Dictyoptera (from Ancient Greek
diktuon "net" +
pteron "wing") is an insect
superorder that includes two
orders of polyneopterous insects - the
termites and cockroaches (both order:
Blattodea) along with the mantids (order:
Mantodea). While all modern Dictyoptera have short
ovipositors, the oldest fossils of Dictyoptera have long ovipositors, much like members of the
Orthoptera.