Antiquity of Phthiraptera: Fossil Evidence

Abstract

Occurrence of the well-preserved phthirapteran insects from the Late Triassic sediments of the Satpura Basin, Central India provides the first and earliest record of such organisms in geological time scale. The antiquity of the Order Phthiraptera is discussed in view of the fossil evidence. Thus, the earliest appearance of phthirapteran insects is considered to be Late Triassic.