The first reconstruction of mantodean phylogeny using a large morphological dataset of the entire group is presented. 152 morphological characters were encoded for 122 species of Mantodea, encompassing all 15 currently recognized families, 34 of 48 subfamilies (71 %) and 33 of 46 tribus (72 %). Structures from the entire exoskeleton were studied, including characters that have been stated to be convergent developments before without data-based evidence. Fossils, behaviour and ontogenetic observations were used for the interpretation of structures and the discussion of evolutionary scenarios.Calculations resulted in 888 equally parsimonious trees (analysis I). Many characters were found to be highly homoplastic, resulting in consensus cladograms with low resolution except for many smaller distal clades. Characters were automatically reweighted (based on the Rescaled Consistency Index).Subsequent calculation (analysis II) resulted in 10 equally parsimonious trees, and the consensus cladogram was almost fully resolved. Most of the small monophyletic groups found in analysis I were recovered in analysis II.The resulting phylogenetic reconstruction supported the monophyly of five traditional families (Acanthopidae, Empusidae, Eremiaphilidae, Thespidae, and Toxoderidae; 33 %), of 11 subfamilies (Amorphoscelinae, Angelinae, Chroicopterinae, Empusinae, Haaniinae, Hymenopodinae, Oxypilinae, Paraoxypilinae, Perlamantinae, Toxoderinae, and Tropidomantinae; 32 % of the subfamilies studied) and of six tribus (Angelini, Chroicopterini, Idolomorphini, Oxypilini, Polyspilotini, and Rivetinini; 18 % of the tribus studied). The subgroups of Amorphoscelidae in the traditional sense clustered together in analysis II (not in analysis I), however the group encompassed Compsothespis (which is usually assumed to belong to Mantidae) as the sistergroup of Amorphoscelinae + Perlamantinae within Amorphoscelidae. The potential likeliness of this scenario was discussed in detail.Many structures have been shown to have evolved many times independently in Mantodea, most likely due to comparable selective pressures in the respective habitats. Among them are the head processes, lamellar expansions of the pronota, and lobes on the legs and on the abdomen. Furthermore, the metathoracic hearing organ ("cyclopean ear") evolved several times independently and possibly separately in males and females in some cases. Molecular studies have instead found evidence for a monophyletic neotropical earless taxon in the basal part of the phylogenetic tree. Thespidae was found to be monophyletic and to include Oligonicinae as well as Haaniinae, nested among the latter. The monophyly of Oligonicinae including Haaniinae is supported by their unique fore tibial morphology. This phylogenetic relationship implicates that the ear in Haaniinae originated independently form other taxa, as the group is nested among the earless Oligonicinae.Congruence between the morphological reconstruction of the phylogeny and the traditional classification was higher than that...

The sensitivity of eggs of Echinococcus multilocularis to environmental and controlled laboratory conditions was tested. Egg material was exposed and the infectivity was subsequently monitored by in vitro activation and by oral infection of the natural host, Microtus arvalis. To study the impact of environmental conditions in an endemic area of south-western Germany, eggs were sealed into bags of nylon mesh and exposed to the natural climate during various seasons. The maximal survival time of eggs was 240 days in an experiment performed in autumn and winter and 78 days in summer. A study of the tenacity of eggs under laboratory conditions revealed a high sensitivity to elevated temperatures and to desiccation. At 45 degrees C and 85-95% relative humidity the infectivity was lost after 3 h as well as after 4 h exposure to 43 degrees C suspended in water. Exposure to 27% relative humidity at 25 degrees C as well as exposure to 15% relative humidity at 43 degrees C resulted in a total loss of infectivity within 48 and 2 h, respectively. Temperatures of 4 degrees C and of -18 degrees C were well tolerated (478 days and 240 days survival, respectively), whereas exposure to -83 degrees C and to -196 degrees C quickly killed off the eggs (within 48 h and 20 h, respectively). Eggs of E. multilocularis were not killed off by exposure to various commercially available disinfectants applied according to the manufacturers' instructions and by exposure for 24 h to low concentrations of ethanol. Irradiation with 40 krad. from a 137Caesium source prevented the development of metacestodes but allowed seroconversion of infected rodents.

Melt condensation of 5-acetoxyisophthalic acid (1) and 5-(2-hydroxyethoxy)isophthalic acid (4) yielded hyperbranched aromatic polyesters with carboxylic acid terminal groups. The polymer of 1 has a Tt of 239 °C and thus required melt acidolysis polymerization temperatures of 240-260 °C to obtain M*s in the 20 000 to 80 000 range. The polyester based on 4, with a lower T" was obtained at around 190 °C using standard polycondensation techniques. Comparisons of Mark-Houwink plots of these polyesters with linear polystyrene were consistent with the expected highly branched structures. NMR studies revealed the degree of branching to be about 50%, similar to what has been observed in other hyperbranched polyester systems.The hyperbranched polyesters were easily converted to the ammonium or sodium salts and the viscosity behavior of these water-soluble hyperbranched polyelectrolytes was investigated.

This study provides a comprehensive review of historical morphological nomenclature used for praying mantis (Mantodea) morphology, which includes citations, original use, and assignment of homology. All referenced structures across historical works correspond to a proposed standard term for use in all subsequent works pertaining to praying mantis morphology and systematics. The new standards are presented with a verbal description in a glossary as well as indicated on illustrations and images. In the vast majority of cases, originally used terms were adopted as the new standard. In addition, historical morphological topographical homology conjectures are considered with discussion on modern interpretations. A new standardized formulation to present foreleg femoral and tibial spines is proposed for clarity based on previous works. In addition, descriptions for methods of collection, curation, genital complex dissection, and labeling are provided to aid in the proper preservation and storage of specimens for longevity and ease of study. Due to the lack of consistent linear morphometric measurement practices in the literature, we have proposed a series of measurements for taxonomic and morphological research. These measurements are presented with figures to provide visual aids with homologous landmarks to ensure compatibility and comparability across the Order. Finally, our proposed method of pinning mantises is presented with a photographical example as well as a video tutorial available at http://mantodearesearch.com.

Homologies of the forewing venation pattern of the order Mantodea (Insecta: Dictyoptera) consistent with the accepted insect wing venation groundplan are proposed. A comparative morphological analysis was carried out based on a broad taxonomic sample of extant taxa. Besides macromorphological aspects, focus is given to the pattern of the tracheal system as a basis for establishing primary homologies. All extant praying mantids exhibit a composite stem composed of the posterior radius (RP) and the media (M) and most praying mantids exhibit a fusion of the anterior branch of RP + M with the anterior radius (RA). The wing venation of the species †Mesoptilus dolloi, previously assigned to the polyphyletic fossil assemblage ‘Protorthoptera’, is re‐interpreted in the light of the new homology statement. Our interpretation suggests that it is a putative stem‐Mantodea, as are some other ‘protorthopterous’ taxa. This hypothesis implies that the total‐group Mantodea arose as soon as the Late Carboniferous, i.e. about 175 million years earlier than previously estimated. This analysis contributes to the view that most of the Late Carboniferous ‘Protorthoptera’ are stem‐representatives of the major polyneopteran clades (e.g. cockroaches, grasshoppers and crickets, rock‐crawlers), suggesting a survivorship of several main Pterygota lineages at the end‐Permian extinction event higher than previously expected. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 156, 79–113.