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Psyche 
[June 
Figs. 1-6. Oothecae of Lophoblatta spp. Figs. 1-3. L. brevis. Fig. 1. 
Lateral view (Xl2). Fig. 2. Dorsal view (X 11.5). Fig. 3. Portion of 
keel region (X 67.6). Figs. 4-6. L. arlei. Fig. 4. Lateral view (X 9.4). 
Fig. 5. Dorsal view (X 9.4). Fig. 6. Portion of keel region (X 67.6). 
The keel region (Figs. 3 and 6) is an inner view of one half of the 
oothecal wall, cleared in xylene and mounted in Permount. In Fig. 3, the 
protruberances (arrow) are spongy-like bodies, normally found above each 
egg; in Fig. 6, these bodies were removed to show the actual margin of 
the keel. The main part of the keel (double-headed arrows) lies flat against 
the eggs and only the small reduced serrations protrude upwards. 
than high, and somewhat flattened dorsally and ventrally (Figs, i, 
2). It does not appear to increase in size or change shape as the 
eggs develop. The end of the ootheca in the vestibulum of the fe- 
male is lighter in color than the remainder of the egg case and ap- 
parently is permeable to water. Except for its unique shape, the 
ootheca of L. brevis resembles that of some species of Blattella. Other 
species of Lophoblatta have thick, hard oothecae that are deposited 
shortly after their formation (Roth, 1968a: Lophoblatta sp. A = 
Lophoblatta fissa Saussure and Zehntner, Fig. 76; and Lophoblatta 
