D. S. Aristov

Fossil Insects of the Middle and Upper Permian of European Russia

Fossil insects of European Russia from the Urzhumian to Vyatkian stages are reviewed, new taxa are described, and dynamics of insect taxonomic diversity around the Permian-Triassic boundary in light of the Paleozoic-Mesozoic boundary global extinction problem is analyzed. Traces of interactions between arthropods and plants are analyzed. Insect-bearing deposits of the Late Paleozoic found in the northern and eastern areas of the East European Platform are unique on the global scale in their completeness and continuity, allowing us to trace especially comprehensively the biotic processes that occurred around the boundary described as the time of the greatest biotic catastrophe of the Phanerozoic. A total of 28 genera and 111 species are newly described. Within the range from the Urzhumian to the Permo-Triassic boundary, 15 representative successive assemblages, including 112 families, are recognized (seven in the area in question and eight in other regions of Asia, Australia, and Africa). New tools are developed for the analysis of the dynamics of diversity. These tools show an approximately equilibrium (slightly positive) dynamics in the Urzhumian and Severodvinian and a drop in diversity during the Vyatkian Age. It is shown that Permian insect assemblages acquired a substantially post-Paleozoic pattern much earlier than the end of the Paleozoic. The character of changes that took place in the Induan and Olenekian remains uncertain, but a large-scale extinction event did not occur here: most families that have not been recorded at the beginning of the Triassic are recorded again in the Middle and Upper Triassic. Nevertheless, a biotic crisis probably actually took place, but was reduced to reorganization of the biota’s structure, which provided enormous growth of biodiversity over subsequent hundreds of millions of years, rather than resulted in catastrophic extinction. This study is intended for entomologists, stratigraphers, and all readers interested in the biotic events that took place around the Permian-Triassic boundary.

Review of the stratigraphic distribution of Permian grylloblattida (Insecta), with descriptions of New Taxa

New taxa of grylloblattid insects (Grylloblattida) are described: Tshekardomina mongolica, sp. nov. (Tshekardominidae) from Bor-Tologoi locality (Severodvinian Stage of Mongolia), Permoshurabia mesenensis, gen. et sp. nov. (Geinitziidae) from Soyana fossil site (Kazanian Stage of Arkhangelsk oblast), Khosaridelia vyatica, sp. nov. (Permotermopsidae) from Karaungir II locality (Vyatkian Stage of Kazakhstan), Euremisca kazanica, sp. nov. (Euremiscidae) from Soyana fossil site (Kazanian Stage of Arkhangelsk oblast), Megakhosarina vyaznikensis, sp. nov. (Megakhosaridae) from Balymotikha locality (Vyatkian Stage of Vladimir oblast), and Parascalicia prokopensis, gen. et sp. nov. (Skaliciidae) from Prokop’evsk fossil site (Kazanian Stage of Kemerovo oblast). The genera Lodevopterum Béthoux, Nel, Lapeyrie et Gand, 2005 (Lodève fossil site, France), Elmopterum Béthoux et Beckemeyer, 2007, and Sigmophlebia Béthoux et Beckemeyer, 2007 (Elmo and Midco fossil sites, United States) are transferred from Grylloblattida incertae sedis to families Euremiscidae, Aliculidae, and Tshekardominidae, respectively. The stratigraphic distribution of Permian grylloblattid families is reviewed.

Upper Jurassic Lagerstätte Shar Teg, southwestern Mongolia

One of the most interesting Mesozoic Lagerstätten, Shar Teg in southwestern Mongolia, is reviewed. The geological structure and oryctocoenoses of Shar Teg are described. Shar Teg is one of the most diverse Jurassic Lagerstätten in terms of fossils represented. Fossils from Shar Teg include aquatic and terrestrial plants, mollusks, crustaceans, insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Insects are the most diverse group. To date, a total of 297 species of 161 families and 22 orders have been described or recorded in Shar Teg, making it possible to reconstruct comprehensively the Jurassic biota of the locality. The oryctocoenosis composition is peculiar; it includes only six species described from other localities. The oryctocoenosis appears to link the faunas of eastern Asia, Central Asia, and Europe. A total of 31 new species are described.

