Aix-en-Provence (MNHN Paris Coll) (Oligocene of France)

Where: Bouches-Du-Rhone, France (43.5° N, 5.5° E: paleocoordinates 43.3° N, 2.8° E)

• coordinate estimated from map

• local area-level geographic resolution

When: Niveau du gypse d'Aix Formation, Chattian (28.1 - 23.0 Ma)

• "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

Environment/lithology: lacustrine - large; lithified limestone

• 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.
• The deposit presents an alternation of limestone and marls with gypsum.

Size classes: macrofossils, mesofossils

Preservation: mold/impression, adpression

Reposited in the MNHN

Primary reference: 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]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 122501: authorized by Matthew Clapham, entered by Jered Karr on 31.12.2011, edited by Matthew Clapham

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

Insecta
 Orthoptera - Gryllidae
Gryllidae indet.16 Laicharting 1781 true crickets
in the collection of Oustalet
 Dermaptera - Forficulidae
Forficula "sp. A"6 Linnaeus 1758 common earwig
MNHN-LP-R.10401
 Blattodea -
Ulmeriella aquisextana n. sp.4 Nel 1986 termite
MNHN IPM-R.07443 (Nel no. 1358); IPM-R.54242 in Nel & Paicheler 1993
Paleotermopsis oligocenicus n. gen. n. sp.8 Nel and Paicheler 1993 termite
MNHN IPM-R.54190
 Blattodea - Mastotermitidae
Mastotermes sp.8 Froggatt 1897 termite
MNHN IPM-R.54195, 54324
Mastotermes gallica n. sp.4 Nel 1986 termite
MNHN IPM-R.07441 (Nel no. 1)
Blattotermes massiliensis n. sp.4 Nel 1986 termite
MNHN IPM-R.07442 (Nel no. 1380)
 Lepidoptera - Pterophoridae
"Pterophorus oligocenicus n. sp." = Merrifieldia oligocenicus2
"Pterophorus oligocenicus n. sp." = Merrifieldia oligocenicus2 Bigot et al. 1986 moth
Oustalet collection
 Coleoptera - Carabidae
Polystichus hopei n. sp.12 Oustalet 1874 ground beetle
 Coleoptera - Curculionidae
"Sitones margarum" = Protainophthalmus margarus12, "Cleonus marcelli" = Protainophthalmus asperulus12, "Brachyderes aquisextanus" = Protainophthalmus asperulus12, "Brachyderes longipes" = Protainophthalmus asperulus12, "Hipporhinus reynesii" = Rhytidoderes sexsulcatus12, Hipporhinus heeri15, Hipporhinus heerii12, Cleonus inflexus12
"Sitones margarum" = Protainophthalmus margarus12 Germar 1849 snout beetle
"Cleonus marcelli" = Protainophthalmus asperulus12 Heer 1856 snout beetle
"Brachyderes aquisextanus" = Protainophthalmus asperulus12 Heer 1856 snout beetle
"Brachyderes longipes" = Protainophthalmus asperulus12 Heer 1856 snout beetle
"Hipporhinus reynesii" = Rhytidoderes sexsulcatus12 Heer 1856 snout beetle
Hipporhinus heeri15 Germar 1849 snout beetle
Hipporhinus heerii12 Germar 1849 snout beetle
Cleonus inflexus12 Oustalet 1874 snout beetle
 Coleoptera - Chrysomelidae
Chrysomela matheroni12, Gonioctena curtisii n. sp.12, "Chrysomela matrona n. sp." = Plagiodera lyelliana12, Cassida blancheti12
Chrysomela matheroni12 Oustalet 1874 leaf beetle
Gonioctena curtisii n. sp.12 Oustalet 1874 leaf beetle
"Chrysomela matrona n. sp." = Plagiodera lyelliana12 Heer 1856 leaf beetle
Cassida blancheti12 Heer 1856 tortoise beetle
 Coleoptera - Staphylinidae
