Gonocoxites of 7th abdominal segment. The nature
of the pair of finger-like structures at the ventral side
of the abdomen is hard to identify (Fig. 2B). They appear
to be ventral appendages of the 7th or 8th segments,
most resembling the paired posterior processes
of the 7th sternite of some species of the mantispid
genus Theristria Gerstaecker (Lambkin 1986, fig. 36),
the gonocoxites of the 7th abdominal segment of Hoelzeliella
(Aspck & Aspck 1997, fig. 33), or the gonocoxites
of the 8th abdominal segment (subgenitale) of
Rhachiberotha Tjeder (Tjeder 1959, figs 243D, E). We
interpret these structures as the 7th gonocoxites, as they
are located distant enough from the 9th gonocoxites;
moreover, the 8th gonocoxites (subgenitale) in extant
taxa are usually not finger-like. It is also possible (but
very unlikely) that these structures may be terminal
parts of the pseudohypocaudae of the 9th tergite, like
those of Berothidae (e.g., Aspck & Aspck 1997, fig.
33). In any case, the presence of this pair of finger-like
structures shows that the Dipteromantispidae appears to
have a close relationship with Berothidae and/or