12 



is always T. parvus, Ergaula is always E. capensis. T. angustus and E. capucina will be 

 addressed by their complete names). 



Sphodromantis, Mantis, Deropeltis, Periplaneta, Blatta, Eurycotis, Supella, Parcoblatta, 

 Loboptera, Blaberus, Nauphoeta, Blaptica, Byrsotria, Ergaula capucina, and Polyphaga 

 have been reared in the laboratory and were available as freshly killed specimens. 

 Lamproblatta, Anaplecta, Nahublattella, Euphyllodromia, Nyctibora, and Mantoida have 

 been stored in 4% formaldehyde, Cryptocercus and Ectobius in 70% isopropanol. 

 Chaeteessa, Metallyticus, Archiblatta, the two Tryo^/cw^s'- species, and Ergaula capensis 

 were dried specimens. 

 Preparation 



For the examination of the musculature the abdomina were cut off and stored in 75% 

 isopropanol for at least three days. For the study of cuticular elements the soft tissues 

 were removed by treating the abdomina with 10% KOH for 4-20 hrs. at 40°C. The 

 remaining cuticular structures were then washed in distilled water and stored in 75% 

 isopropanol. Descriptions of morphological structures are always based on preparations of 

 several specimens, with the exception of some species of which only one or two specimens 

 were available (Mantoida, Chaeteessa, Metallyticus, both species of Tryonicus, Ergaula 

 capensis, Archiblatta). Preparation was performed with sharp forceps and iris scissors. In 

 the observation of small and weakly sclerotised structures it was sometimes useful to 

 underlay the object with a piece of aluminium foil. 



Remarks on the figures 1-319 



- In all figures anterior is towards the top and posterior is towards the bottom of the 

 sheet. 



- The cuticle generally has an internal surface, which is in contact with the epidermis, 

 and an external surface. In all figures the cuticle is partly seen from internally and partly 

 from externally. 



- Dark areas are sclerotised; white areas are membranous. 



- Muscles are hatched longitudinally, in correspondence with the course of their fibers. 



- In each figure only those structures are shown which can be directly seen by the 

 observer and which are not covered by other structures. Thus, e.g. sclerites covered by 

 membrane are not shown, even if they can be easily seen through the membrane in an 

 original preparation. 



- Mostly the cuticle is very thin, and in drawing it is regarded as a convoluted plane 

 without thickness. Only in some cases when the cuticle is strongly thickened its 

 thickness is considered in drawing. 



- In drawing, the geometry of the cuticular foldings and of the other elements is strictly 

 held to. Continuous black lines represent edges. Edges are understood throughout as 

 Hues along which the cuticle or the surface of a muscle curves beneath itself and thus 

 vanishes from the observer's view. What appears as an edge is dependent on the angle 

 of view. Edges of the cuticle can be external or internal: External edges are directed to 

 the exterior, and along them the external surface of the cuticle is visible; internal edges 

 are directed to the interior of the body, and along them the internal surface of the cuticle 

 is visible. Edges beneath the visible surface are sometimes drawn as broken lines. 