Taxonomy of the fossil grylloblattid nymphs (Insecta: Grylloblattida)

Nymphs of fossil grylloblattid insects are revised. Newly described taxa are Lemmatonympha gracilissima gen. et sp. nov. and Kaltanympha vorcutensis sp. nov. from the Verkhne-Syr’yaginsk locality (Ufimian, Lek-Vorkuta Formation in the Vorkuta Coal Basin), genera Sylvalitoralis gen. nov. and Tshebardanympha gen. nov. from the Tshekarda locality (Kungurian, Koshelevka Formation, Middle Urals), Tataronymphakamensis gen. et sp. nov. from the Tikhie Gory locality (Lower Kazanian, linguloid beds of the Baitugan Formation, Tatarstan), and Kaltanympha ornata sp. nov. from the Kerbo locality (Upper Tatarian, lower part of the Degali Formation, Evenki Autonomous Region). Liomopterites (?) gracilis Sharov, 1961 from Lower Kazanian deposits of the Kuznetsk Formation in the Kuznetsk Basin is transferred to the genus Kaltanympha Sharov, 1961; Permonympha arcuata Sharov, 1957 from the same locality is synonymized under Permonympha gracile Sharov, 1957; the nymph described from the Karatau locality (Upper Jurassic, Karabastau Formation in southern Kazakhstan) as Blattogryllus karatavicus Rasnitsyn, 1976 is excluded from grylloblattids. Keys to extinct grylloblattid nymphs are provided.

New Grylloblattid Insects (Insecta: Grylloblattida) from the Grès à Voltzia of the Vosges (Middle Triassic of France)

New grylloblattid insects (Grylloblattida) are described from the Grès à Voltzia of the Vosges (Anisian of Alsace and Lorraine, France): Chauliodites anisicus, sp. nov. (Chaulioditidae), Palaeomesorthopteron pullus gen. et sp. nov. (Mesorthopteridae), Megakhosarodes vosgesicus sp. nov. (Megakhosaridae), Dorniella elcanoides sp. nov., D. apectinata sp. nov., D. diluta sp. nov., D. ovalis sp. nov., Baharellinus umbrosus sp. nov. Embigryllus shcherbakovi gen. et sp. nov., and Vosgesopterum arzvillerensis gen. et sp. nov. (Blattogryllidae).

New and little-known grylloblattids of the family Geinitziidae (Insecta: Grylloblattida) from the Triassic and Jurassic of Europe, Asia, and South Africa

The fossil history of the family Geinitziidae is reviewed. New taxa are described in the family: Shurabia hissarica, sp. nov. (Lower Jurassic of Tajikistan), Sh. shartegica, sp. nov. (Upper Jurassic of Mongolia), Sh. serrata, sp. nov. and Ginitzia sagulensis, sp. nov. (both Lower Jurassic of Kyrgyzstan). The subfamily Stegopterinae Sharov, 1961 is synonymized under Geinitziinae Handlirsch, 1906. The genera Minesedes Fujiyama, 1973 and Ominea Fujiyama, 1973 (Upper Triassic of Japan) are synonymized under Shurabia Martynov, 1937 and Geinitzia Handlirsch, 1906, respectively. Geinitzia varia Bode, 1953 (Lower Jurassic of Germany) and Fletchizia picturata Riek, 1976 (Upper Triassic of South Africa) are redescribed from their holotypes. F. kapokraalensis Wappler, 2001 and F. aleda Wappler, 2001 (both Upper Triassic of South Africa) are transferred to the genus Shurabia.

New Grylloblattids of the family Megakhosaridae (Insecta: Grylloblattida) from the Permian of Russia

New Megakhosaridae (Insecta: Grylloblattida) are described from the Permian of Russia: Ivakhosara pectinimedia gen. et sp. nov., Megakhosarina intricata sp. nov. and M. minuscula sp. nov. from the Lower Kazanian of Soyana (Arkhangelsk Region), M. magna sp. nov. from the Urzhumian of Chepanikha (Udmurtia), Kargalokhosara terraefossa gen. et sp. nov. from the Urzhumian of Kargala (Orenburg Region), and Alekhosara reticulata gen. et sp. nov. from the Severodvinian of Novo-Aleksandrovka (Orenburg Region).

