The Triassic Insects from Monte San Giorgio: Systematics and Paleoenvironmental Implications

A remarkable fossil insect assemblage from the Triassic lagerstätte of Monte San Giorgio reveals unprecedented insights into early insect diversity and paleoenvironmental complexity. The study describes 16 specimens, including both adult and larval forms, collected between 1997 and 2003 in the Lower Kalkschieferzone (KSZ) at Val Mara near Meride, Switzerland. This entomofauna includes the oldest known fossil records for four insect groups and provides the first evidence of nervous structures (cerebrum and nerve cord) preserved through phosphatization, dating back approximately 240 million years. The diversity of both terrestrial and aquatic insects suggests a more complex and stable terrestrial habitat than previously assumed for a carbonate platform environment, challenging existing paleoenvironmental models.

STRADA, L. A. U. R. A. (2015). THE TRIASSIC INSECTS FROM MONTE SAN GIORGIO: SYSTEMATICS AND PALEOENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS. Universit� Degli Studi Di Milano. https://doi.org/10.13130/STRADA-LAURA_PHD2015-03-16