Florissant (USNM Collection) (Eocene of the United States)

Where: Teller County, Colorado (38.9° N, 105.3° W: paleocoordinates 40.4° N, 97.0° W)

• coordinate based on nearby landmark

• small collection-level geographic resolution

When: Florissant Formation, Chadronian (37.2 - 33.9 Ma)

Environment/lithology: lacustrine - large; lithified, diatomaceous, tuffaceous shale

• "shales"

Size class: mesofossils

Preservation: adpression

Reposited in the USNM

Primary reference: T. D. A. Cockerell. 1913. Some fossil insects from Florissant, Colorado. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 44:341-346 [C. Labandeira/C. Labandeira/M. Clapham]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 124624: authorized by Matthew Clapham, entered by Matthew Clapham on 20.02.2012, edited by April Kinchloe, Amy Delelli and Jered Karr

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

Show authors, comments, and common names
Insecta
 Diptera - Mycetophilidae
Boletina hypogaea n. sp.4
Boletina hypogaea n. sp.4 Melander 1949 fungus gnat
USNM 112571 (Lacoe coll)
 Diptera - Bibionidae
Plecia explanata n. sp.2, "Hesperinus axelianus" = Plecia axeliana4, Plecia tessella n. sp.4, Plecia orycta n. sp.4, "Hesperinus melanderi" = Plecia melanderi4, Bibio wickhami2, Bibio capnodes n. sp.4, Bibio cockerelli4, Bibio jamesi4, Bibio vulcanius n. sp.4, Bibio vetus4, Bibio excurvatus n. sp.4, Penthetria longifurca n. sp.4, "Hesperinus immutabilis n. sp." = Penthetria immutabilis4
Plecia explanata n. sp.2 Cockerell 1917 love bug
USNM 62536
"Hesperinus axelianus" = Plecia axeliana4 Cockerell 1915 love bug
Lacoe coll
Plecia tessella n. sp.4 Melander 1949 love bug
USNM 112562 (Lacoe coll)
Plecia orycta n. sp.4 Melander 1949 love bug
USNM 112569 (Lacoe coll)
"Hesperinus melanderi" = Plecia melanderi4 Cockerell 1911 love bug
Lacoe coll (study number 246)
Bibio wickhami2 Cockerell 1915 march fly
12 in Lacoe coll (three lots) from Melander, 1949
Bibio capnodes n. sp.4 Melander 1949 march fly
USNM 112565 (Lacoe coll)
Bibio cockerelli4 James 1937 march fly
Lacoe coll
Bibio jamesi4 Melander 1949 march fly
USNM 112576, 9 (Lacoe coll)
Bibio vulcanius n. sp.4 Melander 1949 march fly
USNM 112564, 572 (Lacoe coll)
Bibio vetus4 James 1937 march fly
Lacoe coll, study number 232
Bibio excurvatus n. sp.4 Melander 1949 march fly
USNM 112550 (Lacoe coll)
Penthetria longifurca n. sp.4 Melander 1949 march fly
USNM 112551 (Lacoe coll)
"Hesperinus immutabilis n. sp." = Penthetria immutabilis4 Melander 1949 march fly
USNM 112554, 588 (Lacoe coll)
 Diptera -
Anthomyia persepulta n. sp.2
Anthomyia persepulta n. sp.2 Cockerell 1917 fly
USNM 62541
 Diptera - Empididae
Rhamphomyia infernalis n. sp.4, Rhamphomyia inanimata n. sp.4, Rhamphomyia hypolitha n. sp.2, Rhamphomyia craterae n. sp.4, Rhamphomyia fossa n. sp.4, Empis infossa n. sp.4
Rhamphomyia infernalis n. sp.4 Melander 1949 dagger fly
USNM 112556 (Lacoe coll)
Rhamphomyia inanimata n. sp.4 Melander 1949 dagger fly
USNM 112570(586) (Lacoe coll)
Rhamphomyia hypolitha n. sp.2 Cockerell 1917 dagger fly
USNM 62538
Rhamphomyia craterae n. sp.4 Melander 1949 dagger fly
USNM 112561 (Lacoe coll)
Rhamphomyia fossa n. sp.4 Melander 1949 dagger fly
