The oldest known record of Taeniopterygidae in the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China (Insecta: Plecoptera)

Abstract

Two new genera and three new species of family Taeniopterygidae, Jurataenionema inornatus Liu and Ren, gen. et sp. nov., Jurataenionema stigmaeus Liu and Ren, gen. et sp. nov. and Protaenionema fuscalatus Liu and Shih, gen. et sp. nov. are described from Daohugou village (Middle Jurassic), Inner Mongolia, China. These are the oldest records of Taeniopterygidae. The venations of these two genera were very simple, providing evidence that the costal crossveins and the occasional apical crossveins are derived characters. We suggest the same is true of the extra branches of Rs and CuA in family Taeniopterygidae. Extra branches and crossveins added through geologic time might have improved aerodynamics of the wings.