Late Palaeozoic Paoliida is the sister group of Dictyoptera (Insecta: Neoptera)

Abstract

Paoliida is an insect group of highly controversial composition and equally controversial affinities. Based on comprehensive reinvestigations we propose a new delimitation of the insect order Paoliida sensu nov. associating the families Paoliidae and Blattinopsidae on the basis of the following main wing venation characters: veins CuA convex and CuP concave separating from a rather long basal stem Cu; a short, more or less distinct, but generally convex arculus brace (crossvein) between M and CuA (more distinct in forewing than in hind wing), and a broad area containing veinlets, between CuP and CuA, with a general course of CuA making a double curve (autapomorphy); CuP straight or sigmoidal. The Paoliida is considered as a neopteran clade and potential sister group of the Dictyoptera on the basis of the presence of well-defined anterior branches of CuA, with the same convexity as the median vein and more concave than the posterior branches of the same vein (synapomorphy). The polarities of the other characters shared by these clades are discussed. New diagnoses of the order Paoliida and the family Paoliidae are provided after re-examination of the type material. We attribute Herbstiala herbsti to Paoliidae and consider Herbstialidae as a junior synonym of this family. The grylloblattid family Ideliidae is considered as a junior synonym of Paoliidae, transferring genera Stenaropodites, Aenigmidelia, Archidelia, Sojanidelia, Micaidelia, Acropermula and Mongoloidelia to this family. Kochopteron hoffmannorum and Protoblattina bouvieri are newly included in Paoliidae. Protoblattinopsis stubblefieldi is reinterpreted as a hind wing having highly specialized cubito-anal structures functionally analogous to the anal loop structure of the hind wing of the Mesozoic Isophlebioidea (Odonatoptera). We attribute Protoblattinopsis to Paoliida and consider Protoblattinidae as a junior synonym of Paoliidae. Furthermore, a new Paoliidae, Silesiapteron jarmilae gen. et sp. nov. is described from Upper Carboniferous sphaerosiderite concretion of Poland.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:296A17BD-2A84-4C1F-B19E-737DDFE7E17C