USNM 112567, 583 (Lacoe coll)
Empis infossa n. sp.4 Melander 1949 dagger fly
USNM 112625 (Lacoe coll)
 Diptera - Hybotidae
Tachypeza primitiva n. sp.4
Tachypeza primitiva n. sp.4 Melander 1949 dance fly
USNM 112566 (Lacoe coll)
 Diptera - Phoridae
"Phora cockerelli" = Spiniphora cockerelli4
"Phora cockerelli" = Spiniphora cockerelli4 Brues 1908 scuttle fly
Lacoe coll, study number 154
 Diptera - Richardiidae
Urortalis caudatus n. sp.2
Urortalis caudatus n. sp.2 Cockerell 1917 fly
USNM 62539
 Diptera - Ulidiidae
Melieria atavina n. sp.2
Melieria atavina n. sp.2 Cockerell 1917 picture-winged fly
USNM 62540
 Diptera - Lauxaniidae
Sapromyza veterana n. sp.4
Sapromyza veterana n. sp.4 Melander 1949 fly
USNM 112557 (Lacoe coll)
 Diptera - Bombyliidae
Apolysis magister4, "Acreotrichites scopulicornis n. gen. n. sp." = Desmatomyia scopulicornis2, "Protophthiria atra n. sp." = Tithonomyia atra4, "Melanderella testea n. sp." = Dolichomyia testea4
Apolysis magister4 Melander 1946 bee fly
USNM 112573 (Lacoe coll)
"Acreotrichites scopulicornis n. gen. n. sp." = Desmatomyia scopulicornis2 Cockerell 1917 bee fly
USNM 62537
"Protophthiria atra n. sp." = Tithonomyia atra4 Melander 1949 bee fly
USNM 112552 (Lacoe coll)
"Melanderella testea n. sp." = Dolichomyia testea4 Melander 1949 bee fly
USNM 112553 (Lacoe coll)
 Diptera - Asilidae
Asilus curculionis n. sp.3, Leptogaster prior n. sp.3
Asilus curculionis n. sp.3 Melander 1946 robber fly
USNM 112558 (Lacoe coll)
Leptogaster prior n. sp.3 Melander 1946 grass fly
USNM 112560 (Lacoe coll)
 Diptera - Xylomyidae
Solva (Xylomya) inornata n. sp.4
Solva (Xylomya) inornata n. sp.4 Melander 1949 fly
USNM 112568 (Lacoe coll)
 Diptera - Nemestrinidae
Nemestrinidae indet.4
Nemestrinidae indet.4 Macquart 1834 tangle-veined fly
Lacoe coll
 Diptera - Rhagionidae
Rhagio fossitius n. sp.4, Rhagio wheeleri4
Rhagio fossitius n. sp.4 Melander 1949 snipe fly
USNM 112626 (Lacoe coll)
Rhagio wheeleri4 Melander 1949 snipe fly
USNM 112574 (Lacoe coll)
 Diptera - Chironomidae
Diamesa extincta4
Diamesa extincta4 Melander 1949 non biting midge
USNM 112580, 2 (Lacoe coll)
 Diptera - Cylindrotomidae
"Cyttaromyia clathrata" = Cyttaromyia princetoniana4
"Cyttaromyia clathrata" = Cyttaromyia princetoniana4 Scudder 1894 long bodied crane fly
Lacoe coll
 Diptera - Tipulidae
Tipula limi4, Tipulidea distincta4
Tipula limi4 Scudder 1894 crane fly
Lacoe coll
Tipulidea distincta4 Scudder 1894 crane fly
Lacoe coll
 Diptera - Scatopsidae
Reichertella fasciata n. sp.4
Reichertella fasciata n. sp.4 Melander 1949 minute black scavenger fly
USNM 112563 (Lacoe coll)
 Mantodea - Mantidae
Eobruneria tessellata n. gen. n. sp.
Eobruneria tessellata n. gen. n. sp. Cockerell 1913 praying mantis
USNM 58583 (Gustav Hambach coll))
 Hymenoptera - Tenthredinidae
Taeniurites fortis n. gen. n. sp.2
Taeniurites fortis n. gen. n. sp.2 Cockerell 1917 wood wasp
USNM 62542
 Hymenoptera - Xyelidae
Xyela (Xyela) florissantensis n. sp.6
Xyela (Xyela) florissantensis n. sp.6 Rasnitsyn 1995 sawfly
USNM 127677
 Hymenoptera - Formicidae
