New archaeorthopteran insects from the Pennsylvanian of Piesberg reveal unexpected mosaic of morphological traits and colouration pattern of the tegmina

New archaeorthopterans Contracladus impar gen. nov. et sp. nov. (uncertain assignement), Paraspiculum brauckmannii gen. nov. et sp. nov. (Caloneurodea) and Piesbergopterum punctatum gen. nov. et sp. nov. (Cnemidolestodea) are described from the Moscovian of Piesberg quarry near Osnabruck (Lower Saxony, Germany). All new taxa display unique patterns of their forewing venations. The mosaic of characters found in C. impar with a particular lack of a free vein CuA demonstrates the limits of the current systematics for Archaeorthoptera. The evidence for a supposedly disruptive pattern of colouration is demonstrated on the forewing membrane of P. punctatum, which shows numerous spots in the distal part of the wing. Those are inside the cells delimited by the crossveins. The exceptionally preserved fossils found in Piesberg document fine structural details and complete our knowledge on the early history of this diverse group of polyneopteran insects.

Automated summary

New genera and species of Archaeorthoptera, Paraspiculum brauckmannii, and Piesbergopterum punctatum were described from fossils found in Piesberg quarry near Osnabruck, Germany. These fossils provide unique wing venation patterns and offer insights into the early history of polyneopteran insects.