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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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we describe the first discoveries of insects from the Gzhelian of the Reyran Basin (northern part of Esterel, South of France). These are a new mylacrid, Opsiomylacris sp. an undetermined genus and species of Phyloblattidae, two other roachoids of uncertain affinities, and a Palaeodictyoptera, all based on forewings. Although these discoveries demonstrate that insects were present in the corresponding paleoforest, they remain less diverse and rarer than the plant remains. The genus Opsiomylacris is currently supposed to have lived under xeric environments, possibly corresponding to the more xeric paleobiotas of the margin of the humid valley bottoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The German cockroach is a global urban pest that causes serious public health problems. The induced levels of insecticide tolerance in the first-generation strains of German cockroach from previous topical treatment of laboratory colonies with LD10 or LD25 doses of imidacloprid, indoxacarb, or lambda-cyhalothrin four times with seven-day interval between each were investigated. Our results showed that the resistant ratios (RR50) at LD50, cytochrome P450 content, and glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) activity in adult cockroaches increased in the first generation when compared to the parental (field) and susceptible strains (SS). Therefore, cockroaches treated with insecticidal sublethal dose are likely to have more insecticide resistance in comparison to untreated ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shield mantis Choeradodis rhombicollis (Latreille, 1833) is a neotropical species that had been recorded for Mexico in the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca. This work report for the first time its presence for the state of Veracruz via the examination of specimens deposited in scientific collections, as well as the revision of records present on the citizen science platform iNaturalist. The new records for Veracruz correspond to the northernmost distribution for the species, genus, and subfamily in America.

A new species of mantis, Arria qinlingensissp. n., is described based on both male and female specimens collected from Qinling Mt., China. This new species has similar external morphology to A. leigongshanensis (Ge and Chen, 2008); these two species represent a mysterious evolutionary clade in the genus Arria Stål, 1877. The discovery of this moss-mimicking mantis species represents the northernmost distribution of the genus Arria. Illustrations and ecological images of Arria species in China are presented, and the images of the final-instar nymph for both sexes of A. leigongshanensis (Ge and Chen, 2008) and the ootheca of Arria qinlingensissp. n. are illustrated. The distribution of the two species in China is discussed and mapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 4700 nominal family-group names (including names for fossils and ichnotaxa) are nomenclaturally available in the order Coleoptera. Since each family-group name is based on the concept of its type genus, we argue that the stability of names used for the classification of beetles depends on accurate nomenclatural data for each type genus. Following a review of taxonomic literature, with a focus on works that potentially contain type species designations, we provide a synthesis of nomenclatural data associated with the type genus of each nomenclaturally available family-group name in Coleoptera. For each type genus the author(s), year of publication, and page number are given as well as its current status (i.e., whether treated as valid or not) and current classification. Information about the type species of each type genus and the type species fixation (i.e., fixed originally or subsequently, and if subsequently, by whom) is also given. The original spelling of the family-group name that is based on each type genus is included, with its author(s), year, and stem. We append a list of nomenclaturally available family-group names presented in a classification scheme. Because of the importance of the Principle of Priority in zoological nomenclature, we provide information on the date of publication of the references cited in this work, when known. Several nomenclatural issues emerged during the course of this work. We therefore appeal to the community of coleopterists to submit applications to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (hence- forth "Commission") in order to permanently resolve some of the problems outlined here. The following changes of authorship for type genera are implemented here (these changes do not affect the concept of each type genus): CHRYSOMELIDAE: Fulcidax Crotch, 1870 (previously credited to "Clavareau, 1913"); CICINDELIDAE: Euprosopus W.S. MacLeay, 1825 (previously credited to "Dejean, 1825"); COCCINELLIDAE: Alesia Reiche, 1848 (previously credited to "Mulsant, 1850"); CURCULIONIDAE: Arachnopus Boisduval, 1835 (previously credited to "Guérin-Méneville, 1838"); ELATERIDAE: Thylacosternus Gemminger, 1869 (previously credited to "Bonvouloir, 1871"); EUCNEMIDAE: Arrhipis Gemminger, 1869 (previously credited to "Bonvouloir, 1871"), Mesogenus Gemminger, 1869 (previously credited to "Bonvouloir, 1871"); LUCANIDAE: Sinodendron Hellwig, 1791 (previously credited to "Hellwig, 1792"); PASSALIDAE: Neleides Harold, 1868 (previously credited to "Kaup, 1869"), Neleus Harold, 1868 (previously credited to "Kaup, 1869"), Pertinax Harold, 1868 (previously credited to "Kaup, 1869"), Petrejus Harold, 1868 (previously credited to "Kaup, 1869"), Undulifer Harold, 1868 (previously credited to "Kaup, 1869"), Vatinius Harold, 1868 (previously credited to "Kaup, 1869"); PTINIDAE: Mezium Leach, 1819 (previously credited to "Curtis, 1828"); PYROCHROIDAE: Agnathus Germar, 1818 (previously credited to "Germar, 1825"); SCARABAEIDAE: Eucranium Dejean, 1833 (previously "Brullé, 1838"). The following changes of type species were implemented following the discovery of older type species fixations (these changes do not pose a threat to nomenclatural stability): BOLBOCERATIDAE: Bolbocerus bocchus Erichson, 1841 for Bolbelasmus Boucomont, 1911 (previously Bolboceras gallicum Mulsant, 1842); BUPRESTIDAE: Stigmodera guerinii Hope, 1843 for Neocuris Saunders, 1868 (previously Anthaxia fortnumi Hope, 1846), Stigmodera peroni Laporte & Gory, 1837 for Curis Laporte & Gory, 1837 (previously Buprestis caloptera Boisduval, 1835); CARABIDAE: Carabus elatus Fabricius, 1801 for Molops Bonelli, 1810 (previously Carabus terricola Herbst, 1784 sensu Fabricius, 1792); CERAMBYCIDAE: Prionus palmatus Fabricius, 1792 for Macrotoma Audinet-Serville, 1832 (previously Prionus serripes Fabricius, 1781); CHRYSOMELIDAE: Donacia equiseti Fabricius, 1798 for Haemonia Dejean, 1821 (previously Donacia zosterae Fabricius, 1801), Eumolpus ruber Latreille, 1807 for Euryope Dalman, 1824 (previously Cryptocephalus rubrifrons Fabricius, 1787), Galeruca affinis Paykull, 1799 for Psylliodes Latreille, 1829 (previously Chrysomela chrysocephala Linnaeus, 1758); COCCINELLIDAE: Dermestes rufus Herbst, 1783 for Coccidula Kugelann, 1798 (previously Chrysomela scutellata Herbst, 1783); CRYPTOPHAGIDAE: Ips caricis G.