Aphaenogaster mayri1, Messor sculpturatus1, Miomyrmex impactus1, Petraeomyrmex minimus1, Liometopum miocenicum1, Liometopum scudderi1, Protazteca capitata1, Protazteca quadrata1, Protazteca elongata1, Elaeomyrmex coloradensis1, Elaeomyrmex gracilis1, Iridomyrmex obscurans n. sp.1, Lasius peritulus1, Formica cockerelli1, Formica robusta1, Formica grandis n. sp.1
Aphaenogaster mayri1 Carpenter 1930 ant
USNM 78803
Messor sculpturatus1 Carpenter 1930 ant
USNM 78804
Miomyrmex impactus1 Cockerell 1927 ant
USNM 78796
Petraeomyrmex minimus1 Carpenter 1930 ant
USNM 78805
Liometopum miocenicum1 Carpenter 1930 ant
USNM 78794
Liometopum scudderi1 Carpenter 1930 ant
USNM 78795
Protazteca capitata1 Carpenter 1930 ant
USNM 78793
Protazteca quadrata1 Carpenter 1930 ant
USNM 78792
Protazteca elongata1 Carpenter 1930 ant
USNM 78791
Elaeomyrmex coloradensis1 Carpenter 1930 ant
USNM 78798
Elaeomyrmex gracilis1 Carpenter 1930 ant
USNM 78797
Iridomyrmex obscurans n. sp.1 Carpenter 1930 ant
USNM 78799 (Lacoe collection)
Lasius peritulus1 Cockerell 1927 ant
USNM 78802
Formica cockerelli1 Carpenter 1930 ant
USNM 78806
Formica robusta1 Carpenter 1930 ant
USNM 78800
Formica grandis n. sp.1 Carpenter 1930 ant
USNM 78801 (Lacoe collection)
 Hymenoptera - Megachilidae
Heriades priscus n. sp.2
Heriades priscus n. sp.2 Cockerell 1917 mason bee
USNM 62543
 Hymenoptera -
Andrena lagopus11
Andrena lagopus11 Latreille 1809 bee
 Coleoptera - Ptinidae
Vrilletta monstrosa n. sp.10
Vrilletta monstrosa n. sp.10 Wickham 1917 spider beetle
USNM 63447
 Coleoptera - Lucanidae
Lucanus fossilis n. sp.8
Lucanus fossilis n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 stag beetle
USNM 59643
 Coleoptera - Scarabaeidae
Ataenius patescens8, Aphodius granarioides n. sp.8, Diplotaxis aurora n. sp.8, Macrodactylus pluto8
Ataenius patescens8 Scudder 1900 scarab beetle
USNM 59654
Aphodius granarioides n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 scarab beetle
USNM 59655
Diplotaxis aurora n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 scarab beetle
USNM 59657
Macrodactylus pluto8 Wickham 1912 scarab beetle
USNM 59656
 Coleoptera - Staphylinidae
Miolithocharis lithographica n. gen. n. sp.8, Stenus morsei8, Aleocharopsis caseyi n. sp.8, Aleocharopsis secunda n. sp.8, Staphylinus vulcan n. sp.8, Quedius chamberlini8, Philonthus marcidulus8
Miolithocharis lithographica n. gen. n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 rove beetle
USNM 59638
Stenus morsei8 Scudder 1900 rove beetle
USNM 59637
Aleocharopsis caseyi n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 rove beetle
USNM 59634
Aleocharopsis secunda n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 rove beetle
USNM 59635
Staphylinus vulcan n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 rove beetle
USNM 59636
Quedius chamberlini8 Scudder 1890 rove beetle
USNM 59647
Philonthus marcidulus8 Scudder 1900 rove beetle
USNM 59648
 Coleoptera - Leiodidae
Anisotoma sibylla n. sp.8
Anisotoma sibylla n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 round fungus beetle
USNM 59633
 Coleoptera - Byrrhidae
Byrrhus romingeri8, Amphicyrta inhaesa8, Nosotetocus debilis8
Byrrhus romingeri8 Scudder 1900 pill beetle
USNM 59651
Amphicyrta inhaesa8 Scudder 1900 pill beetle
USNM 59650
Nosotetocus debilis8 Scudder 1900 pill beetle
USNM 59649
 Coleoptera - Buprestidae
Anthaxia exhumata n. sp.8
