Chresmoda is an extinct genus of insects within the family Chresmodidae.
Description
Reconstruction of C.obscura
Chresmoda are large enigmatic insects with very long specialized legs, probably adapted for skating on the water surface similar to pond skaters. They can reach a body length of about 25 millimetres (0.98in), with a forewing length of about 28 millimetres (1.1in). Some large specimens could reached a size of about 19 centimetres (7.5in).
These Polyneoptera of uncertain position have been considered aquatic and living on the water surface, probably predaceous on nektonic small animals.
They lived during the Cretaceous of Brazil, China, Lebanon, Spain, United Kingdom, Mongolia and Myanmar, as well as in the Late Jurassic of Germany, from 150.8 to 93.5 Ma from the Tithonian to the Cenomanian ages. While most species are known from compression fossils, Chresmoda chikuni is known from well preserved 3-dimensional specimens in amber.
Chresmoda neotropica Engel & Heads, 2008 Crato Formation, Brazil, Aptian
Chresmoda obscura Germar, 1839 Solnhofen Limestone, Germany, Tithonian: can reach a size of about 14 centimetres (5.5in). These Polyneoptera of uncertain position have been considered aquatic and terrestrial bug or phasmids. They should instead be anomalous paraplecopterids living on the water surface, probably predaceous on nektonic small animals. They lived during the Jurassic of Germany, from 150.8 to 145.5 Ma.
Chresmoda orientalis Esaki, 1949 Yixian Formation, China, Aptian