Fig. 1

a Mating couple exhibiting the false-male-above-mating position in Karoophasma biedouwense (Mantophasmatodea). The male sits above the female and bends its abdomen in an S-shape around her right side, bending its abdomen to the left to insert external genitalia into the female genital opening (photo by Mike D. Picker). b Close-up of the copulation position during the insertion process. Note the cerci which are used as claspers to hold on to the female abdomen, while the membranous phallic organ is inserted. c μ-CT-based volume rendered reconstructed postabdomen of a male K. biedouwense. d-e μ-CT-based 3D reconstructions of internal reproductive organs and gut from lateral (d) and dorsal view (e). ag – accessory gland, CS9 – abdominal coxosternum IX (subgenital plate), ce – cerci, do – drumming organ, ep – epiproct, g – gut, pl – phallic lobes, pp – paraproct, sv – seminal vesicle, T10 – abdominal tergum X, te – testis, vd – vas deferens