Aix-en-Provence (Inst. Geol. Lyon): Chattian, France

List of taxa
Where & when
Geology
Taphonomy & methods
Metadata & references
Taxonomic list
Insecta - Dermaptera - Forficulidae
Forficula sp. Linnaeus 1758
In M. de Serres
Insecta - Orthoptera - Acrididae
cf. Locusta sp. (Linnaeus 1758)
1 specimen
original and current combination Gryllus (Locusta)
In M. de Serres
Oedipoda saussurei Theobald 1937
1 specimen
nomen dubium belonging to Acrydiana
In M. de Serres called Gryllus
Insecta - Orthoptera - Tridactylidae
? Tridactylus sp. Olivier 1789
1 specimen
In M. de Serres compared to T. variegatus
Insecta - Orthoptera - Gryllidae
? Acheta sp. Fabricius 1775
4 specimens
Possibly 4 different species In M. de Serres compared to 4 different species of modern crickets
Insecta - Orthoptera - Gryllotalpidae
? Gryllotalpa sp. Latreille 1802
1 specimen
In M. de Serres compared to G. gryllotalpa
Insecta - Hymenoptera - Formicidae
Dolichoderus balticus (Mayr 1868)
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 34
Formica serresi n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 64
Formica sepulta Theobald 1937
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 31
Camponotus penninervis n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
recombined as Camponotites penninervis
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 63
Insecta - Hymenoptera - Ichneumonidae
? Pimpla anomalensis n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 66 Anomalon in M. de Serres
Insecta - Hymenoptera - Braconidae
Bassus filipalpis n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 33
Rhysiopolis distinctus n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 65
Insecta - Coleoptera - Carabidae
Harpalus nero n. sp. Oustalet 1874
Oustalet 1874 2 specimens
Musee Lyon no. 42; A 44 "Melolotha" in M. de Serres in Theobald, 1937 (2 measurements)
Insecta - Coleoptera - Chrysomelidae
Chrysomela lyelliana Heer 1856
1 specimen
recombined as Plagiodera lyelliana
A 47 Cassida in M. de Serres
Insecta - Coleoptera - Curculionidae
Brachyderes longipes Oustalet 1874
1 specimen
synonym of Protainophthalmus asperulus
A 51 Meleus in M. de Serres
Hipporhinus heeri (Germar 1849)
6 specimens
nomen dubium belonging to Entimini
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 2, 53, 3, 4, 52, 55
Hipporhinus heerii Germar 1849
Oustalet 1874 4 specimens
nomen dubium belonging to Entimini
Erirhinus chantrei n. sp. Oustalet 1874
Oustalet 1874 1 specimen
nomen dubium belonging to Curculionites
(2 measurements)
Sibynes melancholicus n. sp. Oustalet 1874
Oustalet 1874 1 specimen
recombined as Sibinia melancholicus
(2 measurements)
Tanysphyrus deletus n. sp. Oustalet 1874
Oustalet 1874 1 specimen
nomen dubium belonging to Curculionites
(1 measurement)
Curculionites parvulus Heer 1856
Oustalet 1874 1 specimen
nomen dubium belonging to Curculionites
(2 measurements)
Insecta - Coleoptera - Staphylinidae
Quedius lortetii n. sp. Oustalet 1874
Oustalet 1874 1 specimen
Musee Lyon no. 8 (2 measurements)
Quedius reynesii Oustalet 1874
Oustalet 1874 1 specimen
Musee Lyon no. 17
Hygronoma deleta n. sp. Oustalet 1874
Oustalet 1874 1 specimen
Musee Lyon no. 31 (2 measurements)
Insecta - Trichoptera - Leptoceridae
Leptocerus exanimis n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 1
Insecta - Hemiptera - Heterogastridae
Heterogaster pumilio Heer 1853
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 57
Insecta - Hemiptera - Rhyparochromidae
Aphanus pulchellus (Heer 1853)
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 58
Insecta - Hemiptera - Berytidae
Megalomerium serratum n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
recombined as Metacanthus (Megalomerium) serratum
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 59 in Ploiaria in Serres (1 measurement)
Insecta - Hemiptera - Cydnidae
Cydnopsis pygmaea Heer 1853
Meunier 1915 1 specimen
Cydnopsis heerii Oustalet 1874
Oustalet 1874 1 specimen
recombined as Cydnus heeri
Cydnus brevicollis (Heer 1853)
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 60
Insecta - Hemiptera - Pentatomidae
Palomena serresi n. sp. Meunier 1915
Meunier 1915 1 specimen
cited as Pentatoma sp. in Serres, 1829 (1 measurement)
Insecta - Hemiptera - Coreidae
? Coreus serresi n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 56
Insecta - Hemiptera - Cicadidae
Cicada serresi n. sp. Meunier 1915
Meunier 1915 1 specimen
recombined as Cicadatra serresi
(1 measurement)
Insecta - Diptera - Sciaridae
Sciara acuminata n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 8
Sciara saportana n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 35
Sciara cf. protogaea (Heer 1856)
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 33b
Sciara inflata n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 7
Insecta - Diptera - Mycetophilidae
Tetragoneura sannoisiensis n. sp. Meunier 1914