-A. Olivier, 1790 for Telmatophilus Heer, 1841 (previously Cryptophagus typhae Fallén, 1802), Silpha evanescens Marsham, 1802 for Atomaria Stephens, 1829 (previously Dermestes nigripennis Paykull, 1798); CURCULIONIDAE: Bostrichus cinereus Herbst, 1794 for Crypturgus Erichson, 1836 (previously Bostrichus pusillus Gyllenhal, 1813); DERMESTIDAE: Dermestes trifasciatus Fabricius, 1787 for Attagenus Latreille, 1802 (previously Dermestes pellio Linnaeus, 1758); ELATERIDAE: Elater sulcatus Fabricius, 1777 for Chalcolepidius Eschscholtz, 1829 (previously Chalcolepidius zonatus Eschscholtz, 1829); ENDOMYCHIDAE: Endomychus rufitarsis Chevrolat, 1835 for Epipocus Chevrolat, 1836 (previously Endomychus tibialis Guérin-Méneville, 1834); EROTYLIDAE: Ips humeralis Fabricius, 1787 for Dacne Latreille, 1797 (previously Dermestes bipustulatus Thunberg, 1781); EUCNEMIDAE: Fornax austrocaledonicus Perroud & Montrouzier, 1865 for Mesogenus Gemminger, 1869 (previously Mesogenus mellyi Bonvouloir, 1871); GLAPHYRIDAE: Melolontha serratulae Fabricius, 1792 for Glaphyrus Latreille, 1802 (previously Scarabaeus maurus Linnaeus, 1758); HISTERIDAE: Hister striatus Forster, 1771 for Onthophilus Leach, 1817 (previously Hister sulcatus Moll, 1784); LAMPYRIDAE: Ototreta fornicata E. Olivier, 1900 for Ototreta E. Olivier, 1900 (previously Ototreta weyersi E. Olivier, 1900); LUCANIDAE: Lucanus cancroides Fabricius, 1787 for Lissotes Westwood, 1855 (previously Lissotes menalcas Westwood, 1855); MELANDRYIDAE: Nothus clavipes G.-A. Olivier, 1812 for Nothus G.-A. Olivier, 1812 (previously Nothus praeustus G.-A. Olivier, 1812); MELYRIDAE: Lagria ater Fabricius, 1787 for Enicopus Stephens, 1830 (previously Dermestes hirtus Linnaeus, 1767); NITIDULIDAE: Sphaeridium luteum Fabricius, 1787 for Cychramus Kugelann, 1794 (previously Strongylus quadripunctatus Herbst, 1792); OEDEMERIDAE: Helops laevis Fabricius, 1787 for Ditylus Fischer, 1817 (previously Ditylus helopioides Fischer, 1817 [sic]); PHALACRIDAE: Sphaeridium aeneum Fabricius, 1792 for Olibrus Erichson, 1845 (previously Sphaeridium bicolor Fabricius, 1792); RHIPICERIDAE: Sandalus niger Knoch, 1801 for Sandalus Knoch, 1801 (previously Sandalus petrophya Knoch, 1801); SCARABAEIDAE: Cetonia clathrata G.-A. Olivier, 1792 for Inca Lepeletier & Audinet-Serville, 1828 (previously Cetonia ynca Weber, 1801); Gnathocera vitticollis W. Kirby, 1825 for Gnathocera W. Kirby, 1825 (previously Gnathocera immaculata W. Kirby, 1825); Melolontha villosula Illiger, 1803 for Chasmatopterus Dejean, 1821 (previously Melolontha hirtula Illiger, 1803); STAPHYLINIDAE: Staphylinus politus Linnaeus, 1758 for Philonthus Stephens, 1829 (previously Staphylinus splendens Fabricius, 1792); ZOPHERIDAE: Hispa mutica Linnaeus, 1767 for Orthocerus Latreille, 1797 (previously Tenebrio hirticornis DeGeer, 1775). The discovery of type species fixations that are older than those currently accepted pose a threat to nomenclatural stability (an application to the Commission is necessary to address each problem): CANTHARIDAE: Malthinus Latreille, 1805, Malthodes Kiesenwetter, 1852; CARABIDAE: Bradycellus Erichson, 1837, Chlaenius Bonelli, 1810, Harpalus Latreille, 1802, Lebia Latreille, 1802, Pheropsophus Solier, 1834, Trechus Clairville, 1806; CERAMBYCIDAE: Callichroma Latreille, 1816, Callidium Fabricius, 1775, Cerasphorus Audinet-Serville, 1834, Dorcadion Dalman, 1817, Leptura Linnaeus, 1758, Mesosa Latreille, 1829, Plectromerus Haldeman, 1847; CHRYSOMELIDAE: Amblycerus Thunberg, 1815, Chaetocnema Stephens, 1831, Chlamys Knoch, 1801, Monomacra Chevrolat, 1836, Phratora Chevrolat, 1836, Stylosomus Suffrian, 1847; COLONIDAE: Colon Herbst, 1797; CURCULIONIDAE: Cryphalus Erichson, 1836, Lepyrus Germar, 1817; ELATERIDAE: Adelocera Latreille, 1829, Beliophorus Eschscholtz, 1829; ENDOMYCHIDAE: Amphisternus Germar, 1843, Dapsa Latreille, 1829; GLAPHYRIDAE: Anthypna Eschscholtz, 1818; HISTERIDAE: Hololepta Paykull, 1811, Trypanaeus Eschscholtz, 1829; LEIODIDAE: Anisotoma Panzer, 1796, Camiarus Sharp, 1878, Choleva Latreille, 1797; LYCIDAE: Calopteron Laporte, 1838, Dictyoptera Latreille, 1829; MELOIDAE: Epicauta Dejean, 1834; NITIDULIDAE: Strongylus Herbst, 1792; SCARABAEIDAE: Anisoplia Schönherr, 1817, Anticheira Eschscholtz, 1818, Cyclocephala Dejean, 1821, Glycyphana Burmeister, 1842, Omaloplia Schönherr, 1817, Oniticellus Dejean, 1821, Parachilia Burmeister, 1842, Xylotrupes Hope, 1837; STAPHYLINIDAE: Batrisus Aubé, 1833, Phloeonomus Heer, 1840, Silpha Linnaeus, 1758; TENEBRIONIDAE: Bolitophagus Illiger, 1798, Mycetochara Guérin-Méneville, 1827. Type species are fixed for the following nominal genera: ANTHRIBIDAE: Decataphanes gracilis Labram & Imhoff, 1840 for Decataphanes Labram & Imhoff, 1840; CARABIDAE: Feronia erratica Dejean, 1828 for Loxandrus J.L. LeConte, 1853; CERAMBYCIDAE: Tmesisternus oblongus Boisduval, 1835 for Icthyosoma Boisduval, 1835; CHRYSOMELIDAE: Brachydactyla annulipes Pic, 1913 for Pseudocrioceris Pic, 1916, Cassida viridis Linnaeus, 1758 for Evaspistes Gistel, 1856, Ocnoscelis cyanoptera Erichson, 1847 for Ocnoscelis Erichson, 1847, Promecotheca petelii Guérin-Méneville, 1840 for Promecotheca Guérin- Méneville, 1840; CLERIDAE: Attelabus mollis Linnaeus, 1758 for Dendroplanetes Gistel, 1856; CORYLOPHIDAE: Corylophus marginicollis J.L. LeConte, 1852 for Corylophodes A. Matthews, 1885; CURCULIONIDAE: Hoplorhinus melanocephalus Chevrolat, 1878 for Hoplorhinus Chevrolat, 1878; Sonnetius binarius Casey, 1922 for Sonnetius Casey, 1922; ELATERIDAE: Pyrophorus melanoxanthus Candèze, 1865 for Alampes Champion, 1896; PHYCOSECIDAE: Phycosecis litoralis Pascoe, 1875 for Phycosecis Pascoe, 1875; PTILODACTYLIDAE: Aploglossa sallei Guérin-Méneville, 1849 for Aploglossa Guérin-Méneville, 1849, Colobodera ovata Klug, 1837 for Colobodera Klug, 1837; PTINIDAE: Dryophilus anobioides Chevrolat, 1832 for Dryobia Gistel, 1856; SCARABAEIDAE: Achloa helvola Erichson, 1840 for Achloa Erichson, 1840, Camenta obesa Burmeister, 1855 for Camenta Erichson, 1847, Pinotus talaus Erichson, 1847 for Pinotus Erichson, 1847, Psilonychus ecklonii Burmeister, 1855 for Psilonychus Burmeister, 1855. New replacement name: CERAMBYCIDAE: Basorus Bouchard & Bousquet, nom. nov. for Sobarus Harold, 1879. New status: CARABIDAE: KRYZHANOVSKIANINI Deuve, 2020, stat. nov. is given the rank of tribe instead of subfamily since our classification uses the rank of subfamily for PAUSSINAE rather than family