Mesoblattinidae is an extinct family of cockroaches known from the Mesozoic. It was formerly considered a

wastebasket taxon Wastebasket taxon (also called a wastebin taxon, dustbin taxon or catch-all taxon) is a term used by some taxonomists to refer to a taxon that has the sole purpose of classifying organisms that do not fit anywhere else. They are typically defined ...

for Mesozoic cockroaches, but the family has subsequently been better defined, with many taxa transferred to Caloblattinidae. It is considered to have close affinities with

Blattidae Blattidae is a cockroach family in the order Blattodea containing several of the most common household cockroaches. Some notable species include: * ''Blatta orientalis'': Oriental cockroach, * Common shining cockroach: (''Drymaplaneta commun ...

and

Ectobiidae Ectobiidae (formerly Blattellidae) is a family of the order Blattodea (cockroaches). This family contains many of the smaller common household pest cockroaches, among others. They are sometimes called wood cockroaches. A few notable species inclu ...

, as well as possibly

Blaberidae Giant cockroaches, or blaberids (family Blaberidae) are the second-largest cockroach family by number of species. Notable species Notable species within this family include: * Cape mountain cockroach – ''Aptera fusca'' * Dwarf cave cockroa ...

. The family first appeared by the Early

Jurassic The Jurassic ( ) is a Geological period, geologic period and System (stratigraphy), stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately Mya. The J ...

. They are considered to represent amongst the oldest groups of modern cockroaches, and like them are thought to have laid

oothecae An ootheca (pl. ''oothecae'' ) is a type of egg mass made by any member of a variety of species including mollusks (such as '' Turbinella laevigata''), mantises, and cockroaches. The word is a Latinized combination of ''oo-'', meaning "egg", ...

Systematics

Based on * †'' Actinoblattula'' Handlirsch 1906 Çakrazboz Formation, Turkey, Late Triassic ( Rhetian) * †'' Archimesoblatta'' Vršanský 2003

Kota Formation The Kota Formation is a geological formation in India. The precise age of Kota Formation are uncertain, but it dates from the Early to Middle Jurassic, and is split into a Lower Member and Upper Member.Prasad GVR, and Manhas BK. 2007A new docodont ...

, India, Early-Middle Jurassic, Doronino Formation, Russia, Early Cretaceous (

Barremian The Barremian is an age in the geologic timescale (or a chronostratigraphic stage) between 129.4 ± 1.5 Ma (million years ago) and 121.4 ± 1.0 Ma). It is a subdivision of the Early Cretaceous Epoch (or Lower Cretaceous Series). It is preceded ...

) Dzun-Bain Formation, Mongolia,

Zaza Formation The Zaza Formation is a geological formation located in Buryatia (Russia). It dates to the Lower Cretaceous period. It is Aptian in age and consists of sandstones, siltstones, marls and bituminous shales, deposited in a stratified lake. It is s ...

, Russia Early Cretaceous (

Aptian The Aptian is an age in the geologic timescale or a stage in the stratigraphic column. It is a subdivision of the Early or Lower Cretaceous Epoch or Series and encompasses the time from 121.4 ± 1.0 Ma to 113.0 ± 1.0 Ma (million years ago), a ...

) * †'' Artitocoblatta'' Handlirsch 1906

Purbeck Group The Purbeck Group is an Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous lithostratigraphic group (a sequence of rock strata) in south-east England. The name is derived from the district known as the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset where the strata are exposed in ...

, United Kingdom, Early Cretaceous (

Berriasian In the geological timescale, the Berriasian is an age/stage of the Early/Lower Cretaceous. It is the oldest subdivision in the entire Cretaceous. It has been taken to span the time between 145.0 ± 4.0 Ma and 139.8 ± 3.0 Ma (million years ago ...

), La Pedrera de Rúbies Formation, Spain, Barremian * †'' Austroblattula'' Tillyard 1919, Blackstone Formation, Australia, Late Triassic (

Norian The Norian is a division of the Triassic Period. It has the rank of an age (geochronology) or stage (chronostratigraphy). It lasted from ~227 to million years ago. It was preceded by the Carnian and succeeded by the Rhaetian. Stratigraphic defi ...

) * †'' Basiblattina'' Zhang 1997 Dalazi Formation, China, Aptian * †'' Breviblattina'' Vršanský 2004 Shar-Teg, Mongolia, Late Jurassic (

Tithonian In the geological timescale, the Tithonian is the latest age of the Late Jurassic Epoch and the uppermost stage of the Upper Jurassic Series. It spans the time between 152.1 ± 4 Ma and 145.0 ± 4 Ma (million years ago). It is preceded by the K ...

) * †'' Durdlestoneia'' Handlirsch 1906 Purbeck Group, United Kingdom, Berriasian * †'' Gondwablatta'' Vršanský 2004 Tayasir Formation, Israel, Berriasian * †'' Grandocularis'' Kaddumi 2005

Jordanian amber Jordanian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Jordan, a country in the Near East * Jordanian culture * Jordanian people, see Demographics of Jordan * Jordanian cuisine * Jordanian Arabic Jordanian Arabic is a dialect continu ...

