Which order includes roaches and mantids, with chewing mouthparts and four flat wings?

• A. Dictyoptera
• B. Orthoptera
• C. Hymenoptera
• D. Lepidoptera

Answer: (A)

Grouping by mouthparts and wing arrangement helps identify the insect’s order. Roaches and mantids share chewing mouthparts and have two pairs of wings that sit flat over the body, which places them in the Dictyoptera grouping. Historically this group includes cockroaches and mantids, reflecting their common wing structure and biting-mouth characteristics. Other orders differ in key ways: Orthoptera includes grasshoppers and crickets with similar chewing mouthparts but distinct limb adaptations and wing forms; Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants) typically have two pairs of wings and a narrow waist; Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) have scaled wings and different mouthparts. So the best fit for roaches and mantids with four flat wings and chewing mouthparts is Dictyoptera.