Re-examination of the venation of Osmylopsychops spillerae Tillyard from the Triassic of Queensland

6 Pages·1992·1 MB·

by  Kevin J Lambkin

RE-EXAMINATION OFTHE VENATION OFOSMYLOPSYCHOPSSPILLERAE
TILLYARDFROM THETRIASSICOFQUEENSLAND
KEVIN LAMBKIN
J,
Lambkin. KJ. 1992 06 29: Re-examination ofthe venation of Osmyhpsychops Spttlerae
Tillyard from ihe Triassic of Queensland. Memoirs ofthe Queensland Museum 32(1):
183-188. Brisbane. ISSN0079-8835.
The finding ofnew material has permitted re-examination ofthe venation of the Triassic
ncuroptcran Osmyhpsychops spillerae Tillyard. Many of the features of Tillyard's
reconstructionofthe forewingofthe speciesaxeshown tobeerroneous.[^Osmylnpsychnps
spillerae, Neuroptera, Insecta, Triassic, Queensland.
KevinJ. Lambkin, HonoraryResearch Fellow, QueenslandMuseum, POBox3300, South
Brisbane, Queensland4101; Correspondence to: 75 Alexandra Si, Bardon, Queensland,
Australia4865; 22November, 1991
In the lastofhis 10partseriesonthe Mesozoic Tillyard'smaterial wascollectedingreyshales
insectsofQueensland,Tillyard (1923) described of the Blackstone Formation that were exp
o broad-winged psychopsid-like Jacewing from inasmallquarry atDenmarkHill,asuhurh ofthe
the Triassic of Denmark Hill in south-eastern townofIpswich(Dunstan, 1916). MountCrosby
Queensland (27'37'S, I52*47*E) as Osmylap- fossil insects occur in green shales ofthe Moiini
hops spillerae Tillyard. OsmylopsychopsTil- CrosbyFormationandhavebeencollectedatfive
i
ltd was ascribed to the new family separate exposures designated as Fossil \w
Osmylopsychopsidae by Martynova (1949) and, Localities A, B, C, D and E (details in Allen,
in 1953, Ellcnbcrgcr ct al. augmented the genus 1961). Both Formations aie Late Triassic (Kai-
with their description of O. radialis from the nian) and form part of the Ipswich (
UpperTriassic ofFrance. Measures, with the Mount Crosby Formation
O. spillerae was basedon two wing fragments lowerin the sequence (Cranfield ct al., 1976).
(Tillyard, 1923, pi. XXIII, figs 39.40), from With one exception, the determination of
which Tillyard 'reconstructed' the forewing whether the isolated wing fragments described
venation (Fig.1). Becauseofthefragmentary na- herein are of fore- or hindwings has not been
ture of this type material (Figs3,4), much ofthe possible. The closestliving species forcomp;.i;j
ir'.'oristructionwasnotionaland,asoftenhappens live purposes is the psychopsid Megapsychops
with such best guess' reconstructions, its publi- illidgei (Froggatt). In this speciesthebasicvena-
cation and subsequent reproduction (e.g. Riek, tionalpatternsofthefore-andhindwingsarevery
1970) entrenched in the literature an assumed to similar (sec Tillyard, 1919, pi. LXXV1I, Bg.4;
curate 'complete' venational scheme that New, 1988, figs196,197) and, because of
became a baseline for subsequent comparisons similarity. 1 believe it is valid, for the sake of
with similarspecies. convenience of discussion, to regard all wing
Thepurpose ofthepresentwork istoprovidea fragments of O. spillerae considered herein as
moreaccurateviewofthevenationofO.spillerae probable forewings.Theexception to this uncer-
and inso doingto excludeTillyard's reconsrruc- taintyisspecimenUQDECB14(Fig.6).IthasIhe
lion, visually appealing though it may be, from proximal regions of AA3+4 and AP widely
ihedatasetoffossil Neuroptera.There-examina- separated and the stem of AA1+2 clearly
Hon ofthe venation ofthe species has been made developed (both forewing characters of M. il-
possiblebythe collectionin morerecentyearsof lidgeiandotherlivingpsychopsids), andisthere-
severalspecimensofO. spilleraefromthe Trias- fore almost certainly a forewing.
sicofMountCrosbyinsouth-easternQueensland The venational terminology used herein is (hat
*2\S, 152*48'E),fromwherethespecieswas of Kukalova-Peck (1983, 1991; see also
firstrecordedby Riek(1955).Examinationofthis Lawrence et al., 1991). The following museum
new material as well as of Tillyard's original abbreviations apply; GSQ, Geological Surveyof
Denmark Hili specimens provides an almost Queensland: QM. Queensland Museum; UQI)E,
complete picture ofthe forewing venationofthe University of Queensland, Department of En-
species (secFig.2). tomology.
