Dictyoptera
Latreille, 1829
Species Guides
2- Dictyoptera coccinata(Golden Net-winged Beetle)
- Dictyoptera simplicipes(Red Net-winged Beetle)
is a of polyneopterous insects comprising two extant orders: Blattodea (cockroaches and termites) and Mantodea (mantises). These insects share a common ancestor in the Late Carboniferous, with modern forms characterized by short ovipositors and -laying . The group represents one of the most significant taxonomic reorganizations in insect , with now recognized as eusocial nested within Blattodea rather than a separate order.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Dictyoptera: /dɪkˈtiːɒptərə/
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Life Cycle
Modern have short ovipositors and typically lay . The oldest fossil dictyopterans from the Late Carboniferous, referred to as 'roachoids', possessed long ovipositors and did not lay oothecae. The oldest modern oothecae-laying dictyopterans date to the Late Triassic.
Similar Taxa
- PhasmatodeaAccording to genetic evidence, are among the closest living relatives of , along with and Grylloblattodea.
- MantophasmatodeaGenetic studies identify as one of the closest living relatives of .
- GrylloblattodeaMolecular phylogenetic evidence places Grylloblattodea among the nearest relatives of .
More Details
Taxonomic History
The classification of has undergone substantial revision. Historically, (), Blattodea (), and Mantodea (mantises) were treated as three separate orders within the . Modern molecular has demonstrated that termites are deeply nested within cockroaches as the epifamily Termitoidae, leading to the sinking of Isoptera into Blattodea while Dictyoptera is retained as a superorder containing Blattodea and Mantodea.
Etymology
The name derives from Greek δίκτυον (diktyon, 'net') and πτερόν (pteron, 'wing'), referring to the reticulate venation pattern characteristic of many members.
Homonym Note
is also the valid name of a of net-winged beetles ( Lycidae, order Coleoptera), first described by Latreille in 1829. This creates a homonymy between the insect (Dictyoptera as superorder) and the genus (Dictyoptera as genus). These are entirely unrelated .