Plant-insect interactions in the fossil flora of the Bajo de Veliz Formation (Gzhelian - Asselian): San Luis, Argentina

This article presents a detailed description of insect trace fossils found in the megaflora of the Gzhelian-Asselian of the Bajo de Veliz. Plant-insect interactions are analyzed on 212 specimens of leaves from this flora, characterized by glossopterid (Gangamopteris, Euryphyllum, Glossopteris), cordaitales, sphenophytes, pteridosperms, lycophytes, conifers and seeds. Marginal feeding, surface and oviposition traces and galling predominate, as compared to the poor representation of piercing and sucking traces. Necrotic tissue was identified on leaves of the genera Euryphyllum, Gangamopteris, Glossopteris and bipinnate fronds of Botrychiopsis, suggesting that damage was produced while the plants were alive. The first reported evidence of galling for Botrychiopsis and piercings traces in Gangamopteris leaves for Gondwana are described.