The second species of the cnemidolestid genus Piesbergopterum from the Upper Carboniferous of Avion, Northern France (Archaeorthoptera: Cnemidolestidae)

Abstract

The Palaeozoic archaeorthopteran order Cnemidolestodea Handlirsch, 1937 (sensu Béthoux, 2005; not sensu Aristov, 2014) currently comprises only the family Cnemidolestidae Handlirsch, 1906. They are easily characterized by the presence of a more or less triangular area delimited by the vein MA and the first anterior fork of MP+CuA+CuPa, this last vein having several parallel posterior branches. Dvořák et al. (2021) listed the included genera, and described the new genus and species Piesbergopterum punctatum from the Moscovian of Piesberg (Germany), characterized by the presence of a pattern of rounded spots in numerous cells all over the forewings. Nel & Poschmann (in press) noticed that the Cnemidolestidae show an important diversity of patterns of coloration on their forewings, possibly related to cryptic behaviors in the vegetation.

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

“…, Koshelevka Formation, Vorkuta, Solikamsk Formation, Soyana, Tikhie Gory, Kityak, Kaltan-Sarbala, Chepanikha-Kostovaty, Kargala, Lower–Middle Permian), USA (Carrizo Arroyo locality-New Mexico, Elmo locality-Wellington Formation, Lower Permian), and France (Salagou Formation, Lodève Basin, Middle Permian) ( e.g. , Shcherbakov, 2000; Béthoux et al , 2001; Béthoux, 2005; Nicholson, 2012; Aristov et al , 2013; Rasnitsyn et al , 2015; Prokop et al , 2017; Nel & Roques, 2021, 2022). This indicates the widespread distribution of certain families, such as Phyloblattidae, Cnemidolestidae, Diaphanopteridae, Permochoristidae, Jurinidae, Dysmorphoptilidae, Prosbolidae, and Permocupedidae, across Pangea during Permian times.…”

“…The Late Paleozoic entomofaunas of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay share the presence of families Phyloblattidae (stem-Dictyoptera), Permochoristidae (Mecoptera) and Permocupedidae (Coleoptera), evidencing a broad distribution in South America (Pinto, 1972b;Pinto & Purper, 1979;Pinto & Sedor, 2000;Calisto, 2018). Likewise, the South American insect faunas present a similar composition to those recorded in deposits from South Africa (Riek, 1973, 1976b, 1976c), and Australia (e.g., Tillyard, 1926Riek, 1953;Evans, 1958;Jell, 2004), but also in northerner deposits in Russia (e.g., Koshelevka Formation, Vorkuta, Solikamsk Formation, Soyana, Tikhie Gory, Kityak, Kaltan-Sarbala, Chepanikha-Kostovaty, Kargala, Lower-Middle Permian), USA (Carrizo Arroyo locality-New Mexico, Elmo locality-Wellington Formation, Lower Permian), and France (Salagou Formation, Lodève Basin, Middle Permian) (e.g., Shcherbakov, 2000;Béthoux et al, 2001;Béthoux, 2005;Nicholson, 2012;Aristov et al, 2013;Rasnitsyn et al, 2015;Prokop et al, 2017;Nel & Roques, 2021. This indicates the widespread and Gondwana (Australia, South Africa, and South America) supports a connection between both landmasses .…”