Description

Initially, it was hailed as the first complete terrestrial insect from the Late Devonian era. This specimen was discovered in the Strud area of Gesves, Belgium, within the Upper Famennian Bois des Mouches Formation. Notably, Strudiella devonica exhibited unspecialized mouthparts resembling those of 'orthopteroid' insects, suggesting an omnivorous diet.

The significance of this discovery lies in its role in narrowing a previous gap of 45 million years within the evolutionary history of insects, which is a part of the broader arthropod gap. This gap still persists into the early Carboniferous period, extending beyond Romer's gap for tetrapods. It's theorized that factors like low oxygen levels in the atmosphere might have contributed to these gaps.

The fossil of Strudiella devonica reveals visible body segments, legs, and antennae, but unfortunately, the genitalia were not preserved. Interestingly, this specimen lacks wings, which has led some experts to consider the possibility that it might have been a juvenile.

Subsequent studies, however, have identified additional legs, and due to the incomplete preservation of the specimen, categorizing it as an insect is considered unsubstantiated.