rank; CERAMBYCIDAE: Amymoma Pascoe, 1866, stat. nov. is used as valid over Neoamymoma Marinoni, 1977, Holopterus Blanchard, 1851, stat. nov. is used as valid over Proholopterus Monné, 2012; CURCULIONIDAE: Phytophilus Schönherr, 1835, stat. nov. is used as valid over the unnecessary new replacement name Synophthalmus Lacordaire, 1863; EUCNEMIDAE: Nematodinus Lea, 1919, stat. nov. is used as valid instead of Arrhipis Gemminger, 1869, which is a junior homonym. Details regarding additional nomenclatural issues that still need to be resolved are included in the entry for each of these type genera: BOSTRICHIDAE: Lyctus Fabricius, 1792; BRENTIDAE: Trachelizus Dejean, 1834; BUPRESTIDAE: Pristiptera Dejean, 1833; CANTHARIDAE: Chauliognathus Hentz, 1830, Telephorus Schäffer, 1766; CARABIDAE: Calathus Bonelli, 1810, Cosnania Dejean, 1821, Dicrochile Guérin- Méneville, 1847, Epactius D.H. Schneider, 1791, Merismoderus Westwood, 1847, Polyhirma Chaudoir, 1850, Solenogenys Westwood, 1860, Zabrus Clairville, 1806; CE- RAMBYCIDAE: Ancita J. Thomson, 1864, Compsocerus Audinet-Serville, 1834, Dorca- dodium Gistel, 1856, Glenea Newman, 1842; Hesperophanes Dejean, 1835, Neoclytus J. Thomson, 1860, Phymasterna Laporte, 1840, Tetrops Stephens, 1829, Zygocera Erichson, 1842; CHRYSOMELIDAE: Acanthoscelides Schilsky, 1905, Corynodes Hope, 1841, Edusella Chapuis, 1874; Hemisphaerota Chevrolat, 1836; Physonota Boheman, 1854, Porphyraspis Hope, 1841; CLERIDAE: Dermestoides Schäffer, 1777; COCCINELLIDAE: Hippodamia Chevrolat, 1836, Myzia Mulsant, 1846, Platynaspis L. Redten- bacher, 1843; CURCULIONIDAE: Coeliodes Schönherr, 1837, Cryptoderma Ritsema, 1885, Deporaus Leach, 1819, Epistrophus Kirsch, 1869, Geonemus Schönherr, 1833, Hylastes Erichson, 1836; DYTISCIDAE: Deronectes Sharp, 1882, Platynectes Régimbart, 1879; EUCNEMIDAE: Dirhagus Latreille, 1834; HYBOSORIDAE: Ceratocanthus A. White, 1842; HYDROPHILIDAE: Cyclonotum Erichson, 1837; LAMPYRIDAE: Luciola Laporte, 1833; LEIODIDAE: Ptomaphagus Hellwig, 1795; LUCANIDAE: Leptinopterus Hope, 1838; LYCIDAE: Cladophorus Guérin-Méneville, 1830, Mimolibnetis Kazantsev, 2000; MELOIDAE: Mylabris Fabricius, 1775; NITIDULIDAE: Meligethes Stephens, 1829; PTILODACTYLIDAE: Daemon Laporte, 1838; SCARABAEIDAE: Allidiostoma Arrow, 1940, Heterochelus Burmeister, 1844, Liatongus Reitter, 1892, Lomaptera Gory & Percheron, 1833, Megaceras Hope, 1837, Stenotarsia Burmeister, 1842; STAPHYLINIDAE: Actocharis Fauvel, 1871, Aleochara Gravenhorst, 1802; STENOTRACHELIDAE: Stenotrachelus Berthold, 1827; TENEBRIONIDAE: Cryptochile Latreille, 1828, Heliopates Dejean, 1834, Helops Fabricius, 1775. First Reviser actions deciding the correct original spelling: CARABIDAE: Aristochroodes Marcilhac, 1993 (not Aritochroodes); CERAMBYCIDAE: Dorcadodium Gistel, 1856 (not Dorcadodion), EVODININI Zamoroka, 2022 (not EVODINIINI); CHRYSOMELIDAE: Caryopemon Jekel, 1855 (not Carpopemon), Decarthrocera Laboissière, 1937 (not Decarthrocerina); CICINDELIDAE: Odontocheila Laporte, 1834 (not Odontacheila); CLERIDAE: CORMODINA Bartlett, 2021 (not CORMODIINA), Orthopleura Spinola, 1845 (not Orthoplevra, not Orthopleuva); CURCULIONIDAE: Arachnobas Boisduval, 1835 (not Arachnopus), Palaeocryptorhynchus Poinar, 2009 (not Palaeocryptorhynus); DYTISCIDAE: Ambarticus Yang et al., 2019 and AMBARTICINI Yang et al., 2019 (not Ambraticus, not AMBRATICINI); LAMPYRIDAE: Megalophthalmus G.R. Gray, 1831 (not Megolophthalmus, not Megalopthalmus); SCARABAEIDAE: Mentophilus Laporte, 1840 (not Mintophilus, not Minthophilus), Pseudadoretus dilutellus Semenov, 1889 (not P. ditutellus). While the correct identification of the type species is assumed, in some cases evidence suggests that species were misidentified when they were fixed as the type of a particular nominal genus. Following the requirements of Article 70.3.2 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature we hereby fix the following type species (which in each case is the taxonomic species actually involved in the misidentification): ATTELABIDAE: Rhynchites cavifrons Gyllenhal, 1833 for Lasiorhynchites Jekel, 1860; BOSTRICHIDAE: Ligniperda terebrans Pallas, 1772 for Apate Fabricius, 1775; BRENTIDAE: Ceocephalus appendiculatus Boheman, 1833 for Uroptera Berthold, 1827; BUPRESTIDAE: Buprestis undecimmaculata Herbst, 1784 for Ptosima Dejean, 1833; CARABIDAE: Amara lunicollis Schiødte, 1837 for Amara Bonelli, 1810, Buprestis connexus Geoffroy, 1785 for Polistichus Bonelli, 1810, Carabus atrorufus Strøm, 1768 for Patrobus Dejean, 1821, Carabus gigas Creutzer, 1799 for Procerus Dejean, 1821, Carabus teutonus Schrank, 1781 for Stenolophus Dejean, 1821, Carenum bonellii Westwood, 1842 for Carenum Bonelli, 1813, Scarites picipes G.-A. Olivier, 1795 for Acinopus Dejean, 1821, Trigonotoma indica Brullé, 1834 for Trigonotoma Dejean, 1828; CERAMBYCIDAE: Cerambyx lusitanus Linnaeus, 1767 for Exocentrus Dejean, 1835, Clytus supernotatus Say, 1824 for Psenocerus J.L. LeConte, 1852; CICINDELIDAE: Ctenostoma jekelii Chevrolat, 1858 for Ctenostoma Klug, 1821; CURCULIONIDAE: Cnemogonus lecontei Dietz, 1896 for Cnemogonus J.L. LeConte, 1876; Phloeophagus turbatus Schönherr, 1845 for Phloeophagus Schönherr, 1838; GEOTRUPIDAE: Lucanus apterus Laxmann, 1770 for Lethrus Scopoli, 1777; HISTERIDAE: Hister rugiceps Duftschmid, 1805 for Hypocaccus C.G. Thomson, 1867; HYBOSORIDAE: Hybosorus illigeri Reiche, 1853 for Hybosorus W.S. MacLeay, 1819; HYDROPHILIDAE: Hydrophilus melanocephalus G.-A. Olivier, 1793 for Enochrus C.G. Thomson, 1859; MYCETAEIDAE: Dermestes subterraneus Fabricius, 1801 for Mycetaea Stephens, 1829; SCARABAEIDAE: Aulacium carinatum Reiche, 1841 for Mentophilus Laporte, 1840, Phanaeus vindex W.S. MacLeay, 1819 for Phanaeus W.S. MacLeay, 1819, Ptinus germanus Linnaeus, 1767 for Rhyssemus Mulsant, 1842, Scarabaeus latipes Guérin-Méneville, 1838 for Cheiroplatys Hope, 1837; STAPHYLINIDAE: Scydmaenus tarsatus P.W.J. Müller & Kunze, 1822 for Scydmaenus Latreille, 1802. New synonyms: CERAMBYCIDAE: CARILIINI Zamoroka, 2022, syn. nov. of ACMAEOPINI Della Beffa, 1915, DOLOCERINI Özdikmen, 2016, syn. nov. of BRACHYPTEROMINI Sama, 2008, PELOSSINI Tavakilian, 2013, syn. nov. of LYGRINI Sama, 2008, PROHOLOPTERINI Monné, 2012, syn. nov. of HOLOPTERINI Lacordaire, 1868. