Ephemeroptera: Misthodotidae: Misthodotes cf edmundsi Carpenter, 1979

Right: Nearly intact mayfly fossil from Lower Permian Wellington Formation beds in Noble County, Oklahoma (Specimen B3-4-29-04-012, collected 29 April, 2004 at Billings 3 locality by Joseph Hall and Roy J. Beckemeyer). [Photograph ©2004 by Roy Beckemeyer & Joseph Hall]

After Joseph's success in finding a nearly intact Glaphyrophlebia fossil last Monday, Joseph Hall and Roy Beckemeyer were inspired to make another trip to Noble County, Oklahoma on Thursday, April 29, 2004.  We visited our Black Bear Creek locality and collected a few wing specimens.  We also spent time at Raasch 5 and Tasch Noble IIA, collecting around 50 or so specimens, mostly wings and wing fragments.  We finished the day at Billings 3, where we found around a dozen wing specimens.  Then Joseph hit the jackpot again, picking up a piece of slab and turning it over to see the fossil pictured at right, already exposed by natural weathering of the slab (thus no counterpart).  This is an adult mayfly, Misthodotes cf edmundsi Carpenter, 1979.  The insect is in lateral aspect, with portions of all four wings visible, 6 abdominal segments (more of the terminal segments may yet be uncovered from the rock matrix with additional preparation), and the entire thorax and part of the head.

Below are views of the wings and a close up of the forewing base (the costal brace is not visible).  The size and venation are consistent with Carpenter's description of M. edmundsi, known till now only from the hind wing.  [Please do not reproduce these figures - an article describing the specimen is in preparation for publication. Figures and description of the specimen are copyright by Roy Beckemeyer and Joseph Hall.]  Below is also reproduced the figures from Carpenter's 1979 type description.

Left: Wings of M. cf edmundsi; Right: Mirror image of close up of base of forewing of M. cf edmundsi.  [Photographs ©2004 by Roy Beckemeyer & Joseph Hall]

Left: Figures describing M. edmundsi from Carpenter's 1979 type description.

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