Vrtula, Vršanský, 2008

Vršanský, Peter, 2008, New blattarians and a review of dictyopteran assemblages from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53 (1), pp. 129-136 : 132-133

Genus Vrtula nov.

Derivation of the name: From the Slovakian vrt, a drill, and the genus name Blattula . Vrtuľa in Slovakian also means propeller, alluding to its improved flight abilities.

Type species: Vrtula sama sp. nov.

Diagnosis.—Differs from all other representatives of the family in having extremely elongated wings, the forewing being 3.3–4.0 × longer than wide, with the clavus reaching the basal third of the wing and anal veins densely distributed (autapomorphies). The dark macula in CuA is synapomorphic with Elisama Giebel, 1856 , which lacks any autapomorphies and may be directly derived from Blattula Handlirsch, 1906 ; Vrtula is thus probably derived from Elisama , which is paraphyletic with respect to Vrtula .

Description.—Head large, body wider than forewing width. Forewing elongated, on average 3.5 × longer than wide. Sc simple and very short. R with most veins simple, RS not differentiated; M reduced to a few long straight branches; CuA reaching the apical narrow space of the wing. A numerous, simple. Cross−veins distinct in the clavus. Dark spot present at the base of the CuA area. Hindwing Sc simple; R 1 and RS differentiated—i.e., stem of the anterior branches of R widely separated; M compressed; CuA with simple branches; CuP simple; A1 branched.