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Representatives of the cockroach superfamily Corydioidea are less sampled than members of the two other cockroach superfamilies (Blaberoidea and Blattoidea) due to the difficulty of collecting them in the field, accentuated by a general lack of knowledge on their biology. Their evolutionary relationships have not yet been investigated with a relevant sampling and are therefore poorly known. Here, we assess the phylogenetic relationships of 35 Corydioidea species with mitochondrial genomes and two nuclear gene fragments. Our sampling for Corydiidae comprises Corydiinae and Euthyrrhaphinae representatives, whereas our sampling for the remaining Corydioidea includes species belonging to genera Beybienkonus Qiu, Wang and Che, Compsodes Hebard, Ctenoneura Hanitsch and Nocticola Bolívar. We further infer their divergence times with molecular dating analyses relying on five fossil calibrations. We also carry out reconstructions of ancestral character states for 11 phenotypic and one biological traits. Our results recover two major Corydioidea clades, one consisting solely of Corydiidae (except Latindiinae) and the other of all remaining Corydioidea taxa. Based on the results of phylogenetic analyses, an updated classification of extant Corydioidea is proposed, where Latindiinae Handlirsch stat.rev. and Ctenoneurinae Qiu and Che, subfam.nov. are assigned to the family Nocticolidae Bolívar sensu nov. A new genus Pseudoeupolyphaga Qiu and Che, gen.nov. is also established within Corydiinae. Both the origin of crown Corydioidea and the divergence of the two major lineages are estimated to have occurred during the Triassic–Jurassic boundary. Ancestral character state reconstruction analyses also suggest an adaptive relationship between phenotypic characteristics and habitat preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyneopteran clade of insects is very diverse and has a remarkable fossil history starting in the Late Palaeozoic. Representatives of Dictyoptera comprise roaches, termites and mantids and their stem group relatives like the common Palaeozoic and Mesozoic roachoids, a group well known for its problematic taxonomy. In this study, two new taxa are described based on forewing venation well displaying convexity or concavity of the veins due to preservation in spherosideritic concretions. A new paoliid, Stephanopsis testai sp. nov. (Blattinopsidae), from Moscovian deposits at Mazon Creek (Illinois, U.S.A.), supplements Stephanopsis mirandus found at the same locality, which mainly differs in the branching patterns of MP and anal veins. A new stem dictyopteran, Sosnowiecia dareki gen. nov. et sp. nov. (?Mesorthopteridae), from Langsettian deposits at Sosnowiec-Klimontów (Lower Silesia, Poland) is problematic in terms of taxonomy as it has a mosaic of characters characteristic of Paoliida, Eoblattida and Grylloblattida, but retains affinities with roachoid insects, such as Miroblatta sp. Hence, these two new species increase the diversity of Carboniferous polyneopteran insects, but reveals the problem of depending only on alar characters in taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of species in many genera of Neotropical Mantodea is a difficult task because of a lack of revisionary works with keys and illustrations of male genitalia. One of these genera is Pseudomiopteryx Saussure, 1870 , which is known to be composed of 10 species and one subspecies of small (19–25 mm) brownish praying mantises that live in the leaf litter of tropical forests of Central America, the Amazon, and the Andean tropics. The genus is revised and the known valid species are redescribed based mainly on type-material. The results yield 11 valid species, including a new species from Costa Rica: Pseudomiopteryx riverai sp. n. Pseudomiopteryx amazonensis Toledo-Piza, 1968 is a junior synonym of Pseudomiopteryx guyanensis Chopard, 1911 , and the subspecies Pseudomiopteryx bogotensis gorgonae Ariza & Salazar, 2005 was raised to species level. A syntype specimen of Pseudomiopteryx decipiens, Pseudomiopteryx guyanensis , and Pseudomiopteryx infuscata Saussure & Zehntner, 1894 was herein designated as the lectotype. New information on geographical distributions and natural history were given, and descriptions of the female, ootheca, and first instar nymph of Pseudomiopteryx spinifrons were presented. The geographical distributions of some species are extended. A key to males of all species is given, as well as detailed figures of male genitalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two fossil cockroaches belonging to the extinct genus Palaeosymploce gen. n. (P. aristovi sp. n.) and the extant genus Supella Shelford, 1911 (S. eocenica sp. n.) are described on the basis of males from Rovno amber. They are the first representatives of the family Ectobiidae Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865 from the Eocene of Ukraine. The genus Palaeosymploce gen. n. is similar to the extant genus Symploce Hebard, 1916, but differs from it by structure of tegmina, e.g. more numerous branches M + CuA and comparatively wider medial and cubital fields. The closely related genus Symploce currently has an almost circumtropical distribution. Fossil representatives of this genus are known from Baltic amber. The extant representatives of the genus Supella are mostly restricted to the Afrotropical Region. Fossil representatives of Supella were present in Central America (Mexican (Chiapas) amber) and West Indies (Dominican amber). Supella eocenica sp. n. differs from all congeners by the absence of contrasting coloration of the pronotum and tegmina. A detailed morphological description of the new taxa is given and brief conclusions about the climate of Priabonian Rovno amber forest are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Umenocoleidae is an enigmatic, extinct Mesozoic beetle-like roach family with cosmopolitan distribution erroneously attributed to various insect orders by past authors. Here unusual and well-preserved Archaeospinapteryx tartarensis gen. et sp. n., Trapezionotum vrsanskyi gen. et sp. n., Poikiloprosopon celiae gen. et sp. n., Vzrkadlenie karneri sp. n., and V. saintgermaini sp. n. are described from Cenomanian Burmese amber of the Hukawng Valley. Furthermore, Nigropterix angustata gen. et sp. n. and Umenotypus maculatus gen. et sp. n. are reported from Turonian sediments of Kzyl-Zhar, Kazakhstan. ?Classopolis pollen grains directly attached on the frons of the head of one specimen indiciate pollen transfer, as reported in other representatives of Umenocoleoidea. The herein studied material increases our knowledge of the diversity of this bizarre lineage and extends its temporal and paleogeographic distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species diversity and abundance of insects associated in an agricultural ecosystem was studied in Bhabar region of district Nainital in Uttarakhand from March 2018 to February 2020. Data revealed a total of 148 insect species belonging to 47 families and nine orders (Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Odonata, Diptera, Dictyoptera, and Phasmida), identified from 2007 specimens. These were classified into five functional trophic groups: phytophagous, predators, omnivores, saprophages and decomposers. The diversity indexes showed significance- Diversity (Hʹ=1.778), Evenness (E=0.9689), and Margalef’s Index (d=1.924). Diversity indices of insect orders showed Lepidoptera to be the most diverse (Hʹ=1.994) with maximum species richness having high Margalef’s index (d=2.607), and dipterans with highest evenness (E=0.9572). A total of 1331 individuals of insect pollinators/ visitors were observed, belonging to 99 species of 5 orders (Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Diptera). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

