Latest Permian insects from Wapadsberg Pass, southern Karoo Basin, South Africa

Abstract

The Permian–Triassic global crisis was the only event to have a dramatic impact on insect diversity, with Palaeozoic insect clades disappearing and accompanied by the accelerated rise of modern lineages. To date, most Permian palaeoentomological work has focused on the upper Permian deposits of the Normandien Formation (Beaufort Group), KwaZulu–Natal Province. This paper describes the regional insect fauna preserved close to the Permian–Triassic boundary at Wapadsberg Pass, southern Karoo Basin of South Africa, which provides a rare glimpse into insect life immediately before this global crisis. Here, we describe six insect species from six families within five orders from the two Wapadsberg Pass localities. Mioloptera stuckenbergi (Grylloblattodea) and Permocicada sp. (Hemiptera) were recorded previously from the Lopingian KwaZulu–Natal Province. In addition, we detail the first potential occurrence of South African Permian Tettigoniida (Orthoptera: Tettigonioidea & Hagloidea) and Anthracoptilidae (Paoliida). An Auchenorrhynchan (Hemiptera) nymph and an undetermined insect (order uncertain) also are described.

Arthropod interactions with the Permian Glossopteris flora

“…Current African records are dominated by hemipterans, grylloblattids and mecopterans (Table 3). Indeed, 'grylloblattids' appear to be particularly abundant and diverse in Gondwanan Permian deposits in comparison to assemblages from the Northern Hemisphere where they comprise a lesser component of the entomofauna (Aristov & Mostovski, 2013;Pretorius et al, 2021). Also present are Blattodea, Coleoptera, Miomoptera, Neuroptera, Protorthoptera, Palaeodictyopteroida, Paoliida and Paraplecoptera (Table 3).…”

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

“…In Gondwana, the entomological assemblages seem poorly represented in comparison to the Northern Hemisphere and need further investigations (Nel et al, 2018). However, Australia (Sydney Basin) (Jell, 2004) and South Africa (Karoo Basin) (e.g., Pretorius et al, 2021;Prevec et al, 2022;Nel & Prevec, 2023) and Late Permian insect finds, followed by South America (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay) (Zherikhin, 2002;Schlüter, 2003).…”

“…However, Australia (Sydney Basin) (Jell, 2004) and South Africa (Karoo Basin) ( e.g. , Pretorius et al , 2021; Prevec et al , 2022; Nel & Prevec, 2023) have numerous Middle and Late Permian insect finds, followed by South America (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay) (Zherikhin, 2002; Schlüter, 2003).…”