New insects (Paoliida, Dictyoptera) from the Carboniferous outcrop of Tante Victoire in Var, France

Abstract

We introduce a novel paoliid, Carbonidelia gallica gen. et sp. nov., which may share close affinities with the 'ideliid ' genus Sojanidelia Storozhenko, 1992. This new taxon is described from Gzhelian strata exposed at Tante Victoire (Var, France). Additionally, we present a remarkably well-preserved forewing from the same outcrop belonging to the phyloblattid genus and species Anthracoblattina ensifer cf. 'variety desguini'. This species was previously known from the Gzhelian of Commentry (Allier, France). Therefore, this finding strengthens the Gzhelian age derived from the study of the palaeoflora at this outcrop.In this study, we also briefly delve into the inter-and intraspecific variability in the forewing venation of the 'Anthracoblattina gigantea-ensifera group'. Furthermore, we challenge the classification of two Mesozoic roachoids, Sobytie tungusicum Vršanský, 2010 and Pozabudnutie antiquorum Hinkelman and Vršanský, 2022, which, in our view, do not belong to the Phyloblattidae family. Instead, they should be regarded as Dictyoptera of uncertain family affinities. A comprehensive revision of these species will be necessary to establish their precise taxonomic positions.