Anthaxia exhumata n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 jewel beetle
USNM 59642
 Coleoptera - Elateridae
Cardiophorus lithographicus9, Cardiophorus florissantensis9
Cardiophorus lithographicus9 Wickham 1916 click beetle
Cardiophorus florissantensis9 Wickham 1916 click beetle
 Coleoptera - Cantharidae
Podabrus wheeleri8, Podabrus cupesoides n. sp.10, Chauliognathus pristinus8
Podabrus wheeleri8 Wickham 1909 soldier beetle
USNM 59653
Podabrus cupesoides n. sp.10 Wickham 1917 soldier beetle
USNM 63446
Chauliognathus pristinus8 Scudder 1876 soldier beetle
USNM 59652
 Coleoptera - Laemophloeidae
Lithocoryne arcuata n. sp.8
Lithocoryne arcuata n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 beetle
USNM 59639
 Coleoptera - Cryptophagidae
Cryptophagus bassleri n. sp.8
Cryptophagus bassleri n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 silken fungus beetle
USNM 59640
 Coleoptera - Attelabidae
"Rhynchites subterraneus" = Prodeporaides subterraneus8
"Rhynchites subterraneus" = Prodeporaides subterraneus8 Scudder 1893 tooth-nosed snout weevil
USNM 59666
 Coleoptera - Curculionidae
"Baris primalis n. sp." = Lithogeraeus primalis10, Dorytomus williamsi8, "Balaninus minusculus" = Curculio minusculus8, Tychius ferox n. sp.10, Cryptorhynchus profusus8, Rhysosternum longirostre8, "Coniatus evisceratus" = Listroderes evisceratus8, Geralophus retritus8, Geralophus fossicius8, Geralophus saxuosus8, Geralophus lassatus8, Geralophus antiquarius8, Pandeleteinus nudus n. sp.10, Geralophus repositus8, Evopes veneratus8, Cleonus foersteri8, Cleonus exterraneus8
"Baris primalis n. sp." = Lithogeraeus primalis10 Wickham 1917 snout beetle
USNM 63453
Dorytomus williamsi8 Scudder 1893 snout beetle
USNM 59677
"Balaninus minusculus" = Curculio minusculus8 Scudder 1893 snout beetle
USNM 59680
Tychius ferox n. sp.10 Wickham 1917 snout beetle
USNM 63452
Cryptorhynchus profusus8 Scudder 1893 snout beetle
USNM 59679
Rhysosternum longirostre8 Scudder 1893 snout beetle
USNM 59678
"Coniatus evisceratus" = Listroderes evisceratus8 Scudder 1893 snout beetle
USNM 59674
Geralophus retritus8 Scudder 1893 snout beetle
USNM 59673
Geralophus fossicius8 Scudder 1893 snout beetle
USNM 59670
Geralophus saxuosus8 Scudder 1893 snout beetle
USNM 59669
Geralophus lassatus8 Scudder 1893 snout beetle
USNM 59672
Geralophus antiquarius8 Scudder 1893 snout beetle
USNM 59668
Pandeleteinus nudus n. sp.10 Wickham 1917 snout beetle
USNM 63451
Geralophus repositus8 Scudder 1893 snout beetle
USNM 59671
Evopes veneratus8 Scudder 1893 snout beetle
USNM 59667
Cleonus foersteri8 Scudder 1893 snout beetle
USNM 59676
Cleonus exterraneus8 Scudder 1893 snout beetle
USNM 59675
 Coleoptera - Chrysomelidae
Systena florissantensis n. sp.8, Bruchus dormescens n. sp.8, Bruchus antaeus n. sp.10, Bruchus exhumatus8
Systena florissantensis n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 leaf beetle
USNM 59660
Bruchus dormescens n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 leaf beetle
USNM 59661
Bruchus antaeus n. sp.10 Wickham 1917 leaf beetle
USNM 63450
Bruchus exhumatus8 Wickham 1912 leaf beetle
USNM 59661
 Coleoptera - Cerambycidae
