A Review of Necrotauliids from the Triassic/Jurassic of England (Trichoptera: Necrotauliidae)

Richard S Kelly,Robert A Coram,Andrew J Ross

doi:10.1155/2018/6706120

Richard S Kelly, Robert A Coram + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6706120

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Abstract

Species previously attributed to Necrotauliidae are revised from the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic of England based on examination of type specimens and non-type material. The necrotauliids have been considered as a basal family of caddisflies (Trichoptera) or as a paraphyletic assemblage of stem-amphiesmenopterans. Herein a new genus,Austaulius, is erected which includes all Lilstock Formation∖Lower Lias material from England; the previously described species are synonymized withA. furcatusand a new species,A. haustrum, is described from the Dorset Coast, the holotype of which preserves synapomorphic traits of the Trichoptera not previously described suggesting that the family is trichopteran. The type genus remainsNecrotauliusand type speciesN. parvulus(Geinitz, 1884) from the type locality of Dobbertin, Germany. One species ofNecrotauliusis represented in the UK,N. parvulus, which is found in the Upper Lias.

Highlights

Trichoptera are a relatively small order of insects with 13,000 living species [1] and 642 fossil species according to Morse [2]
Trichopterans from the early Mesozoic are usually preserved as isolated wings and are difficult to distinguish from early Lepidoptera and stem-Amphiesmenoptera
Ansorge [12] considered Prorhyacophila a junior synonym of Mesotrichopteridium; this has not been followed by others

Summary

Introduction

Trichoptera (caddisflies) are a relatively small order of insects with 13,000 living species [1] and 642 fossil species according to Morse [2]. More fossil species have been described since, for example, [3], the online Palaeobiology Database (PBDB—http://fossilworks.org) lists 553 valid species. Whereas Lepidoptera (“scale-winged”) have a layer of scales on their wings, Trichoptera (“hairy-winged”) usually have a layer of hairs, but there are exceptions and some caddisflies are known to have scales [4]. Most larvae are aquatic some can be semiaquatic or terrestrial and they are among the few insects to have radiated into the marine realm [5]. Trichopterans from the early Mesozoic are usually preserved as isolated wings and are difficult to distinguish from early Lepidoptera and stem-Amphiesmenoptera

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