Mr James Jepson

Neuropterida is a superorder of insects comprising of the orders Raphidioptera (Snakeflies), Megaloptera (Alderflies and Dobsonflies) and Neuroptera (Lacewings). Their geological range is from the Permian–Recent.

Neuropterida are a scarce and an overlooked group of insects in the Early Cretaceous deposits of the Purbeck and Wealden, southern England. Prior to the project there have only been five Neuropterida families recorded from the Purbeck and Wealden; four neuropteran and one raphidiopteran. 

Aims:

• To gather a comprehensive list of all the Purbeck and Wealden Neuropterida.
• Reconstruct the evolutionary history and palaeoenvironment of the Neuropterida.
• A comparison with similar aged faunas across the globe and how the Purbeck and Wealden Neuropterida fit in with the major insect diversification in the Mesozoic.
• A look at the implications for the interpretation of today’s Neuropterida diversity and distribution.

Fossil and Recent Neuropterida, Neuropterida Evolution, Purbeck and Wealden Geology and Palaeontology, Mesozoic Insects

Jepson, J.E. and Penney D. 2007. Neuropteran (Insecta) palaeodiversity with predictions for the Cretaceous fauna of the Wealden. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 248 (1-2): 109-118

Jepson, J.E. and Jarzembowski, E. A. 2008. A new species of snakefly (Insecta:  Raphidioptera) from the English Wealden (Early Cretaceous) with a review of other fossil raphidiopterans from the J/K transition. Alavesia 2: 193-201.

Jepson, J.E., Coram, R.A. and Jarzembowski, E.A. Raphidioptera (Insecta: Neuropterida) from the Lower Cretcaeous Purbeck Limestone Group, Dorset, U.K. Cretaceous Research: in press.

Jepson, J.E., Makarkin, V.N. and Jarzembowski, E.A. New lacewings (Insecta: Neuroptera) from the Lower Cretaceous Wealden Supergroup. in prep.  

Conference presentations: 

May 2008: Jepson, J.E., Coram, R.A. and Jarzembowski, E.A. Snakeflies (Insecta: Raphidioptera) from the Purbeck Limestone Group, Dorset, U.K. Progressive Palaeontology, Manchester (oral presentation)    

May 2007. Jepson, J.E. and Jarzembowski, E.A. A new species of snakefly (Insecta:  Raphidioptera) from the English Wealden (Early Cretaceous) with a review of other fossil raphidiopterans from the J/K transition. FossilsX3 conference, Spain (oral presentation)

June 2006. Jepson, J.E. and Penney D. Neuropteran (Insecta) palaeodiversity with predictions for the Cretaceous fauna of the Wealden. 9th Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biota, Manchester (poster)