, Early Cretaceous (

Albian The Albian is both an age of the geologic timescale and a stage in the stratigraphic column. It is the youngest or uppermost subdivision of the Early/Lower Cretaceous Epoch/Series. Its approximate time range is 113.0 ± 1.0 Ma to 100.5 ± 0.9 M ...

) * †'' Hispanoblatta'' Martínez-Delclòs 1993, Las Hoyas, Spain, Barremian * †'' Hongaya'' Handlirsch 1908 Vietnam, Rhaetian * †'' Jingyuanoblatta'' Lin 1982 China,

Middle Jurassic The Middle Jurassic is the second epoch of the Jurassic Period. It lasted from about 174.1 to 163.5 million years ago. Fossils of land-dwelling animals, such as dinosaurs, from the Middle Jurassic are relatively rare, but geological formations co ...

* †'' Karatavoblatta'' Vishnyakova 1968

Karabastau Formation The Karabastau Formation ( kk, Qarabastaý svıtasy) is a geological formation and lagerstätte in the Karatau Mountains of southern Kazakhstan whose strata date to the Middle to Late Jurassic. It is an important locality for insect fossils that ...

, Kazakhstan, Late Jurassic

Yixian Formation The Yixian Formation (; formerly transcribed as Yihsien Formation) is a geological formation in Jinzhou, Liaoning, People's Republic of China, that spans the late Barremian and early Aptian stages of the Early Cretaceous. It is known for its ex ...

, China, Aptian * †'' Laiyangia'' Grabau 1923

Laiyang Formation Laiyang city () is a county-level city within Yantai bordering Qingdao, located in the middle of the Shandong Peninsula, in Shandong province, China. The majority (70%) of its population are farmers and it is famous for producing the Laiyang pe ...

, China, Aptian * †'' Lithoblatta'' Handlirsch 1906 Solnhofen Limestone, Germany, Tithonian * †'' Malmoblattina'' Handlirsch 1906 Purbeck Group, United Kingdom, Berriasian * †'' Mesoblatta'' Hinkelman 2020,

Burmese amber Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. The ...

, Myanmar, Late Cretaceous (

Cenomanian The Cenomanian is, in the ICS' geological timescale, the oldest or earliest age of the Late Cretaceous Epoch or the lowest stage of the Upper Cretaceous Series. An age is a unit of geochronology; it is a unit of time; the stage is a unit in the s ...

) * †'' Mesoblattellina'' Mendes 2000

Crato Formation The Crato Formation is a geologic formation of Early Cretaceous ( Aptian) age in northeastern Brazil's Araripe Basin. It is an important Lagerstätte (undisturbed fossil accumulation) for palaeontologists. The strata were laid down mostly duri ...

, Brazil, Aptian * †'' Mesoblattina'' Geinitz 1880 Guanyintan Formation, China Early Jurassic (Hettangian) Xiangxi Formation, China Early Jurassic (

Pliensbachian The Pliensbachian is an age (geology), age of the geologic timescale and stage (stratigraphy), stage in the stratigraphic column. It is part of the Early Jurassic, Early or Lower Jurassic epoch (geology), Epoch or series (stratigraphy), Series an ...

), Dashankou Formation, Middle Jurassic (

Aalenian The Aalenian () is a subdivision of the Middle Jurassic Epoch/Series of the geologic timescale that extends from about 174.1 Ma to about 170.3 Ma (million years ago). It was preceded by the Toarcian and succeeded by the Bajocian. Stratigraphi ...

) Hanshan Formation, China, Middle Jurassic (

Bajocian In the geologic timescale, the Bajocian is an age and stage in the Middle Jurassic. It lasted from approximately 170.3 Ma to around 168.3 Ma (million years ago). The Bajocian Age succeeds the Aalenian Age and precedes the Bathonian Age. Stra ...

), Houcheng Formation, Houjiatun Formation,

Haifanggou Formation The Haifanggou Formation (), also known as the Jiulongshan Formation (), is a fossil-bearing rock deposit located near Daohugou () village of Ningcheng County, in Inner Mongolia, northeastern China. The formation consists of coarse conglomerates ...

, China, Middle Jurassic (

Callovian In the geologic timescale, the Callovian is an age and stage in the Middle Jurassic, lasting between 166.1 ± 4.0 Ma (million years ago) and 163.5 ± 4.0 Ma. It is the last stage of the Middle Jurassic, following the Bathonian and preceding the ...

) Green Series, Germany, Early Jurassic (

Toarcian The Toarcian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, an age and stage in the Early or Lower Jurassic. It spans the time between 182.7 Ma (million years ago) and 174.1 Ma. It follows the Pliensbachian and is followed by the Aalenian. The Toarcian ...

), Kyzyl-Kiya, Kyrgyzstan, Pliensbachian Zhargalant Formation, Mongolia, Toarcian, Insektenmergel Formation, Switzerland, Hettangian,

Xiagou Formation The Xiagou Formation is the middle strata of the Xinminbao Group. It is named for its type site in Xiagou, in the Changma Basin of Gansu Province, northwestern China and is considered Early Cretaceous in age. It is known outside the specialized ...