"Staphylinus (Ocypus) provincialis n. sp." = Ocypus provincialis12, Staphylinus prodromus12, Staphylinus priscus12, Staphylinus aquisextanus n. sp.12, Staphylinus calvus12, "Erinnys deleta n. sp." = Lithoplanes deleta12, Stenus gypsi n. sp.12
"Staphylinus (Ocypus) provincialis n. sp." = Ocypus provincialis12 Oustalet 1874 rove beetle
Staphylinus prodromus12 Oustalet 1874 rove beetle
Staphylinus priscus12 Oustalet 1874 rove beetle
Staphylinus aquisextanus n. sp.12 Oustalet 1874 rove beetle
Staphylinus calvus12 Oustalet 1874 rove beetle
"Erinnys deleta n. sp." = Lithoplanes deleta12 Oustalet 1874 rove beetle
Stenus gypsi n. sp.12 Oustalet 1874 rove beetle
 Coleoptera - Geotrupidae
Geotrupes atavus n. sp.12 Oustalet 1874 earth-boring dung beetle
 Neuroptera - Chrysopidae
Nothochrysa oligocenica n. sp.11 Ngô-Muller et al. 2019 green lacewing
MNHN.F.A770996
 Hymenoptera - Ichneumonidae
"Pimpla antiqua n. sp." = Lithoserix antiquus13, ? Pimpla saussurei15, Exetastes postornata n. sp.15, ? Demophorus fumipennis n. sp.15, Ophion annulatus n. sp.15, "Promethes tilloyi n. sp." = Zagryphus tilloyi15, "? Nemeritis longicornis n. sp." = Dimophora longicornis15
"Pimpla antiqua n. sp." = Lithoserix antiquus13 Saussure 1852 ichneumon wasp
Coll Museum Paris 21 (MNHN.F.B24391); Theobald said that this specimen was different from Saussure's holotype, but it is likely the same (Spasojevic et al., 2022)
? Pimpla saussurei15 Heer 1856 ichneumon wasp
Coll Museum Paris 17
Exetastes postornata n. sp.15 Theobald 1937 ichneumon wasp
Coll Museum Paris Am 16
? Demophorus fumipennis n. sp.15 Theobald 1937 ichneumon wasp
Coll Museum Paris Am 14
Ophion annulatus n. sp.15 Theobald 1937 ichneumon wasp
Coll Museum Paris Am 13
"Promethes tilloyi n. sp." = Zagryphus tilloyi15 Theobald 1937 ichneumon wasp
Coll Museum Paris Am 8 (MNHN.F.24392)
"? Nemeritis longicornis n. sp." = Dimophora longicornis15 Theobald 1937 ichneumon wasp
Coll Museum Paris Am 12 (MNHN.F.B24398)
 Hymenoptera - Braconidae
"Diospilus verus n. sp." = Taphaeus verus15
"Diospilus verus n. sp." = Taphaeus verus15 Theobald 1937 wasp
Coll Museum Paris Am 23
 Hymenoptera - Pompilidae
"Pompilus coquandi n. sp." = Pompilinites coquandi15, "Pompilus fasciatus n. sp." = Pompilites fasciatus15
"Pompilus coquandi n. sp." = Pompilinites coquandi15 Theobald 1937 spider wasp
Coll Museum Paris Am 1
"Pompilus fasciatus n. sp." = Pompilites fasciatus15 Theobald 1937 spider wasp
Coll Museum Paris Am 11
 Hymenoptera - Thynnidae
"Methoca sp." = Methocha15
"Methoca sp." = Methocha15 Latreille 1804 wasp
Coll Museum Paris Am 3
 Hymenoptera - Apidae
Apis "sp. B"7, Apis "sp. C"7, "Apis aquisextusensis n. sp." = Apis (Synapis) henshawi7
Apis "sp. B"7 Linnaeus 1758 honey bee
MNHN-LP-R.10429
Apis "sp. C"7 Linnaeus 1758 honey bee
MNHN-LP-R.10426
"Apis aquisextusensis n. sp." = Apis (Synapis) henshawi7 Cockerell 1907 Henshaw's honey bee
MNHN-LP-R.08381, 08382, 10421
 Hymenoptera - Formicidae
"Aphaenogaster maculata" = Paraphaenogaster maculata15, "Brachyponera dubia" = Pachycondyla dubia15, Dolichoderus coquandi n. sp.15, "Camponotus saussurei n. sp." = Camponotus theobaldi15, Camponotus longiventris n. sp.15, "Formica minutula" = Lasius occultatus15, Lasius epicentrus n. sp.15, Formica sp.15, Formica sepulta n. sp.15, Formica latinodosa n. sp.15, Formica oculata15
