The first Palaeodictyoptera (Insecta) from the Carboniferous-Permian basin of Graissessac (France)

Abstract

A new dictyoneurid insect, Dictyoneura goujonorum n. sp. from the Latest Ghzelian -Asselian basin of Graissessac (Hérault, France) is described in details. It is represented by a wellpreserved specimen with wings of 32-35 mm long and 13-14 mm wide and other peculiar diagnostic characters such a MP with four branches and a CuP with three branches. As all the other Dictyoneura species are known from the Namurian and/or the Wesphalian, Dictyoneura goujonorum n. sp. is the youngest representative of the genus. It is also the first record of the order Palaeodictyoptera from the Graissessac basin. The Carboniferous-Permian palaeodictyopterans are well-known to have lived in rather humid swamp forests. The global warming and drying of the climate during the Permian and/or the rise of potential predators may be responsible of their extinction.

Late Paleozoic–Early Mesozoic Insects: State of the Art on Paleoentomological Studies in Southern South America

“…3.4, 3.6–3.7, 8.1). The knowledge of palaeodictyopteran diet is limited, but based on plant-tissue damage, the group is mostly considered phytophagous (Grimaldi & Engel, 2005; Prokop et al , 2017; Logghe et al , 2021). The insects coexisted with a rich macroflora, dominated by lycophytes, sphenophylls, equisetaleans, and gymnosperms, occurring in a deltaic environment under warm-temperate or subtropical climatic conditions (Gutiérrez et al , 2007; Cúneo, 2020).…”

“…, Jell, 2004; Lambkin, 2014a, 2014b, 2016; Haig et al , 2015) show high fossil insect abundance and diversity, with about 335 and 115 species, respectively, followed by South America (Cuyana and Ischigualasto-Villa Unión basins, Mendoza and La Rioja provinces, Argentina) ( e.g. , Lara et al , 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019a, 2019b, 2021, 2023; Lara & Lukashevich, 2013; Lara, 2016; Lara & Wang, 2016; Lara & Aristov, 2016; Lara & Bashkuev, 2020; Bustos-Escalona, 2020).…”