, China, Aptian

Jinju Formation The Jinju Formation () is an Early Cretaceous geologic Formation (geology), formation in South Korea.Blattulopsis'' Pinto 1990 Anfiteatro de Ticó Formation, Argentina, Aptian * †'' Brachymesoblatta'' Vršanský 2003 Dzun-Bain Formation, Mongolia, Aptian * †'' Latiblatta'' Vishnyakova 1968 Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Late Jurassic * †'' Nannoblattina'' Scudder 1886 Charmouth Mudstone Formation, United Kingdom, Early Jurassic (

Sinemurian In the geologic timescale, the Sinemurian is an age and stage in the Early or Lower Jurassic Epoch or Series. It spans the time between 199.3 ± 2 Ma and 190.8 ± 1.5 Ma (million years ago). The Sinemurian is preceded by the Hettangian and is ...

) Purbeck Group, United Kingdom, Berriasian * †'' Rhipidoblattinopsis'' Vishnyakova 1968 Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Late Jurassic * †'' Tarakanula'' Vršanský 2003 Dzun-Bain Formation, Mongolia, Aptian * †'' Mesoblattinopsis'' Mendes 2000 Crato Formation, Brazil, Aptian * †'' Mieroblattina'' Vršanský and Makhoul 2013

Sannine Formation The Sannine Formation, also called the Sannine Limestone, is a Cretaceous geologic formation in Lebanon. Description It is primarily Cenomanian in age. The formation laterally varies from east to west; the western lowland "coastal" sequence i ...

, Lebanon, Cenomanian * †'' Mongolblatta'' Vršanský 2004 Shar-Teg, Mongolia, Tithonian, Doronino Formation, Russia, Barremian * †'' Nipponoblatta'' Fujiyama 1974 Guanyintan Formation, China, Hettangian, Nishinakayama Formation, Japan, Toarcian, Yixian Formation, China, Aptian * †'' Nogueroblatta'' Martínez-Delclòs 1993 La Pedrera de Rúbies Formation, Las Hoyas, Spain, Barremian * †'' Nymphoblatta'' Vršanský and Grimaldi 2004

Lebanese amber Lebanese amber is fossilized resin found in Lebanon and southwest Syria. It dates back approximately 130-125 million years to the Barremian of the Early Cretaceous. It formed on what was then the northern coast of Gondwana, believed to be a tropi ...

, Barremian * †'' Perlucipecta'' Wei and Ren 2013 Crato Formation, Brazil, Aptian Yixian Formation, China, Aptian * †'' Praeblattella'' Vršanský 2003 Dzun-Bain Formation, Mongolia, Aptian Zaza Formation, Russia, Aptian * †'' Pulchellablatta'' Martins-Neto and Gallego 2005 Los Rastros Formation, Argentina, Late Triassic (

Carnian The Carnian (less commonly, Karnian) is the lowermost stage of the Upper Triassic Series (or earliest age of the Late Triassic Epoch). It lasted from 237 to 227 million years ago (Ma). The Carnian is preceded by the Ladinian and is followed by t ...

) * †'' Rhaetoblattina'' Handlirsch 1908 Vietnam, Rhaetian * †'' Schambeloblattina'' Handlirsch 1906 Insektenmergel Formation, Switzerland, Hettangian * †'' Sivis'' Vršanský 2009 Charentese amber, France, Albian * †'' Spinaeblattina'' Hinkelman 2019 Yixian Formation, China, Aptian, Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian * †'' Stantoniella'' Handlirsch 1907

Judith River Formation The Judith River Formation is a fossil-bearing geologic formation in Montana, and is part of the Judith River Group. It dates to the Late Cretaceous, between 79 and 75.3 million years ago, corresponding to the "Judithian" land vertebrate age. It ...

, Montana,

Campanian The Campanian is the fifth of six ages of the Late Cretaceous Epoch on the geologic timescale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS). In chronostratigraphy, it is the fifth of six stages in the Upper Cretaceous Series. Campanian s ...

* †'' Stenotegmina'' Lin 1980 Funing Group, China,

Paleocene The Paleocene, ( ) or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 mya (unit), million years ago (mya). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), E ...

* †'' Summatiblatta'' Lin 1986 Guanyintan Formation, China, Hettangian * †'' Turoniblatta'' Vršanský 2004 Ora Formation, Israel, Late Jurassic (

Turonian The Turonian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, the second age in the Late Cretaceous Epoch, or a stage in the Upper Cretaceous Series. It spans the time between 93.9 ± 0.8 Ma and 89.8 ± 1 Ma (million years ago). The Turonian is preceded by t ...

) * †'' Voltziablatta'' Papier and Grauvogel-Stamm 1995

Grès à Voltzia The Grès à Voltzia is a geologic formation in France. It preserves fossils dating back to the Triassic period. See also * List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in France See also * Lists of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Eur ...

, France,

Anisian In the geologic timescale, the Anisian is the lower stage or earliest age of the Middle Triassic series or epoch and lasted from million years ago until million years ago. The Anisian Age succeeds the Olenekian Age (part of the Lower Triassic Ep ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4044051 † Cockroaches Prehistoric insect families