"Aphaenogaster maculata" = Paraphaenogaster maculata15 Theobald 1937 ant
Coll Museum Paris Am 10
"Brachyponera dubia" = Pachycondyla dubia15 Theobald 1937 ant
Coll Museum Paris Am 20
Dolichoderus coquandi n. sp.15 Theobald 1937 ant
Coll Museum Paris Am 22
"Camponotus saussurei n. sp." = Camponotus theobaldi15 Özdikmen 2010 ant
Coll Museum Paris Am 4
Camponotus longiventris n. sp.15 Theobald 1937 ant
Coll Museum Paris Am 2, 18
"Formica minutula" = Lasius occultatus15 Heer 1849 ant
Coll Museum Paris Am 15
Lasius epicentrus n. sp.15 Theobald 1937 ant
Coll Museum Paris Am 7
Formica sp.15 Linnaeus 1758 ant
Coll Museum Paris Am 6
Formica sepulta n. sp.15 Theobald 1937 ant
Coll Museum Paris Am 5
Formica latinodosa n. sp.15 Theobald 1937 ant
Coll Museum Paris Am 9
Formica oculata15 Heer 1849 ant
Coll Museum Paris Am 19
 Hemiptera - Hydrometridae
Protobacillometra oligocenica n. gen. n. sp.9 Nel and Paicheler 1993 marsh treader
MNHN LP-R.07893
 Hemiptera - Cydnidae
Cydnus meunieri15 Theobald 1937 burrowing bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 139
 Hemiptera - Berytidae
? Neides oligocenicus n. sp.5 Nel 1992 stilt bug
MNHN IPM-R.10372, 10373, 10374, 10375
 Hemiptera - Heterogastridae
Heterogaster pumilio15 Heer 1853 true bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 140-142
Heterogaster antiquus15 Heer 1853 true bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 127
 Hemiptera - Rhyparochromidae
Aphanus murchisonae15 Heer 1853 seed bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 122-126, 100-121
Aphanus dilatatus n. sp.15 Theobald 1937 seed bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 132
Aphanus pulchellus15 Heer 1853 seed bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 143-146, 138
Diniella fasciata15 Heer 1853 seed bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 147-151
 Odonata - Coenagrionidae
Coenagrionidae "indet. C"10 Kirby 1890 narrow-winged damselfly
MNHN IPM-R07460
Coenagrionidae "indet. D"10 Kirby 1890 narrow-winged damselfly
MNHN IPM-R07706
Argiinae "indet. A"10 Tillyard 1917 narrow-winged damselfly
MNHN IPM-R07449
Argiinae "indet. B"10 Tillyard 1917 narrow-winged damselfly
MNHN IPM-R07705
 Odonata - Platycnemididae
Platycnemididae indet.10 Jacobson and Bianchi 1905 white-legged damselfly
MNHN IPM-R07704
 Odonata - Libellulidae
Libellulidae "larva"15 Rambur 1842 common skimmer
Am 80-87
 Diptera - Sciaridae
Sciara oblonga15 Theobald 1937 dark-winged fungus gnat
Coll Museum Paris Am 31, 33
 Diptera - Mycetophilidae
"Mycetophila meigeniana" = Gnoriste meigeniana15, Mycetophila cf. morio15, Mycetophila confusa15, "Mycomyia curvithoracis n. sp." = Mycomya curvithoracis15
"Mycetophila meigeniana" = Gnoriste meigeniana15 Heer 1856 fungus gnat
Coll Museum Paris Am 32
Mycetophila cf. morio15 Heer 1856 fungus gnat
Coll Museum Paris Am 34-36
Mycetophila confusa15 Theobald 1937 fungus gnat
Coll Museum Paris Am 30
"Mycomyia curvithoracis n. sp." = Mycomya curvithoracis15 Theobald 1937 fungus gnat
Coll Museum Paris Am 27
 Diptera - Bibionidae
