Blattaria
(cockroaches) and
Mantodea
(preying
mantids). There are two important families viz.,
Blattidae
and
Mantidae
Blattidae
Mantidae
1.
Head is not mobile in all directions
Head is mobile in all directions
2.
Head is hidden by the pronotum
Pronotum does not cover the head
3.
Two fenestrae (dagenerated ocelli sensitive
to light) occur in the place of ocelli
Three ocelli are present
4.
Pronotum is shield like
Pronotum is elongate
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5.
Legs are cursorial and are adapted for
running
Forelegs are raptorial middle and hindlegs
suited for walking
6.
Gizzard is powerfully armed with chitinous
teeth to grind food
Chitinous teeth are absent in gizzard
7.
Female does not devour the male during
mating
Often (but not always) devours the male
during mating
8.
Eggs are laid inside a chitinous ootheca
Eggs are enclosed in filled solidfied foam
Ootheca is not chitinous.
9.
Nymphs are not cannibalistic
Nymphs are cannibalistic
10
No mimicry is found
Mimic leaves and flowers
11.
Omnivorous
Carnivorous
12.
Found in household, dead wood, litter etc.
Found mostly outdoors
13.
Economic importance: They feed on food
stuff, clothes and paper. They impart a foul
smell to the food by contaminating with
excreta. Hence they are harmful.
Economic importance: They are predators
on moths, flies, grasshoppers, cater- pillars,
etc. Hence they are beneficial.
14.
Important species:
American cockroach
Periplanata americana
Important species:
Mantis religiosa
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