Meunier 1914 1 specimen
(2 measurements)
Allodia cf. pallipes (Heer 1856)
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 106
Mycetophila confusa n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 18
Phronia brevipennis n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 109 Sciara in M. de Serres
Insecta - Diptera - Bibionidae
Bibionidae indet. Fleming 1821
large number of indeterminable specimens
Bibio cf. fusiformis Heer 1849
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 91
    = Bibio sp. Geoffroy 1762
Skartveit and Nel 2017
Bibio curtisi (Heer 1856)
4 specimens
original and current combination Bibio curtisii
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 32, 37, 39, 83
Bibio serresi Theobald 1937
1 specimen
synonym of Bibio curtisii
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 89 Hirtea in M. de Serres
Bibio romani n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
synonym of Bibio curtisii
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 100
Bibio conformans Theobald 1937
1 specimen
synonym of Bibio celasensis
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 19
Bibio disjectus n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
nomen dubium belonging to Bibio
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 88
Bibio spectabilis n. sp. Theobald 1937
2 specimens
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 36, 95
Bibio luteipennis n. sp. Theobald 1937
2 specimens
recombined as Dilophus luteipennis
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 16, 86
Plecia cf. lugens (Oustalet 1870)
1 specimen
recombined as Penthetria lugens
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 94
Plecia nervisinuata n. sp. Theobald 1937
2 specimens
recombined as Penthetria nervisinuata
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 70, 76
Plecia lygaeoides (Heer 1849)
2 specimens
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 30, 85
    = Plecia morio Heer 1849
Skartveit and Nel 2017
Plecia livida (Heer 1849)
6 specimens
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 23, 27, 74, 75, 77, 92
Plecia brevipennis (Heer 1856)
1 specimen
synonym of Plecia livida
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 90
Plecia retracta n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
nomen dubium belonging to Plecia
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 80
Plecia dilatativentris n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
synonym of Plecia bucklandi
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 72
Plecia elegans (Heer 1856)
6 specimens
synonym of Plecia bucklandi
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 25, 24, 78, 79 , 81, 82
Plecia gracilis (Heer 1856)
1 specimen
synonym of Plecia bucklandi
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 69
Plecia acutiventris Theobald 1937
1 specimen
synonym of Plecia lygaeoides
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 84
Bibio detractus n. sp. Theobald 1937
2 specimens
synonym of Plecia lygaeoides
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 21, 29
Plecia splendida Theobald 1937
1 specimen
synonym of Plecia foersteri
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 93
Bibio painvini Meunier 1915
1 specimen
nomen dubium belonging to Plecia
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 28
Insecta - Diptera - Bombyliidae
Exoprosopa romani n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 71
Palaeogeron vetustus n. gen., n. sp. Meunier 1914
Meunier 1914 1 specimen
(2 measurements)
Insecta - Diptera - Stratiomyidae
Oxycera sp. Meigen 1803
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 98 in Serres
Insecta - Diptera - Xylophagidae
Bibio ungeri Heer 1849
3 specimens
nomen dubium belonging to Xylophagidae
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 26, 38, 87 var. marginatus
Insecta - Diptera
Agromyza serresi n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
nomen dubium belonging to Diptera
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 107 in Nemotelus in Serres
Insecta - Diptera - Ceratopogonidae
Ceratopogon sp. Meigen 1803
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 113
Insecta - Diptera - Dixidae
Dixa hyalipennis n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
synonym of Dixa tertiaria
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 15
Insecta - Diptera - Culicidae
Culicites depereti n. gen., n. sp. Meunier 1915
Meunier 1915 1 specimen
recombined as Neoculicites depereti
(1 measurement)
Insecta - Diptera - Chironomidae
Chironomidae indet. Macquart 1838
7 specimens
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 9-14, 1-4, 1-8, 111
Chironomus aquisextanus n. sp. Theobald 1937
1 specimen
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 11a, 103
Chironomus serresi Theobald 1937
2 specimens
Inst. Geol. Lyon A 110, 102
see common names