Bibio sp.15, Bibio spectabilis15, Bibio disjectus15, Bibio aquaesextiae n. sp.14, Bibio curtisi15, "Bibio curtisii" = Bibio curtisii14, "Bibio romani" = Bibio curtisii15, "Bibio serresi" = Bibio curtisii15, Bibiodes provincialis n. sp.14, Dilophus sp.14, Penthetria nervisinuata14, "Plecia cf. lugens" = Penthetria lugens15, "Plecia livida" = Plecia livida15, "Plecia brevipennis" = Plecia livida15, "Plecia splendida" = Plecia foersteri15, "Plecia guinieri" = Plecia lygaeoides15, "Plecia bucklandi" = Plecia bucklandi15, "Plecia gracilis" = Plecia bucklandi15, "Plecia elegans" = Plecia bucklandi15, "Plecia dilatativentris" = Plecia bucklandi15
Bibio sp.15 Geoffroy 1762 march fly
Coll Museum Paris Am 21
Bibio spectabilis15 Theobald 1937 march fly
Coll Museum Paris Am 78; 15 in Skarveti & Nel 2017 (Aix 6, 10, 11, 52, 107, 161, 309, 845, 1090, 1299, 1307, 1377, 1446, 1447, P25)
Bibio disjectus15 Theobald 1937 march fly
Coll Museum Paris Am 75
Bibio aquaesextiae n. sp.14 Skartveit and Nel 2017 march fly
MNHN Aix 152, 309, 416,421, 532, 610, 1010, 1014, 1294, 1436, 1452
Bibio curtisi15 Heer 1856 march fly
Coll Museum Paris Am 77
"Bibio curtisii" = Bibio curtisii14 Heer 1856 march fly
MNHN Aix 42, 54, 584, 873, 950, B.24431
"Bibio romani" = Bibio curtisii15 Heer 1856 march fly
Coll Museum Paris Am 74
"Bibio serresi" = Bibio curtisii15 Heer 1856 march fly
Coll Museum Paris Am 67-73
Bibiodes provincialis n. sp.14 Skartveit and Nel 2017 march fly
MNHN Aix 1079, 23, 62, 543, 676, 959
Dilophus sp.14 Meigen 1803 march fly
MNHN Aix 18, 31,34, 491, 797, 1079
Penthetria nervisinuata14 Theobald 1937 march fly
MNHN Aix 332, 428, 645, 752, 779, 799, 884, 890, 926, 965, 974, 1013, 1061,1085, 1332, 1337, 1347, 1404, P26
"Plecia cf. lugens" = Penthetria lugens15 Oustalet 1870 march fly
Coll Museum Paris Am 39, 41
"Plecia livida" = Plecia livida15 Heer 1849 love bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 51-56, 58, 60
"Plecia brevipennis" = Plecia livida15 Heer 1849 love bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 65
"Plecia splendida" = Plecia foersteri15 Theobald 1937 love bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 63
"Plecia guinieri" = Plecia lygaeoides15 Heer 1849 love bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 64
"Plecia bucklandi" = Plecia bucklandi15 Heer 1849 love bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 50, 19
"Plecia gracilis" = Plecia bucklandi15 Heer 1849 love bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 57
"Plecia elegans" = Plecia bucklandi15 Heer 1849 love bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 43-46, 59
"Plecia dilatativentris" = Plecia bucklandi15 Heer 1849 love bug
Coll Museum Paris Am 42, 48
 Diptera - Bombyliidae
Exoprosopa romani15 Theobald 1937 bee fly
 Diptera - Syrphidae
"Chilosia oligocenica n. sp." = Cheilosia oligocenica15
"Chilosia oligocenica n. sp." = Cheilosia oligocenica15 Theobald 1937 hoverfly
Coll Museum Paris Am 24
 Diptera - Sciomyzidae
Tetanocera alireticulata n. sp.15 Theobald 1937 marsh fly
Coll Museum Paris Am 25
 Diptera - Tabanidae
Chrysops sp.15 Meigen 1803 deer fly
Coll Museum Paris Am 28(29)
 Diptera -
? Anthomyia pulcherrima15 Meunier 1915 fly
Coll Museum Paris Am 26, 37
Arachnida
 Araneae - Salticidae
Attoides eresiformis n. gen. n. sp.3
Attoides eresiformis n. gen. n. sp.3 Brongniart 1877 spider
In "Le Muséum", sent by M. Gaudry
 Araneae - Gnaphosidae
Drassodes sextii n. sp.1 Berland 1939 spider