1970] 
Roth — Blattaria 
313 
may not be hookshaped. The prepuce is a flexible membrane bearing 
characteristic spines. When flattened, the margins of the preputial 
membrane often extend beyond the outline of L2d and the preputial 
spines are readily visible. 
The genera may be arranged as follows: 
Generic Group 1. Archimandrita (Figs. 1,2), Blaberus (Figs. 
4-14), Blaptica (Figs. 26, 27, 29). 
I have reported on the genus Blaberus in a recent paper (Roth, 
1969) and for this reason have illustrated R2 (Fig. 42) and Li 
(Fig. 43) for only one of the species. However, for the sake of 
completeness I have included the L2d for the known species (Figs. 
41, 44-55) ; these structures allow the separation of 3 species groups 
of Blaberus: 
Giganteus Group: L2d is recurved dorsally and slightly to the 
right, often forming a hooklike structure. Extending dorsally and 
laterally on the left, about where L2vm and L2d are joined, is a 
tumorlike outgrowth. Spines on the preputial membrane are rela- 
tively small. ( Blaberus giganteus, Figs. 3, 41-43; B. craniifer , 
Figs. 4, 44). 
Atropos Group: L2d is not hookshaped and the tumorlike out- 
growth on the left side is absent. Truncate or rounded elevations 
are usually present only on the left side and are generally much 
larger and more robust than spines on the right. The preputial 
spines are often arranged in a single row on the left, and a single 
or sometimes double or partially double row on the right; spines 
on the right usually more numerous than on the left. ( Blaberus 
discoidalis, Figs. 5, 47; B. boliviensis. Figs. 6, 49; B. anisitsi , Figs. 
7, 48; B. atropos. Figs. 8, 45; B. parabolicus, Figs. 9, 46). 
Brasilianus Group: L2d not hookshaped and tumorlike out- 
growth absent as in the Atropos Group. Anterior elevations not 
greatly enlarged on the left side and about the same size as those 
on the right. Preputial spines numerous, usually present on the left 
and right sides and often occur in more than a single row. ( Blaberus 
brasilianus. Figs. 10, 50; B. scutatus. Figs. 11, 52; B. minor, Figs. 
12, 51; B. fusiformis , Figs. 13, 53; B. colosseus , Figs. 14, 54-55). 
There is considerable intraspecific variation in the male genitalia 
of Blaberus spp. often making specific determination of certain species 
difficult. However, the species group separations are reasonably clear 
cut. 
In Archimandrita spp. (Figs. 32, 35, 38), L2d is not hookshaped, 
but otherwise this sclerite and the associated preputial fringe of 
spines are closest to the Giganteus Group of Blaberus. 