A new family of the order Grylloblattida (Insecta) from the Middle Permian of Russia

A new family, Ivapteridae fam. nov. (Insecta; Grylloblattida), is described from the Middle Permian locality of Soyana (Arkhangelsk Region; Kazanian Stage). It is most similar to Sojanoraphidiidae O. Martynova, 1952, differing from it in the subcostal field being traversed in the basal half of the wing by long, curved, and strongly oblique crossveins that form a double row of cells, the base of CuA being free, and CuA1 thin compared to CuA2. The new family is represented by a single species, Ivaptera sharovi, gen. et sp. nov. An overview of the modern system of the order Grylloblattida is included.

New and Little Known Blattogryllidae (Insecta: Grylloblattida) from the Permian and Triassic of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan

New members of the family Blattogryllidae are described, including Permoblattogryllus praecox gen. et sp. nov. from the Middle Permian Soyana locality in Russia, Protoblattogryllus nedubrovensis from the Lower Triassic Nedubrovo locality in Russia, Madygenocephalus micropteron gen. et sp. nov. (the second known case of brachyptery in grylloblattids), and Costatoviblatta similis sp. nov. from the Middle Triassic Madygen locality in Kyrgyzstan. Protoblattogryllus zajsanicus Storozhenko, 1990 from the Upper Permian Karaungir II locality in Kazakhstan is redescribed. The genus Microblattogryllus Storozhenko, 1990 from Madygen is considered to be a synonym of Protoblattogryllus Storozhenko, 1990. Protoblattogryllus abruptus Storozhenko, 1990 from the Madygen locality is transferred to the genus Mesoblattogryllus Storozhenko, 1990.

New Gryllones (Insecta) from the Permian of Russia

New representatives of Gryllones (Insecta) of the orders Eoblattida, Reculida (Blattidea), and Cnemidolestida (Perlidea) from Ufimian–Urzhumian deposits of Russia are described. The following taxa are described in the order Eoblattida: Novokshonovus boreus sp. nov. from Vorkuta (Atactophlebiidae; Ufimian Stage of Perm Region); Idelina mala sp. nov. from Kityak (Permotermopsidae; Upper Kazanian Substage of Kirov Region); Megakhosarella paula sp. nov. from Soyana (Megakhosaridae; Lower Kazanian Substage of Arkhangelsk Region); Permopectina sibirica, sp. nov. from Tesh (Permopectinidae; Kazanian Stage of Kemerovo Region). Idelina kamensis Storozhenko, 1992 from Tikhie Gory (Lower Kazanian Substage of Tatarstan) is redescribed. The following taxa are assigned to Reculida: Arkhangeloptera sokica gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Kazanian of Soyana in Arkhangelsk Region; Chauliodites incanus sp. nov. from the Urzhumian of Kargala in the Orenburg Region (Chaulioditidae); Permoshurabia komi sp. nov. from the Ufimian of Vorkuta in Perm Region; Geinitzia ima sp. nov.; Shurabia inferior sp. nov.; Stegopterum primus sp. nov. from the Kazanian of Soyana in Arkhangelsk Region; Permovalia abortiva gen. et sp. nov. from Kityak (Geinitziidae); Uraloprisca torta sp. nov. from Soyana; Artinska novella sp. nov. from Kityak (Lemmatophoridae); Sylvaella martynovi sp. nov. (Liomopteridae); Sylvaphlebia gunderseni sp. nov.; Sylviodes martynovae sp. nov. (Sylvaphlebiidae); Idelopterum samoedum gen. et sp. nov. (Pinideliidae) from Soyana. Liomopterella tota Aristov, 2005 from Vorkuta, Sibirella aberta Storozhenko, 1992 and Liomopterites pomorus Storozhenko, 1992 from Soyana are transferred to the genus Paraskalicia of the family Skaliciidae. The genus Rigidilioma from the Urzhumian Chepanikha locality in Udmurtia is transferred from the family Liomopteridae to Skaliciidae. The family Protembiidae (=Sojanoraphidiidae, syn. nov., =Tshekardominidae, syn. nov.), assigned to the order Cnemidolestida, is revised. The following new Kazanian protemibiids are described: Tshekardomina novokshonovi sp. nov.; Soyanocadaver crypticus gen. et sp. nov. from Soyana (Arkhangelsk Region of Russia) and Kirovopteron luteus gen. et sp. nov. from Kityak (Kirov Region of Russia). Ventopterum rapidum Kukalová, 1964 from Obora (Sakmarian Stage of Czech Republic) is redescribed and transferred from the family Havlatiidae to Protembiidae.