Dictyoptera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids DictyopteraTemporal range: Carboniferous – Recent
|
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Subclass: | |
| Infraclass: | |
| Superorder: |
Dictyoptera
|
| Orders | |
|
Blattodea (cockroaches and termites) Mantodea – (mantids) maybe Phasmatodea – (phasmids) |
|
Dictyoptera is a group of insects that includes two main types: cockroaches and termites (which are part of the group called Blattodea), and mantids (also known as Mantodea). These insects are found all over the world.
Even though they look different, cockroaches, termites, and mantids are very closely related. Scientists use both how they live (their ecology) and their DNA (molecular data) to show how connected they are. For example, termites are actually a special kind of cockroach!
Contents
What are Dictyoptera?
Dictyoptera is often seen as a "superorder." In biology, a superorder is a group of related orders. So, Dictyoptera brings together the orders of termites, cockroaches, and mantids.
Sometimes, Dictyoptera is called an "order" itself. But no matter what it's called, the three main insect groups inside it (termites, cockroaches, and mantids) are always the same. They are just placed at different levels in the animal family tree.
Ancient Dictyoptera
Scientists have found very old fossils of Dictyoptera. These fossils show us what these insects looked like millions of years ago. The oldest Dictyoptera fossils come from the Carboniferous period. This was a time when Earth had huge forests and many insects.
Modern Dictyoptera have a short ovipositor. An ovipositor is a special tube that female insects use to lay their eggs. But the ancient Dictyoptera fossils had long ovipositors. They were much longer, similar to those found on Orthoptera insects, like grasshoppers and crickets. This tells us how these insects have changed over a very long time.
Relatives of Dictyoptera
Based on their genes, the closest living relatives of the Dictyoptera are the phasmids. Phasmids are also known as stick insects or leaf insects. They are famous for their amazing camouflage.
If Dictyoptera is considered a superorder, then phasmids might also be included in this larger group. This shows how all living things are connected through evolution.
Images for kids
-
Termite queen with soldiers
See also
In Spanish: Dictiópteros para niños
