Of the group of the INSECTA, the Ipswich Coal measures (Jurassic) of Queensland have yielded an interesting buprestid beetle (Mesostigmodera), whilst beds of the same age in New South Wales contain the remains of a probable Cicada, associated with leaves of the fern Taeniopteris.
Lower Cretaceous Dragon-fly.—
From the Lower Cretaceous of the Flinders River district, Queensland, there has been obtained a fossil dragon-fly, Aeschna flindersensis ([Fig. 120 D]).
Cainozoic Insects.—
Certain Cainozoic beds of New South Wales, of the age of the Deep-leads of Victoria, and probably equivalent to the Kalimnan terrestrial series, contain a species of Cydnus, a bug-like insect belonging to the order Rhynchota; and there are in the same series a Midge (Chironomus), a Day-fly (Ephemera, [Fig. 120 E]) and several beetles (? Lagria, Palaeolycus, Cyphon and Oxytelus). The occurrence of these insects of the Deep-leads helps to complete the landscape picture of those far-off Lower Pliocene times, when the old river systems brought down large contributions of vegetable waste from higher lands, in the form of twigs with leaves and fruits; with occasional evidences of the rich and varied fauna of insect life which was especially promoted in the damp and vegetative areas of the lower lands.
COMMON OR CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES OF THE FOREGOING CHAPTER.
TRILOBITES.
Ptychoparia howchini, Eth. fil. Lower Cambrian: South Australia.
Dolichometopus tatei, H. Woodward. Lower Cambrian: South Australia.