1972] 
Kukalovd-Peck — Palaeozoic Insect Order $ 
259 
Czechoslovakia. Collected in the Lower Permian deposits near Obora, 
Moravia. 
Order Palaeodictyoptera 
Family Homoiopteridae Handlirsch 
Genus Monsteropterum, new genus 
Type species: Monsteropterum moravicum n.sp., Lower Permian of Mora- 
via. 
This remarkable fossil with fragmentary wings would hardly war- 
rant formal description because the classification of the order is based 
upon the wing venation. However, the specimen shows the inner 
structure of the sucking mouth parts, the ventral attachment of the 
legs to the body, the branched projections of terga with preserved 
surface and an ovipositor provided by styli. Since this insect is of 
unusual interest, generic and specific names are being assigned. 
Though the wings of the specimen are fragmentary, there is no 
doubt about referring them to the family Homoiopteridae, according 
to following characteristic features (Kukalova 1969, p. 440) : stem 
of main veins with a bend in the basal third of the wings; CuA and 
CuP parallel to each other; numerous, irregular and often connected 
cross veins. Of the genera included, Bwltopruvostia Strand, 1929 is 
probably the nearest related genus. From this, Monsteropterum dif- 
fers in lacking the sclerotized strip and tubercles, strengthening the 
costal area and in the more proximal division of M. The new genus 
is the first Permian representative of this rather primitive family and 
extends its occurrence from Upper Namurian to Lower Permian. 
Monsteropterum moravicum n.sp. 
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10; plate 3 
The body is a composite of ventral surface and inner structures, 
which were uncovered by preparation at different levels. With regard 
to the complexity of the composite, preservation must be discussed 
next. 
The body was preserved while lying on its dorsal side. It was 
much decomposed before being covered by sediment. The maxillary 
palpi disintegrated into single segments, which were partly displaced. 
The legs with some parts of the sterna were shifted towards the head. 
Valves of the ovipositor were split open. Only legs, wings, and one 
segment of maxillary palpi show the natural ventral surface. The 
beak split unevenly along the median plane, showing the inner side 
of two mandibular stylets and a small fragment of the distal end of 
one maxillary stylet (fig. 7-Ma). Meso- and metathorax expose the 
inner surface of the terga. The abdomen split between the sternal 