\HA MEMOIRS OFTHEQUEENSLANDMUSEUM
c* "-'- »**
CuV""
t
RA
AA.
AAJ CuP CuA
} 3
5mm
c.
FI(FGiSg.51),,2.UOsQmDylEopCsBy1c4ho(pFsigs.p6i)l,leQraMe.F1I,T8i9l2ly2ar(dF'isg.r7e)c,onasntdrupcatritoonf(1G9S23Q,2te8x3tafi(gF.i9g3.).4)2,(CporomxpiomsailteseocftQioMnsFolf8S9c2P1,
RA,RP,CuA (thickerveins)notdrawn toscale).
REXAMINATIONOFTHEVENATIONOFOSMYOPSYCHOPS SPILLERAE 185
MATERIALEXAMINED tiondependent)-CuAextensivelydichotomously
forked from C.V3 length with branches curved
Hoiotype GSQ 314 (central region of?forew- anteriorly (Figs3,5); CuP occupying only a nar-
ing), "Osmvlopsychops / reevci spillerae Till. ,•' rowareaofthewing,moredeeplydichotomously
Hni.-Mype /Denmark Hill / Ipswich', '31499*: forked than CuA. CuPl moredeeplyforked than
Heautotypc [= autotype] GSQ283a(apical 2hof G1P2 (Figs3,5,6): AAi+; developed as a shon
?forewing), *G\ 'Osmvlopsychops /teeveispil- spur directed obliquely towards Cu (Fig.6);
leraeTill./Heautotype/DenmarkHill/Ipswich AAa*4 extensively dichotomously forked from
/Trias/; QM F18921 (central region of?foicw- G.A length (Fig,6); API+2 dichotomously
MountCrosbyFo-ssillnscciLocalityD col- forked from c. fz lengthy less extensive than
lected by K J Lambkin, 20.viii.l972); UQi DE AAs+4 or AP>.4 (Fig.6); AP3 joined to APn by fl
CB14 ((rase of forewing), Mount Crosby F short crossvein basally, simple loralmost entire
InsectLocality B; QM F18922 lapex of?forew- length, with 2 small branches apically (Fig.6);
ing). 4L114 Mt Crosby shale / (910805-911805 APa extensive,occupyingas muchofthemargin
Ipswich / I mile military map - upper bed) ,' .is APi, AP: and AP3 combined, extensively
ii.J969 / E. Dahms','[Mount Crosby Fossil dichotomously forked with branches directed
InsectLocality Cj; QMFl8923 (?forcwingfrag- apically (Fig.6); trichosorsprcy^nt,at leastalong
ment), Mount Crosby Fossil Insect Locality B fore margin (Figs5.6); 1 nygma detected, placed
(collectedby KJ Lambkin,24.viii.1974). centrally between 2nd and 3rd branches of RP
(Fig.5)
DESCRIPTIONOFFOREWING VENATION
(Figs2-8) Notes
Figure2isacompositeofUQDECB14[Fig.6),
QM QM
ISB.r5oraadm(Fwiign.2g);oc\ostpaslycsphaocpesiqduitteypber,oadlebnagstahllyc.. as aF1s8m92a1ll(Fipga.5r)t, of FG1S89Q2?2(8Fi3ga.7).(Faisgw.e4ll)
tapering apically (Figs4,5); costal crossveins ir- CpterostigmaT region only). It illustrates the
known features of the presumed forewing of O,
lIjt, mostly deeply forked and extensively
br.anched, almost upright basally, becoming spillerae. The major differences between this
gradually more inclined apically, more closely composite and TiUyard's reconstruction (Kg I •
spaced in *pterostigmaP area, with a limited are listed below. Certain features, such as the
scries of interconnecting crossveins basally just wing shape and the venation of the humeral
above SeP (Figs3-7), ScP converging and either region and parts of the fore, apical and hind
?fuscd or ?oonncctcd by a very short crossvein margins, are not preserved in the material ex-
•.vuh ra apically (Figs4,7), entering margin amined and remain unknown.
