Discovery of the first lacewings (Neuroptera: Permithonidae) from the Guadalupian of the Lodève Basin (Southern France)

Lacewings and their relatives (Neuroptera) are one of the ancient holometabolous insect order reaching spectacular diversity during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic, but with a surprisingly sparse record during the Late Palaeozoic. Here, we describe the first members of the stem-group Permithonidae from the middle Permian (Guadalupian) of Salagou Formation in the Lodève Basin (Languedoc region, Southern France): Lodevothone pectinata nov. gen., nov. sp., and Lodevosisyra reducta nov. gen., nov. sp. Both diagnoses are based on unique wing venation patterns. Discovery of these two new permithonid species in the Lodève Basin fits well with the distribution of other taxa known from the Permian of Euramerica, Siberia, and Gondwana. The fossil record of Permithonidae is documented and briefly discussed in respect of stratigraphical range and geographical distribution. A check-list of all taxa including their synonymy is provided.