Types of the Lower Jurassic cockroaches described by Geinitz, Scudder, Handlirsch and Bode from Germany and England are redescribed. Forty-five previously described Lower Toarcian cockroach species are synonymised into six species. The type genera of the Mesoblattinidae (Mesoblattina Geinitz, 1880) and Caloblattinidae (Caloblattina Handlirsch, 1906) with their type species Blattina protypa Geinitz, 1880 and Blattina mathildae Geinitz, 1883 are restudied. Redescribed are the holotypes of the Lower Liassic Mesoblattina geikiei Scudder, 1886 and the Lower Toarcian Mesoblattina blakei Scudder, 1886. The systematic affinity of Eublattula crassivena Handlirsch, 1939 is still unresolved. The variability of the 88 studied specimens of the dominant Lower Toarcian cockroach Blattula langfeldti (Geinitz, 1880) (Blattulidae) is found to be much greater than the variability of Lower Cretaceous Blattulidae of the same size. Compared with most sites of the Middle-Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous world-wide, the diversity of the studied Lower Jurassic cockroaches is surprisingly low, probably as a result of destabilised ecosystems of the island source areas.

To cite this paper: Vrsansky, P. & Ansorge, J. 2007. Lower Jurassic cockroaches (Insecta: Blattaria) from Germany and England. In: Brothers, D.J. & Mostovski, M.B., eds, Congress Proceedings Fossils X 3, Pretoria, South Africa, 7-11 February 2005. Pietermaritzburg: Natal Museum, pp. 103-126.
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Vrsansky, P. & Ansorge, J. 2007. Lower Jurassic cockroaches (Insecta: Blattaria) from Germany and England. African Invertebrates 48 (1): 103-126.