bt^edfioarlefwoirkng(Faipgesx5;,6)1;uSprciPg.htRAscpa-nrdajsutsetmbeofyoRnPd I. StructureofMP(= M ofTiliyard's notation)
curved apically (Fig.2), I inclined ra-rp at c. Because Tiliyard's specimens did not show |hd
midlength (Fig.5); RP with at least IS pectinate important basal structures of the main veins (as
branches, a few of these forked basally or c. now provided by UQDE CB14 - Fig.6), he con-
midlength,allwithapicalbranches(Figs4,5,7.8); jectured that MP was of minor extent with its
crossveinsofRPfield apparently few in number, primary forking well beyond that ofR (as is ap-
only 1 or 4 detected (Figs 5,8); MA simple or parentlythecase inrecentpsychopsids). Thenew
deeply forked (Figs3>5,6,8); MP occupying a material indicatesthatMPforksveryearly(before
largecentral areaofthewing,itsprimary forking the primary radial fork), is multibranchcd, and
very close to tlic base (before thatofR - Fig 6), occupiesa fan Jareaofthewing.Theveins
with6or7branchesatmidlength(Fig$3,5,6.hand shown by Tillyardasthe first twobranchesofRP
extensively dichotomously forked apically (Rs ofhisnot.ui<tH! are. indeed part ofMP,
(F]gs.li,7);MPi+2dichotomousinhoiotype. but in ThestructureofMPinO. spilleraeisespecially
somespecimen*lendingtopectination, inUQDE interesting inprovidingacluelo(hehomologyof
CB14 this pectination mirroring that of RP 'MP' in the wing% of living species of the
(Fig 6); MP^+4 forking a little later than MP1+2 Psychopsidae. In the forewing of these species
|Figs3,6,8), MPj of hoiotype with an enclosed there is a variably developed weak posterior
MP
Bt c. midlength (Fig.3); medial, cubital and branch leaving beforetheprimary forkingof
analfieldswithafewrandomlyplacedcrossveins R, in exactly the same position as MP344 i»
as illustrated in Figs3,5,6,8 (possibly preset',a- spillerae. In largef species (e.g. M. iUhlgei,
186 MEMOIRS OFTHEQUEENSLANDMUSEUM
AA,.,-»
CuP CuA
C:uA
FIGS3-8.Osmvlopsvchopsspillerae(proximalsectionsofScP,RA,RP,CuA(thickerveins)notdrawntoscale).
3, GSQ 314 (holotypc). 4, GSQ283a('heautotype'). 5, QM F18921. 6, UQDECB14.7, QM F18922. 8, QM
F 8923.
1
1
REEXAMINATIONOFTHEVENATIONOFOSMYOPSVCHOPSSPtLLERAE 1S7
f'sychopsis bamardi Tillyard) this branch exists The relationships of O. spillerae (and O.
asaveryweakveinwhichpetersoutafterrunning radialiswhich,basedonthefigureofEllenberger
fora shortdistancealong a fairlydeep furrow in el al. (1953, fig.\}% appear* ro be congeneric1
ll>e membrane. In species of smaller size the remain problematical. Osmyhpsychops is just
furrow and a kink in the stem at the point of one of a large number of diverse Mesozoic
forking (e.g. P. insolens McLachlan). or simply psychopsid-like wings (see Martynova, 1949.
the suggestionofa fold in the membrane (e.g. P. and numerous subsequent descriptions of addi-
coelivagus (Walker)), is all that remains. Based tional species) that, as a group, requires critical
on the structure ofMP in O. spillerae, the much re-examinationandreappraisal Whatcanbesaid
reduced extreme basal posterior branch of MP at !his stage, however, is that Osmyhpsychops
described aboveis the remnant ofMPj+4 and the does not possess the set of apomorphic wing
vein system usually labelled as *MP* in living features characteristic ofthe Psychopsidae (vi?.
psychopsids is MP1+2 only. ScP, RA and stem of RP evenly spaced and
braced by numerous crossveins; MP3+-4 much
2. Structure ofCu reduced, CuA andCuPstrongly posteriorly pec-
InTillyard'sreconstructiontheprimaryforking tinate;crossveinsmostlyalignedintotwo01 1
of Cu is a considerable distance from the base, gradateseries) andis thusnotattributableto thai
and CuP forks at the same level as CuA and has family (see alsoRiet 1955).
only three branches. Specimen UQDE CB14
(Fig.6) shows that the primary fork of Cu is ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
placedextremebasally (;isoccursinthePsychop-
sidae and most Neuroptera), und that CuP forks IamgratefulfortheassistanceofSusanParfrcy
much earlierthan CuA ;ind has at least six major of the Queensland Department of Resource In-
branches dustries who arranged the loan of Tilly
types.
