Delitzschala is an extinct palaeodictyopteran, the oldest known to science. It was discovered by two German entomologists in 1996. Delitzschala had a wingspan of just 2½ cm (1 in) and an irregular pattern of coloured spots on its wings. Although it was from Middle Carboniferous (Namurian),[1] these spots were still visible in the fossil. It is possible that this camouflaged the animal, as it may have rested with its wings open as many modern-day insects do.