267 



compared with Blaberus (fig. 296): In Parcoblatta the recess between the apophyses 

 extends far beyond the insertions of sl4a,b and nearly reaches the level of the p3- 

 insertions. In Blaberus the recess does not even reach sl4, much less p3. Thus, either the 

 recess has deepened in Parcoblatta, or the posterior parts of the apophyses have fused 

 with each other in Blaberus. To compare more distantly related species in this regard, 

 however, is hardly possible. 



The area designated as the dorsal sclerotisation S9d is rather variable and is certainly not 

 strictly homologous in all species. In Metallyticus (fig. 22), Eurycotis (fig. 62), Tryonicus 

 (fig.86), Polyphaga (fig. 114), Lamproblatta (fig. 173), Anaplecta (fig.204), Parcoblatta 

 (fig. 265), and Blaberus (fig. 296) S9d is restricted to the more posterior part or even to 

 the margins of the dorsal wall of the subgenital plate (= posterior ventral wall of genital 

 pouch), and it is firmly connected with the ventral sclerotisation around the lateral and 

 posterior edges of the plate. In Sphodromantis (fig. 5) and Cryptocercus (fig. 147) S9d is 

 also continuous with the ventral sclerotisation but extends by far more to the anterior. In 

 Mantoida (fig.40), Chaeteessa (fig. 30), and Nahublattella (fig. 237, 238) S9d also extends 

 far anteriad but is isolated from the ventral sclerotisation. In Nahublattella S9d is highly 

 elaborated (division, bristles, muscles 133 and 134; fig. 238, 240). 



In several species, some patterns in the sclerotisation of the subgenital plate remind one 

 of its presumable composition (true sternite, two coxites; compare in 3.1.) and might 

 therefore be regarded as primitive. In Eurycotis (fig.62), Polyphaga (fig. 11 3), Cryptocercus 

 (fig. 147), and Nahublattella (fig. 237) an anterior (sternite?) and a posterior (transversely 

 fused coxites?) sclerotisation are separated by a membranous field - except for a 

 lengthwise connection of the lateralmost parts. In Parcoblatta (fig.265), Blaberus (fig.296), 

 and Lamproblatta (fig. 173; the anterior sclerotisation is very narrow) the field is no longer 

 membranous but still distinctly weaker sclerotised than the other parts. In Tryonicus 

 (fig.86) the sclerotisation is weaker in the anterior third, but there is no heavier 

 sclerotisation along the anterior margin. In Mantoida such a zoning of the plate is only 

 slightly indicated (not shown in fig.40). In the other Mantodea (fig. 5, 22, 30) and in 

 Anaplecta (fig.204) the sclerotisation of the subgenital plate is uniform. An interesting 

 feature of Cryptocercus (fig. 147) is that in the posterior part of the plate the lateral areas 

 are distinctly heavier sclerotised than the median area; the transverse fusion of the coxites 

 is probably not complete. 



6.11. The peripheral muscles 



The muscles pi, p2, and p3 are, if present, always inserted close to each other on the 

 anterior margin of the subgenital plate, between the median and the lateral primary 

 phallomero-sternal muscles (fig.333b-l; fig.5, 40, 62, 113, 147, 173, 204, 237, 265, 296). 

 The pl-muscles are ventral muscles of segment 9. Their posterior insertions are on or 

 close to the Pv-sclerites or, if separate Pv-sclerites are absent, on the anterior margin of 

 the paraprocts Pp. The pi are rather weak (Sphodromantis, fig.l; Mantoida, fig. 36; 

 Polyphaga, fig. 109) or even consist of very few fibers only (Eurycotis, fig. 58; Anaplecta, 



