Temporal range: Upper Carboniferous to end Permian, 318–251 mya
The Palaeodictyoptera were large flying insects which are now extinct. They were common in the Upper Carboniferous, and became extinct at the end-Permian extinction. Their size varied from large to huge. For example, Mazothairos had a wingspan of about 55 centimetres (22 in).
Herbivores[change | change source]
They were the first major group of herbivorous insects. They had long, beak-like, piercing mouthparts, and probably a sucking organ. The mouthparts match the signs of damage in fossil plant leaves and stems.
Flight[change | change source]
In addition to the normal four wings, they had two "pronota" in front. These pronota were smaller than the regular wings, but had wing veins just like the real things. They did not move up and down, so maybe they helped gliding. The Palaeodictyoptera are sometimes whimsically called "six-winged insects". The actual wings are often boldly marked: the patterns of colour can be seen in fossils.
These insects had paired cerci (singular: cercus) on their rear segment. The function of these is not clear. Cerci often serve as sensory organs, but they may also be used as weapons or copulation aids, or they may simply be vestigial structures. The cerci on some species was longer than the rest of the insect.
References[change | change source]
- Grimaldi, David and Engel, Michael S. 2003. Evolution of the insects, p170–173. Cambridge University Press ISBN 0-521-82149-5
- Scott A.C. 1991. Evidence for plant–animal interactions in the fossil record. Geology Today. 7, 58–61.
- Scott A.C. & Taylor T.N. 1983. Plant/animal interactions in the Upper Carboniferous. Botanical Review 49, 259–307.
- Taylor T.N. & Scott A.C. 1983. Interactions of plants and animals during the Carboniferous. Bioscience 38, 488–493.
- See illustrations here: .
- Carpenter F.M. 1992. Superclass Hexapoda. Volume 3 of Part R, Arthropoda 4; Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Boulder, Colorado: Geological Society of America.