231 



6.4. Left complex IV: Main sclerite L3 and associated elements 

 6.4.1. Comparison between Blattaria and Mantodea 



In ArchiblaTta (fig. 53-55) the hla-hook is an evagination of the anterior left ventral wall 

 of the left complex, and its base is immediately beneath the arched anterior part of the 

 L4C-sclerite = L41-region. Mantoida has no process in the corresponding part of the 

 ventral wall (fig.45, 46), and the neighboring processes paa and pda have proved to be 

 homologous with paa and pda of Archiblatta and other Blattaria. The elements of the left 

 complexes of Chaeteessa, Metallyticus, and Sphodromantis - including the processes paa 

 and pda - have all been homologised with elements of Mantoida. Thus, none of the 

 Mantodean species studied has a homologue of the hla-hook; hla, and also its sclerite L3 

 and its main muscle 114, are restricted to Blattaria. 



6.4.2. The elements in the common ground-plan of Blattaria and Mantodea 



Since hla is present in all Blattaria (discussion in 6.4.3.) but absent in all Mantodea. its 

 presence in the common ground-plan cannot be reliably decided. However, a comparison 

 of the copulation habits of Blattaria and Mantodea might indicate that the lack of hla and 

 L3 in Mantodea is a derived feature. 



In Blattaria copulation has several successive phases (data from Scudder 1971, who refers 

 to Gupta 1947): In Periplaneta. in phase (1), the male places itself in front of the female, 

 with its rear end facing the female. Then the female climbs upon the back of the male, 

 both animals facing the same direction. In this phase the hla-hook of the male makes the 

 first contact of the genital regions: It seizes the terminal lobes of the female subgenital 

 plate (Scudder: "initial seizing"). (2) This connection being estabhshed, the male rotates 

 ca. 180° in the horizontal plane (clockwise as seen from above). (3) After this rotation 

 the animals are again in a line, with their rear ends still in contact. Now other phallomere 

 elements establish a firmer contact - mainly the seizing apparatus formed by the posterior 

 part of the male's right phallomere (Scudder: "final holding"). Scudder describes a several- 

 phase process with similar positions for some subgroups of Ensifera. But, of course, the 

 connection of male and female genitalia is established by completely different structures. 

 Nevertheless, it seems plausible that a copulation procedure with a sequence of these 

 positions might be plesiomorphic for a higher taxon including at least Orthoptera and 

 Dictyoptera. 



Mantodea have a different copulation procedure, which Scudder regards as apomorphic: 

 The male mounts the female (often by jumping) and then clings to the female thorax with 

 its grasping legs. Holding this position, the male curves its terminal abdomen to the right 

 and pushes it into the female genital pouch from laterally (e.g. Kumar 1973). Together 

 with the modified fore legs, the very special feeding habits of Mantodea (lurking predators) 

 are certainly derived. It might be plausible that changes in behaviour coiTelated with these 

 new feeding habits might have caused changes in the copulation procedure. (So to speak, 

 it is no longer advisable for the male to place itself in front of the female in the way 

 Blattaria do). 



