) are investigated for the presence and sequence of putative adipokinetic hormones (AKHs). The selected species span a wide evolutionary range of various families and subfamilies of the clade Mantodea. The corpora cardiaca of the different species are dissected, methanolic extracts prepared, peptides separated by liquid chromatography, and AKHs detected and sequenced by ion trap mass spectrometry. All six species investigated contain an octapeptide with the primary structure pGlu-Val-Asn-Phe-Thr-Pro-Asn-Trp amide, which is code-named Emppe-AKH and had been found earlier in three other species of Mantodea. Conspecific bioassays with the species Creoboter sp. (family Hymenopodidae) reveal an adipokinetic but not a hypertrehalosemic function of Emppe-AKH. Comparison with other members of the Dictyoptera (cockroaches, termites) show that Emppe-AKH is only found in certain termites, which have been recently placed into the Blattaria (cockroaches) as sister group to the family Cryptocercidae. Termites and cockroaches both show biodiversity in the sequence of AKHs, and some cockroach species even contain two AKHs. In contrast, all praying mantises-irrespective of their phylogenetic position-synthesize uniformly only one and the same octapeptide Emppe-AKH.

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