Blatella germanica is a major domiciliary pest associated with public health. Synthetic insecticides have hazardous effects on humans and the environment. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of three Nano formulations against the German cockroach. Silicon dioxide (SiO2), Zinc oxide (ZnO) and Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized and screened for insecticidal activity against adults of the German cockroach by contact and feeding methods. The synthesized nanoparticles were attained in a powder form and characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometer, High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential. The size range of the prepared NPS was 5.16-14.72 nm for SiO2, 26.50-52.56 nm for ZnO-NPs and 10.04-39.7 nm for CuO-NPs. Results of UV-Vis spectroscopy, HRTEM, DLS and Zeta potential confirmed the successful formation of nanoparticles. Results clearly showed that the SiO2-NPs had strong insecticidal activity against adults of German cockroaches with LC50 values of 10.36 mg by contact and 4.91 mg by feeding methods. While the LC50 values of ZnO- and CuO-NPs were 13.02 & 17.35 mg by contact and 5.94 & 6.19 mg, respectively by feeding methods. On the other hand, the crude powder of the three metals induced non-significant toxic effects. The LC50 values were 87.49, 179.27 and 233.24 mg by contact, and 9.31, 17.99 and 19.21 mg by feeding for Silica, Zinc and Copper powders, respectively after 7 days of treatment. The stability of the prepared NPs was studied after 4 months of storage under laboratory conditions. SiO2-NPs were the most stable, followed by ZnO-NPs and CuO-NPs. The efficacy and stability of the prepared NPs made these products suitable candidates for controlling the German cockroach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poroblattina anadiensis sp. nov., first record of the roachoid family Poroblattinidae from Portugal, is described from the upper Gzhelian Vale da Mó 'Formation' of Buçaco Carboniferous Basin. The genus Poroblattina was previously known by numerous records from the Moscovian and the Asselian (time range between 306.95 and 295.0 Ma) in Euramerica, showing a high forewing venation variability. The new species is most similar to the French Moscovian Poroblattina duffieuxi, but it differs from this species in having a larger forewing, more irregularly anterior pectinate RP, and more forked branches. Poroblattina anadiensis sp. nov. supports the links between the entomofaunas of North America and Western Europe during the late Carboniferous and early Permian. Despite the intense exploration of the Buçaco Carboniferous Basin units in the nineteen-century and mid-20th century, the new discovery highlights the potential of palaeontological studies now resumed in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous arthropods (e.g. branchiopods, insects) collected during the first half of the 20th century by F.-F. Mathieu within the Pennsylvanian-Cisuralian (Moscovian-Asselian) succession of the Zhaogezhuang colliery (Hebei Province, China), romanised notably as Chao Ko Chwang, or Chaokochuang, in the literature, have been recently located in the palaeontological collections of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Brussels). This historical material from one of the classic localities of the Kaiping Coalfield includes a large number of wings of stem-Dictyoptera, mainly from the Tangshan Formation and to a lesser extent from the Kaiping and Zhaogezhuang formations. The exceptional richness in insects of a particular horizon developed within the Moscovian part of the Tangshan Formation was already pointed out at the end of the 1920s by the French palaeoentomologist P. Pruvost, who provided the first account on the arthropods of Mathieu's collection from the Kaiping Coalfield. This singular Dictyoptera material was later studied by D. Laurentiaux in his unpublished Ph.D. thesis. In order to promote the revision of Mathieu's collection by specialists, we provide here a detailed scientific background and re-illustrate the arachnids (and formerly alleged ones: (Poliochera vel Curculioides) [sic] pustulatus Laurentiaux-Vieira & Laurentiaux), branchiopods (Lioestheria? mathieui (Pruvost)), and insects from the Zhaogezhuang colliery, notably using the Reflectance Transformation Imaging methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fossorial sand cockroach Hemelytroblatta livida (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865) is reported from Georgia for the first time, with a commentary on the species composition of the Corydiinae Saussure, 1864 subfamily in the Caucasus. Collection data, pictures of the male and female, and DNA barcodes are also provided. Furthermore, information on Polyphaga aegyptiaca (Linnaeus, 1758) is provided, along with images of the male, female, and juvenile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Deiphobella laticeps (Wood Mason, 1876), is an interesting preying mantis, rediscovered from Maharashtra State, India, after considerable lapse of time since its original description. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We follow the wing venation pattern of Schubnel et al. [[12]], and the terminology for wing colouration of Schneider and Werneburg [[13]] adapted to the wing venation terminology. M with MA area branching off approximately in middle the wing; expanded areas between main veins, especially that between M and CuA; wing surface with bright maculae located in costal area and in form fasculae at each wing tip. Schneider et al. [[20]] proposed the following emended diagnosis: 'Phyloblattid-like wing venation pattern but with a much lower number of veins and with extended fields between the main veins. He proposed the following one for I S. hercynica i : 'forewing 16 mm long and 5 mm wide, markings basically like I S. euglyptica i , but the maculae and fasculae are even more extensive, so that the vein seams are more delicately developed; more branches at CuA than I S. euglyptica i '; the following diagnosis for I S. ilfeldensis i : 'approximately 3.2 × 1.13 cm large forewing. [Extracted from the article]