Geography
Country:France State/province:Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur County:Bouches-du-Rhône
Coordinates: 43.5° North, 5.5° East (view map)
Paleocoordinates:43.3° North, 2.8° East
Basis of coordinate:estimated from map
Geographic resolution:local area
Time
Period:Paleogene Epoch:Oligocene
Stage:Chattian 10 m.y. bin:Cenozoic 4
Key time interval:Chattian
Age range of interval:27.82000 - 23.03000 m.y. ago
Stratigraphy
Formation:Niveau du gypse d'Aix
Stratigraphy comments: "The ‘insect formation’ is 2.5 m thick, divided in two parts that correspond to two very different environmental conditions. The first (lower) episode is remarkable by its lateral monotony of facies on a distance of 6 km at least, in the outcrops observed on the northwest of Aix-en-Provence. This lower episode is distinguished from the rest of the ‘insect formation’ and from the whole formation of Aix-en-Provence by the presence of a very numerous thin limestone laminae. The second (upper) episode is remarkable by the presence of many silici- fied laminae. The fauna in this level is also very well preserved"….This collection consists of unspecified layers
Lithology and environment
Primary lithology:planar lamination lithified "limestone"
Lithology description: The deposit presents an alternation of limestone and marls with gypsum.
Environment:lacustrine - large Tectonic setting:rift
Geology comments: This lacustrine formation was deposited in a very large but shallow-water lake, with variable salinity and near the marine coast (Nury 1990, Nury & Thomassin 1994). Irregular basins formed during extension of the European platform in the Oligocene resulting from the formation of the West-European rift system.
Taphonomy
Modes of preservation:mold/impression,adpression
Size of fossils:macrofossils,mesofossils
Collection methods and comments
Reason for describing collection:taxonomic analysis
Metadata
Database number:122488
Authorizer:M. Clapham Enterer:J. Karr, M. Clapham
Modifier:M. Carrano Research group:paleoentomology
Created:2011-12-31 04:08:59 Last modified:2021-05-07 09:51:34
Access level:the public Released:2011-12-31 04:08:59
Creative Commons license:CC BY
Reference information

Primary reference:
38999. N. Theobald. 1937. Les insectes fossiles des terrains oligocènes de France. Bulletin Mensuel (Mémoires) de la Société des Sciences de Nancy 1:1-473 [M. Clapham/J. Karr]

Secondary references:

39045 F. Meunier. 1914. Nouvelles recherches sur quelques Insectes du Sannoisien D' Aix-en-Provence. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France, Quatrième Série 14:187-198 [M. Clapham/J. Karr/M. Clapham]
39047 F. Meunier. 1915. Nouvelles recherches sur quelques insectes des Plâtrières d'Aix en Provence. Verhandelingen der Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen te Amsterdam 18(5):1-17 [M. Clapham/J. Karr/M. Clapham]
49085 E. Oustalet. 1874. Recherches sur les insectes fossiles des terrains Tertiaires de la France, deuxième partie, insectes fossiles d'Aix en Provence. Annales des Sciences Géologiques, Paris 5(2):1-347 [M. Clapham/M. Clapham]
49263 M. Oustalet. 1874. Sur un Hemiptère de la famille des Pentatomides. Bulletin de la Société Philomathique de Paris, Sixième Série 11:14-16 [M. Clapham/M. Clapham]
61455 J. Skartveit and A. Nel. 2017. Revision of fossil Bibionidae (Insecta: Diptera) from French Oligocene deposits. Zootaxa 4225:1-83 [M. Clapham/M. Clapham]