Mazothairos
| Order | Palaeodictyoptera |
| Age | ~309 Ma (Late Carboniferous) |
| Wingspan | ~12–15 cm |
| Diet | Plant fluids (piercing-sucking mouthparts) |
| Fossil Site | Mazon Creek, Illinois |
Mazothairos is a representative of the Palaeodictyoptera, an extinct order of insects that flourished during the Carboniferous and Permian periods. Found in the Mazon Creek deposits of Illinois, this insect is notable for its prothoracic winglets — small wing-like structures on the first thoracic segment in addition to the two pairs of true wings — giving it a distinctive "six-winged" appearance.
Description
Mazothairos had two pairs of large, membranous wings and a smaller pair of winglets (paranotal lobes) on the prothorax. The wingspan was approximately 12-15 cm. Its most distinctive feature was its elongated, beak-like mouthpart structure, formed by modified mandibles and maxillae into a piercing-sucking apparatus. This "beak" was used to penetrate plant tissues and feed on internal fluids.
The body was moderately robust, with large compound eyes and relatively short legs. Wing venation patterns are well preserved in Mazon Creek specimens and provide important data for understanding palaeodictyopteran systematics.
Ecology
Palaeodictyopterans like Mazothairos were plant-fluid feeders. Their piercing mouthparts would have allowed them to tap into the vascular tissues of Carboniferous plants, including the giant lycopsid trees and seed ferns that dominated the swamp forests. In this role, they were ecological analogs of modern plant-feeding bugs (Hemiptera) and certain flies.
The prothoracic winglets may have provided additional lift or stability during flight, though their aerodynamic function is debated. Some researchers suggest they represent a transitional stage in wing evolution, while others view them as independently evolved structures.
Extinction
The Palaeodictyoptera went extinct during the Permian-Triassic extinction. The drying of tropical forests during the Late Permian likely eliminated much of their habitat and food sources. They left no direct descendants, though their ecological role as plant-fluid feeders was eventually taken over by hemipterans and other groups.