New Upper Permian insects from Natal, South Africa

Abstract

An additional 19 species of insects are descriptionbed from the Daptocephalus reptile zone of the Middle Beaufort Series, Natal, bringing the known insect fauna from the zone to 32. The orders Megasec­optera, Protoblattodea, Protelytroptera, Orthoptera and Neuroptera are recorded for the first time. The fauna is dominated by Paraplecoptera, Plecoptera and Homoptera. Miomoptera and Mecoptera are also present. The family Permosialidae is transferred from Megaloptera to Miomoptera. The known fauna is listed and family relationships indicated. The affinities of the fauna are divided between those of similar age in Australia and Eurasia. The relationships seem to indicate that the climate of this north-eastern part of the Karoo Basin was intermediate between the warm climate of Angara and the cold climate of eastern Australia.