Similarly, I D. coccinata i belongs to the complex of red lycids in Northern America, i.e., I D. hamata i (Mannerheim), I D. simplicipes i (Mannerheim), and I Punicealis munda i (Say). All populations of the I D. aurora i complex are morphologically uniform (Figure 2 and Figure 3), yet the morphological stasis due to stable environmental conditions is exceptionally improbable as I D. aurora i occurs from Northern African cedar forests to tundra low shrub ecosystems beyond the polar circle in Fennoscandia and I D. coccinata i from dry shrub and forest vegetation in Arizona to the polar circle area in Alaska and the humid temperate to subtropical forests of Georgia and northern Florida. I D. aurora i resembles I Lopheros rubens i (Gyllenhal), I E. cosnardi i (Mulsant), I B. taygetanus i (Pic), I B. longicornis i (Reiche), and I P. rubripes i (Pic) in Europe and I Dictyoptera i spp., I Helcophorus i spp., I Conderis i spp., and I Lyponia i spp. in East Asia. The levels of mtDNA divergence detected in the I D. aurora i clade are comparable to those often found between morphologically species pairs in other insects [[1], [15], [66]] and also between the sister species of net-winged beetles [[12], [27]]. Analysis of the Holarctic Dictyoptera aurora Complex (Coleoptera, Lycidae) Reveals Hidden Diversity and Geographic Structure in Müllerian Mimicry Ring. [Extracted from the article]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Pliacanthopus Giglio-Tos previously included two subgenera and five species, among which one species P. (Malayamantis) bimaculatus (Wang, 1993) is distributed in south-western China, and the other four are distributed in south-eastern Asia. Here, the identification of this genus is reviewed, P. (M.) bimaculatus is redescribed in detail, and one new species, P. (M.) tricolor Wu and Liu sp. nov., is described from the Himalayas. A key to the species of Pliacanthopus, necessary illustrations and life images of Pliacanthopus species are presented. The updated distribution of the genus Pliacanthopus is mapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: There are many more wild cockroaches than household species, but they mostly live a similar life to the latter, feeding on dead and inactive organic material, and hiding in confined spaces. Most of the fossil cockroaches are similar to modern ones in their general appearance, so the lifestyle of the fossil species is probably similar to that of modern cockroaches. Years ago, a unique fossil cockroach, Manipulator modificaputis Vršanský and Bechly, 2015, was discovered from Cretaceous Myanmar amber. This species somewhat resembles mantises and was speculated to be a predator. However, this hypothesis is debatable. In the present study, we redescribe Manipulator modificaputis based on new material, and describe a closely related new species, Manipulatoides obscura gen. & sp. nov. We discuss the feeding habit of these species, and consider that they tend to live around and feed on flowers (as occasionally do some modern cockroaches), instead of hunting for prey. So far, no cockroaches specialized in predation have been affirmed. Manipulator modificaputis Vršanský and Bechly, 2015 (Manipulatoridae, Corydioidea) is a purported predatory cockroach from Cretaceous Myanmar amber, based on a single male. It is distinctive by the nimble head, elongate pronotum and legs, and particularly by the extraordinarily long maxillary palpi. In the present study, we redescribe Manipulator modificaputis based on six new fossils including males and females, and comment on the original description. The closely related Manipulatoides obscura gen. & sp. nov. is proposed on the basis of five fossils, including males and females. It differs from Manipulator in weaker spination of the legs, including the type-C forefemoral spination instead of the type-A of Manipulator. Some undetermined adults and nymphs are also described. We discuss the ethology of Manipulatoridae and speculate that they might feed on flowers. They are unlikely to be specialized predators since they lack necessary weaponry for capturing prey; in contrast, their unique morphotype appears to be suitable for efficient foraging and locomotion amid flowering twigs. The possibility of being kleptoparasites of the spider-web is also discussed. In addition, regenerated four-segmented tarsi are found from the new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mantis, Mesopteryx platycephala, is redescribed with digital images. Although known from Assam, West Bengal and other areas, the mantis is not recently collected or illustrated from India so far and is perhaps a rare species. This short note aims to fill up the lacuna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

Mantids (Insecta, Mantodea) are a monophyletic group of insects in the Dictyoptera clade. The group has not been well studied for Mexico, and its diversity and biogeographical patterns are not well documented. In this work, specimens were collected in the field, mounted, and identified using morphological and molecular characteristics. A taxonomic list, photographs, and an identification key are provided for families, genera, and species of mantids of Morelos. This work provides new empirical evidence of geographical distribution of mantids in Central Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant decomposition is an essential component of forest ecosystems. Wood‐feeding cockroaches are responsible for the decomposition of rotten logs. However, the ecology of wood‐feeding cockroaches is not well understood. To understand how they decompose rotten logs in the gallery inside the logs, it is necessary to observe them in laboratories. Here, I present an observable and cost‐effective for rearing these log decomposers using a culture dish and an artificial fungal meal. The culture dish is traditionally used to cultivate fungi or bacteria with the lid on. The artificial fungal meal is a commercial product for stage beetle larvae, which are a kind of log decomposers. These let researchers easy to deal with wood‐feeding cockroaches. In the course of keeping over 1,000 individuals of the wood‐feeding cockroaches, I have developed effective techniques to rear them under the observable system for several years. I present these techniques along with several tips to keep the wood‐feeding cockroaches healthy and observe them using video cameras. These techniques remove many of the limitations for study on the plant decomposers. When researchers use this observable rearing system, we can conduct rearing experiments easily and well understand the ecology of wood‐feeding cockroaches and insects associating with them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects have evolved numerous adaptations and colonized diverse terrestrial environments. Several polyneopterans, including dictyopterans (cockroaches and mantids) and locusts, have developed oothecae, but little is known about the molecular mechanism, physiological function, and evolutionary significance of ootheca formation. Here, we demonstrate that the cockroach asymmetric colleterial glands produce vitellogenins, proline-rich protein, and glycine-rich protein as major ootheca structural proteins (OSPs) that undergo sclerotization and melanization for