10 



Hirashima assume a parallel evolution of these similarities, and they also assume a still 

 symmetrical morphology in the common stem-species of these two families. In McKittrick 

 (1964), the same view is indicated through the designation of the sclerites. In contrast, 

 Bohn (1987) supposes that the phallomeres of Blaberidae have undergone a change of 

 their left-right-asymmetry and that the similarities concerned are homologous. The point 

 of discussion is the same in the case of Plectopterinae, whose phallomeres also show side- 

 reversed similarities with the other subfamilies of Blattellidae. 



The knowledge of the morphology of the phallomeres and the other parts of the male 

 postabdomen of Blattaria and Mantodea is extremely incomplete. The few hypotheses 

 concerning homology relations (between species and between the left and right halves of 

 the phallomere complex), the ground-plan, and the evolution of the phallomeres are not 

 very convincing. Furthermore, nothing is known about homology relations between the 

 phallomeres of Blattaria and Mantodea. Thus, there is compelling need for a large-scaled 

 morphological investigation of the phallomere complex. 



To do this is the intention of this paper. Phallomere morphology will be analysed in 

 Blattarian and Mantodean species representing the various subgroups. This investigation 

 should be as detailed as possible in order to avoid misinterpretations due to superficial 

 observation and in order to get as many arguments as possible for assumptions and 

 conclusions. The homology relations between the various species will be worked out in 

 detail, and possible homologies between the left and the right side of the phallomere 

 complex will be considered. The ground-plan features of the phallomeres will be recon- 

 structed - focused on the common ground-plan of Blattaria and Mantodea, if there is one. 

 The special condition of the phallomere elements in the various species and their evolution 

 will be discussed in detail. The characters of the phallomeres will be evaluated in order 

 to establish a phylogenetic hypothesis for Blattaria and Mantodea. The terminology for 

 the phallomere elements will be based on the common ground-plan of Blattaria and 

 Mantodea - in accordance with the homology relations assumed. A standardised, well- 

 founded, and well-defined use of the terminology might also be valuable for taxonomic 

 research and the description of species. 



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 



I wish to thank Horst Bohn from the Zoologisches Institut der Ludwig-Maximilians- 

 Universität, Munich, for giving me the opportunity to do my investigations in his 

 laboratory, for supplying me with the animals necessary for my studies, and for 

 commenting on the manuscript. Greatly appreciated in terms of the English language was 

 also the help of Teresa Saks from the same institution. Ulrike Aspöck from the 

 Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna, Christine A. Nalepa from the North Carolina State 

 University, Raleigh, and Louis R. Roth from the Museum of Comparative Zoology of 

 Harvard University are acknowledged for kindly providing me with specimens of various 

 Blattaria and Mantodea. 



