No evidence for Paleozoic origin of mantises (Dictyoptera: Mantina)

Abstract

The hypothesis of Paleozoic origin of mantises recently proposed by Béthoux & Wieland is discussed. It is shown that these authors reject the logical scenario of evolution of the main higher taxa in the order Dictyoptera, well grounded by the morphological, paleontological and molecular data, in favor of the opposite one based on two very feeble assumptions: about inexplicable importance of one of the very common fusions of veins RS and MA in the tegmina of one of the Carboniferous polyneopterans, and about some traces of basal fusion of RS and M ostensibly present in the tegmina of recent mantises. Arguments against these views are considered.