A new hangingfly species (Mecoptera: Bittacidae) from the Paleocene Paskapoo Formation (Canada)

Abstract

The order Mecoptera, commonly known as scorpionflies, has a long and fascinating evolutionary history that spans over 270 million years, if we consider its stem group. Despite their well-documented fossil record during the Mesozoic, many aspects of their diversity and evolution remain poorly understood. In this study, we increase the fossil record of Mecoptera by describing a new taxon from the Paleocene Paskapoo Formation (Alberta, Canada). This specimen is described as Bittacus? paskapooensis sp. nov. (Raptipedia: Bittacidae) but is assigned with caution to Bittacus due to the lack of apomorphic wing venation characters for this genus.