3. Structure ofA
The anal area in Tillyard's reconstruction is LITERATURECITED
almost entirely conjectural and bears only mar-
ginal resemblance to that described herein (see ALLEN. RJ, 1961. The Kholo Sub-group al ibe
especially Fig.6). The new information shows Ipswich Coal Measures. Geological Survey of
that the basal sections of Cu^CuP, AA?+4 and Queensland Publication 300: 1-14.
APu2 are much more widely spaced than in CRANFIELD, L.C.. SCHWARZBOCK. H. & DAY
Tillyard's reconstruction; the basal section of RW, 1976.GeologyoftheIpswichandBrishiirv
AA344JScurvedanteriorly,notposteriorly;AA3+4 250000 Sheet areas Geological Sorvi
and AP1+2 arenotfused at thebase; and AP3+4 is Queensland Report95; 1-176,
smaller in area and has (ewer major branches DUNSTAKB. 1916.MesozoicandTertiaryinsect*of
which arcdirected apicallv ratherthanposterior- Queensland and New South Wales Stratigraphi-
iy cal features. Geological Survey ofQueensland
Publication253: WO.
4 Primary forkingofR ELLENBERGER, F. & P., LAURENTIAUX. D. &.
Tillyard's reconstruction shows the primary RJCOUR.J. 1953.Notepreliminairesurla buna
forking ofR very close to the base of the wing. et un niveau insectiicrc des Icntillcs dc gies ei
UQDE CB14 (Fig.6) shows that R forks much schistes noirs des gypses dc la Vanoisc (Trias
furtherdistallythan this, wellbeyondtheprimary Superieur). Bulletindc laSocillcGdologiqucdc
forkings ofCu and AA3+4. France(6)2: 269-274.
KUKALOVA-PECK, J. 1983. Origin of the insect
5. Marginal end-twigging ofveins wingandwingarticulation from thearthropods
End-twigging of veins is much more leg.CanadianJournalofZoology61:1618-1669.
pronouncedalongthe foreand hind margins (see 1991. Fossil history and Ihe evolution ol hexapod
Fig.2) than indicated by Tillyard. structures.Pp.141-179. InCSIRO(ed.), 'TV in-
- t« ol' Australia A textbook for students and
6, Wing proportions research workers'. 2nd ed. Vol.1. (Melbourne
Comparison of Figures 1 and 2 indicates thai University Press: Carlton). 542pp.
die presumed forewing of O. spillerae is not as LAWRENCE."J.F, NIELSEN, F.S ft MACKER-
broad as suggested by Tillyard. RAS, IA1 1991 Skeletal anatomy and key to
188 MEMOIRSOFTHEQUEENSLANDMUSEUM
Orders.Pp.3-32. InCSIRO(ed.), 'Theinsectsof 1970. Fossil history. Pp.168-186. In CSIRO (ed.),
Australia: A textbook for students and research TheinsectsofAustralia:Atextbookforstudents
workers.' 2nded. Vol.1. (Melbourne University and research workers.' (Melbourne University
Press: Carlton). 542pp. Press: Carlton). 1029pp.
MARTYNOVA, O.M. 1949. Mesozoic lacewings TILLYARD,R.J. 1919.StudiesinAustralianNeurop-
(Neuroptera) and their bearing on concepts of tera. No.6. The family Psychopsidae, with
phylogeny and systematics ofthe Order. Trudy descriptionsofnewgeneraandspecies.Proceed-
PaleontologicheskogoInstituta 20: 150-170. [In ingsoftheLinneanSocietyofNewSouthWales
Russian] 43: 750-786.
NEW,T.R. 1988.ThePsychopsidae(Insecta:Neurop- 1923.MesozoicinsectsofQueensland.No.10.Sum-
tera)ofAustraliaandtheOrientalRegion.Inver- mary of the Upper Triassic insect fauna of
tebrateTaxonomy 2: 841-883. Ipswich, Q. (With an appendix describing new
RIEK,E.F. 1955.FossilinsectsfromtheTriassicbeds Hemiptera and Planipennia). Proceedings ofthe
atMt.Crosby,Queensland.AustralianJournalof Linnean Society ofNew South Wales 48: 481-
Zoology3: 654-691. 498.