ootheca formation through the cooperative protocatechuic acid pathway and dopachrome and dopaminechrome subpathway. Functionally, OSP sclerotization and melanization prevent eggs from losing water at warm and dry conditions, and thus effectively maintain embryo viability. Dictyopterans and locusts convergently evolved vitellogenins, apolipoprotein D, and laminins as OSPs, whereas within Dictyoptera, cockroaches and mantids independently developed glycine-rich protein and fibroins as OSPs. Highlighting the ecological-evolutionary importance, convergent ootheca formation represents a successful reproductive strategy in Polyneoptera that promoted the radiation and establishment of cockroaches, mantids, and locusts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of chemical insecticides is the main control method for Blattella germanica worldwide. The prolonged and frequent use of insecticides produced the selection of insecticide-resistant individuals. The German cockroach is one of the most widespread urban pests in Argentina. In the last decades, resistance monitoring studies in this country demonstrated that there is a high prevalence of pyrethroid-resistant populations of B. germanica in the field. In this work, we studied the resistance mechanisms of a field-collected strain of B. germanica at toxicological, enzymatic, and molecular levels. A resistance ratio of 100 was obtained for the resistant strain when it was exposed to β-cypermethrin. The pretreatment with specific synergists (piperonyl butoxide and triphenyl phosphate) led to a significant increase in the toxicity of the pyrethroid, suggesting an involvement of oxidases and esterases in the detoxification of this insecticide. Moreover, esterase and oxidase activities in the resistant strain were 1.5-fold and 2-fold higher respectively, compared to the susceptible individuals. On the other hand, the voltage-gated sodium channel gene of the resistant cockroaches did not show nucleotidic substitutions in the domain II which are associated to knockdown resistance in this species. These results suggest that the main mechanism of resistance of the studied cockroaches' strain is metabolic, mainly due to an increase in the activity of oxidase and esterase enzymes. The results of this work in addition to other reports found in literature show that the extended use of a single active principle for cockroach control promotes the development of resistance leading to control failure in the field. In contrast, integrated pest management strategies include the use of different control tools in addition to chemical insecticides, which delay the appearance of resistance increasing the efficacy of pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of big data and new techniques, the phylogeny and timing of cockroaches remain in dispute. Apart from sequencing more species, an alternative way to improve the phylogenetic inference and time estimation is to improve the quality of data, calibrations and analytical procedure. This study emphasizes the completeness of data, the reliability of genes (judged via alignment ambiguity and substitution saturation), and the justification for fossil calibrations. Based on published mitochondrial genomes, the Bayesian phylogeny of cockroaches and termites is recovered as: Corydiinae + (((Cryptocercidae + Isoptera) + ((Anaplectidae + Lamproblattidae) + (Tryonicidae + Blattidae))) + (Pseudophyllodromiinae + (Ectobiinae + (Blattellinae + Blaberidae)))). With two fossil calibrations, namely, Valditermes brenanae and Piniblattella yixianensis, this study dates the crown Dictyoptera to early Jurassic, and crown Blattodea to middle Jurassic. Using the ambiguous 'roachoid' fossils to calibrate Dictyoptera+sister pushes these times back to Permian and Triassic. This study also shows that appropriate fossil calibrations are rarer than considered in previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Praying mantises are distributed all over the world. Though some Mantodea mitogenomes have been reported, an evolutionary genomic and phylogenetic analysis study lacks the latest taxonomic system. In the present study, four new mitogenomes were sequenced and annotated. Deroplatys truncate, D. lobate, Amorphoscelis chinensis and Macromantis sp. belong to Deroplatyidae, Amorphoscelidae and Photinaidae family, respectively. Our results indicated that the ATP8 gene may be lost in D. truncate and D. lobata mt genome, and four tRNA genes have not been found in D. truncate, D. lobata and Macromantis sp. A dN/dS pair analysis was conducted and it was found that all genes have evolved under purifying selection. Furthermore, we tested the phylogenetic relationships between the eight families of the Mantodea, including 35 species of praying Mantis. Based on the complete mitochondrial genome data, it was also suggested as sister to Deroplatyidae + Mantidae, Metallyticus sp., the only representative of Metallyticidae, is sister to the remaining mantises. Our results support the taxonomic system of Schwarz and Roy and are consistent with previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

Attractive Toxic Bait (ATB) is a low risk practical method to cockroach control. This study aimed to evaluate efficacy of a newly modified eight-chamber-olfactometer for attractiveness experiments. Different stages of German cockroaches were exposed to carbohydrate-rich and protein-rich foods and their attractions were tested both at ambient conditions and in the modified olfactometer. In the latter method, cockroaches were released into the main chamber of olfactometer and their attraction to food compounds placed in test chambers were recorded as the number of captured cockroaches in test chambers. The direct attractiveness test was performed in plastic pans. Repellency of fipronil insecticide was performed with prepared bait powder using olfactometer. Data were subjected to analysis of variance with Tukey's Test,P ≤ 0.05. Different notes should be considered when using introduced olfactometer like precision when opening the test chambers valves, the fan speed, placement of cardboard shelter in both test and main chambers, and initial starvation of cockroaches. Roasted peanut, banana and biscuits powder were the most attractive foods for cockroaches. The females significantly preferred roasted peanut and the males significantly preferred banana and roasted peanut. These results were similar to the results of direct attracted cockroaches. The cockroaches have repellency to fipronil but attractiveness of bait with 0.01% concentration was significantly higher than cockroach diet. Generally, three factors should be considered in formulation of ATB like un-repellency of the a.i, attractiveness of bait compositions, and palatability of bait texture. The olfactometer introduced in this study could be used by researchers to study cockroach behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new fossil of the genus Eneriblatta (currently in Archimylacridae) is described from the Douro basin (lower Gzhelian, Upper Pennsylvanian) in northwestern Portugal, under the name Eneriblatta sp. The new specimen is the fifth Portuguese fossil of this roachoid genus, otherwise known from the Upper Pennsylvanian of France. The five other species currently in this genus are compared to the new material, allowing to transfer Eneriblatta from Archimylacridae into Phyloblattidae. All these fossils show identical general forewing patterns, very long and narrow with very long ScP and CuA, unlikely to be due to taphonomic biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new blattid genus, Bundoksiagen. nov. is described based on the Philippine species, Cartoblatta rufocercata (Shelford, 1910). Bundoksia rufocercatacomb. nov. is proposed and redescribed, and a new species, B. sibuyaniasp. nov. is described. The new genus possesses some characters present from Archiblattinae and Blattinae. A key is provided for Archiblattinae and sexually dimorphic Blattinae genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Praying mantises are recognized as carnivorous, exclusively feeding on live prey. Field observations during a praying mantis survey in the Atlantic Rainforest of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, revealed an adult male of Stagmatoptera precaria (Linnaeus, 1758) feeding on latex exudes of a papaya tree (Carica papaya L). This anecdote is the first record of non-carnivorous feeding behavior in wild praying mantises.

The German cockroach, Blattella germanica L. (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae), an invasive pest of human habitats, is distributed throughout the world, except in Antarctica. They have developed resistance against chemical pesticides used for the management of their populations. Numerous essential oils and their constituents have been tested; however, the insecticidal activities of clove bud powder, oil, and their constituents have not yet been tested against the German cockroaches. Thus, in this study, clove bud powder, oil, and their major constituents, eugenol and eugenol acetate, were evaluated for their contact toxicity and repellancy against adult German cockroaches under laboratory conditions. The clove bud powder applied at 30 mg/cm2 killed 92% of German cockroaches at 6 hours after treatment (HAT). Similarly, clove bud oil, eugenol and eugenol acetate applied at 4.00 ml/cm2 provided 95%, 85%, and 87% German cockroach mortality at 24, 6, and 24 HAT, respectively. At 2.0 ml/cm2, clove bud oil repelled 80% of German cockroaches within 30 min. In contrast, eugenol and eugenol acetate repelled 85% at 1.0 ml/cm2 and 2.5 ml/cm2, respectively, at 0.5 HAT. Based on this study, clove bud powder, oil, eugenol, and eugenol acetate could be environmentally friendly tools for the management of German cockroaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dictyoptera, which comprises cockroaches, termites and mantids, is a quite successful group of insects in evolutionary terms with a long fossil record—roachoid insects were already abundant 315 million years ago in the Carboniferous forests. One of the most remarkable autapomorphies of extant dictyopterans, and possibly a major factor for their persisting success, is the ability to produce oothecae. Despite the robustness of this sort of egg package, fossils of oothecae are very rare, the oldest direct evidences being from the Cretaceous Crato Formation in Brazil (115 mya). The ability to produce oothecae is presumably linked to a specific ovipositor morphology, including a significant length reduction. Hence, ovipositor morphology can indirectly inform about the reproductive strategy of a species. Herein we describe the ovipositor morphology of various fossil forms of dictyopteran insects. Early fossil roachoids, in contrast to the modern forms, possessed a very long and prominent ovipositor, reminiscent of the ovipositor in orthopterans (Ensifera), indicating that these forms laid individual, rather small eggs into a substrate. We present examples from different fossil deposits, which show the entire range of ovipositor morphologies, from very long forms over forms with ovipositors partly reduced in length to modern-appearing morphologies. Most remarkably, different shapes of ovipositors seem to be present in roachoids in the fauna of the 115 million years old Crato Formation—species with long prominent ovipositors co-existed with species with a reduced short and broad ovipositor. Additionally, females that carry oothecae attached to their abdomen indicate a third type of ovipositor: a further reduced ovipositor as seen in modern forms, which already allowed the internal production of oothecae.

The first record of Hierodula transcaucasica from Albania is reported. Additional information on the distribution of the species is given.

Two new species, Allacta bruna sp. n. and Allacta alba sp. n., from China are described and illustrated. Allacta hainanensis (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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most cockroaches produce a special capsular structure, the ootheca, to enclose eggs for protection and maternal brood care. However, the origin and early evolution of the cockroach ootheca is poorly known, attributable to a lack of fossil evidence from the Mesozoic. Here, we report the earliest known cockroach fossil possessing an internally partitioned ootheca: Piniblattella yixianensis Gao, Shih & Ren sp. nov. is described from the mid Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China. The ootheca of this species measures 46-62% of its body length, contains 60-70 eggs, and exhibits the oviparity B reproduction mode, similar to that of the extant ectobiid and blattid cockroaches. In conjunction with several isolated ootheca specimens preserved in the mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber (Burmite), we infer that the cockroach reproductive mode using the complete oothecate structure occurred during or before the mid Early Cretaceous. Maternal care associated with the oothecate condition in these Cretaceous cockroaches added a unique and major life-history trait, later resulting in true viviparity. This new life-history trait providing maternal protection and care may have been a key factor in the subsequent evolutionary diversification and ecological expansion of modern cockroach lineages. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:588C91F4-FB8D-43E5-8C2D-86D50393B851 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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) bucheti sp. n. and Galepsus (Syngalepsus) dudleyi sp. n. are described. An identification key for the six species of the subgenus is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]