"Spondylis tertiarius n. sp." = Neandra florissantensis10, Leptura ponderosissima n. sp.8, "Leptura antecurrens n. sp." = Judolia antecurrens8, "Callidium grandaevum n. sp." = Phymatodes grandaevus10
"Spondylis tertiarius n. sp." = Neandra florissantensis10 Wickham 1920 longhorned beetle
USNM 63448
Leptura ponderosissima n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 longhorned beetle
USNM 59659
"Leptura antecurrens n. sp." = Judolia antecurrens8 Wickham 1913 longhorned beetle
USNM 59658
"Callidium grandaevum n. sp." = Phymatodes grandaevus10 Wickham 1917 longhorned beetle
USNM 63449
 Coleoptera - Tenebrionidae
Miostenosis lacordairei n. gen. n. sp.8, Platydema bethunei n. sp.8, Blapstinus linellii n. sp.8
Miostenosis lacordairei n. gen. n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 darkling beetle
USNM 59663
Platydema bethunei n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 darkling beetle
USNM 59665
Blapstinus linellii n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 darkling beetle
USNM 59664
 Coleoptera - Coccinellidae
Anatis resurgens n. sp.10
Anatis resurgens n. sp.10 Wickham 1917 ladybird beetle
USNM 63445
 Coleoptera - Trogossitidae
Tenebroides corrugata n. sp.8
Tenebroides corrugata n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 bark gnawing beetle
USNM 59641
 Coleoptera - Carabidae
Cratacanthus florissantensis n. sp.10, Platynus insculptipennis n. sp.10, Amara powellii8, Amara veterata8, Pterostichus walcotti8, Harpalus ulomaeformis n. sp.10, Harpalus redivivus n. sp.10
Cratacanthus florissantensis n. sp.10 Wickham 1917 ground beetle
USNM 63442
Platynus insculptipennis n. sp.10 Wickham 1917 ground beetle
USNM 63441
Amara powellii8 Scudder 1900 ground beetle
USNM 59646
Amara veterata8 Scudder 1900 ground beetle
USNM 59645
Pterostichus walcotti8 Scudder 1900 ground beetle
USNM 59644
Harpalus ulomaeformis n. sp.10 Wickham 1917 ground beetle
USNM 63443
Harpalus redivivus n. sp.10 Wickham 1917 ground beetle
USNM 63444
 Coleoptera - Dytiscidae
Agabus florissantensis n. sp.8
Agabus florissantensis n. sp.8 Wickham 1913 predaceous diving beetle
USNM 59632
 Neuroptera - Osmylidae
Osmylidia requieta
Osmylidia requieta Scudder 1890 lance lacewing
USNM 58681 (Gustav Hambach coll)
 Trichoptera -
Nebritus willistoni n. sp.4
Nebritus willistoni n. sp.4 Melander 1949 caddisfly
USNM 112553 (Lacoe coll)
 Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae
"Jupiteria charon n. gen. n. sp." = Jupitellia charon7, "Chlorippe wilmattae" = Doxocopa wilmattae
"Jupiteria charon n. gen. n. sp." = Jupitellia charon7 Scudder 1889 brush-footed butterfly
Lacoe 2100
"Chlorippe wilmattae" = Doxocopa wilmattae Cockerell 1907 brush-footed butterfly
USNM 58682 (Gustav Hambach coll)
Arachnida
 Opiliones - Sclerosomatidae
"Phalangium lacoei n. sp." = Amauropilio lacoei5
"Phalangium lacoei n. sp." = Amauropilio lacoei5 Petrunkevitch 1922 harvestman
USNM Lacoe 38124
 Araneae - Linyphiidae
Linyphia pachygnathoides n. sp.5
Linyphia pachygnathoides n. sp.5 Petrunkevitch 1922 money spider/sheet weaver
USNM 38124
1Carpenter 1930; 2Cockerell 1917; 3Melander 1946; 4Melander 1949; 5Petrunkevitch 1922; 6Rasnitsyn 1995; 7Scudder 1889; 8Wickham 1913; 9Wickham 1916; 10Wickham 1917; 11Zeuner and Manning 1976