Polyneoptera
Guides
Dictyoptera
Dictyoptera is a superorder 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 ootheca-laying reproduction. The group represents one of the most significant taxonomic reorganizations in insect systematics, with termites now recognized as eusocial cockroaches nested within Blattodea rather than a separate order.
Protorthoptera
Protorthoptera is an extinct order of Palaeozoic insects first appearing in the Middle Carboniferous (late Serpukhovian or early Bashkirian). It represents a paraphyletic assemblage of basal neopteran insects rather than a true monophyletic group. The order includes the ancestors of all other polyneopterous insects. Pronotal lobes in some forms were expanded to form a shield-like structure.