Macrosiagon deuvei n. sp. (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae) from the French Eocene amber

Macrosiagon deuvei n. sp., the second fossil representative of this extant genus of Ripiphoridae: Ripiphorinae: Macrosiagonini is described from the lowermost Eocene amber of Oise (France). The new species is compared with the extant species of the genus. Taxonomic position of other two fossil representatives of the family described from France by Perrichot et al. (2004) is discussed. The genus Paleoripiphorus Perrichot et al. 2004 is tentatively transferred from Ripiphorinae to Ripidiinae.     

A case of mistaken identification of an amber fossil male strepsipteran (Insecta: Strepsiptera)

A well-preserved specimen of amber Strepsiptera was erroneously described as Stylops neotropicallis Kogan and Poinar, 2010. The taxonomic position of the species was based on a count of six antennomeres (typical of the Stylopidae); however, further observations showed that there are actually seven antennomeres, which places the fossil in the family Myrmecolacidae, and it is herein redescribed in the genus Palaeomyrmecolax Kulicka, 2001. Furthermore, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis of a sample of the amber piece containing the fossil revealed that it was Baltic rather than Dominican amber as originally thought. The fossil was compared with another specimen from Baltic amber in the Poinar collection, which shows close affinity to Palaeomyrmecolax succineus Kulicka, 2001, the type species of the genus. Palaeomyrmecolax neotropicallis (n.comb.) differs from that specimen and seems to differ also from the other four species in the genus Palaeomyrmecolax.     

New and little known weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from the Paleogene and Neogene

A new tribe, Palaeorhopalotriini Legalov, n. tribe, new genera, Electranthribus Legalov, n. gen. (type species: Electranthribus zherikhini n. sp.), Palaeorhopalotria Legalov, n. gen. (type species: Palaeorhopalotria neli n. sp.), Eoceneithycerus Legalov, n. gen. (type species: Eoceneithycerus carpenteri n. sp.), Succinorhynchites Legalov, n. gen. (type species: S. alberti n. sp.), Palaeophelypera Legalov, n. gen. (type species: Palaeophelypera kuscheli n. sp.) and Archaeocallirhopalus Legalov, n. gen. (type species: A. larssoni n. sp.) and new species, Electranthribus zherikhini Legalov, n. sp. (Anthribidae: Anthribinae: Zygaenodini) from Baltic amber, Succinometrioxena bachofeni Legalov, n. sp. from Baltic amber, Palaeorhopalotria neli Legalov, n. sp. (Belidae: Oxycoryninae: Allocorynitae) from Alès-Monteils, Upper Eocene, Eoceneithycerus carpenteri Legalov, n. sp. (Ithyceridae: Ithycerinae) from USA Lower Eocene, Succinorhynchites alberti Legalov, n. sp. (Rhynchitidae: Rhynchitini: Perrhynchitina) from Baltic amber, Ceutorhynchus succinus Legalov, n. sp. (Curculionidae: Baridinae: Ceutorhynchini) from Baltic amber, Palaeophelypera kuscheli Legalov, n. sp. (Entiminae: Hyperini: Cepurina) from Baltic amber, and A. larssoni Legalov, n. sp. (Entiminae: Cneorhinini alaeophelypera) from Baltic amber are described. Isotheinae Scudder 1893, n. syn. is synonymised to the tribe Rhynchitini Gistel, 1848. Trichapiina Alonso-Zarazaga 1990, n. syn. is synonymised to the subtribe Toxorhynchina Scudder 1893. Phialodes durus (Heer 1865), n. placem. and n. comb. is transferred from the genus Attelabus Linnaeus, 1758 to the genus Phialodes Roelofs, 1874.     

Highly specialized Cretaceous beetle parasitoids (Ripiphoridae) identified with optimized visualization of microstructures

Extremely miniaturized longipedes insects (body length c. 0.3 mm) embedded in two pieces of Cretaceous amber from Myanmar are described and interpreted. Using inverted fluorescence and light microscopy for detailed analysis of microstructures, the inclusions were identified as primary larvae of the beetle family Ripiphoridae, subfamily Ripidiinae. While the structure of thoracic and abdominal segments including appendages corresponds well with the groundplan known in recent members of Ripidiinae, a curved prosternal ridge with prominent spines (each c. 5 μm), the reduced condition of stemmata and antennae and the lack of sharp mandibles are unique features within the entire family, apparently apomorphies of the longipedes larvae. A sinuate prosternal edge with a dense row of spines (prosternoctenidium) might be homologous with ‘head ctenidia’ in some previously described miniaturized conicocephalate larvae, but further investigation is needed. The morphological differences between the head of longipedes larvae and extant Ripidiinae are interpreted as adaptations to different groups of hosts and life strategies. Palaeoethology of the longipedes larvae is briefly discussed. In addition, the systematic placement of conicocephalate larvae from Canadian, Myanmar and Russian Cretaceous ambers, already interpreted by various authors as primary instars within Coleopterida (assigned to either Strepsiptera or to the coleopteran Tenebrionoidea: Ripiphoridae), is discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rovnoecus</Emphasis>, a new genus of digger wasps (Hymenoptera,Crabronidae, Pemphredoninae) from the Rovno amber

A new fossil digger wasp Rovnoecus klesovicus gen. et sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae, Pemphredoninae, Pemphredonini) is described from the Upper Eocene Rovno amber. The genus Rovnoecus gen. nov. is characterized by an incomplete occipital carina, partly reduced second discoidal cell, and the presence of spines on all tibiae. Rovnoecus gen. nov. is most similar to the fossil genus Eoxyloecus Budrys, 1993 from the Baltic amber. The two genera form a monophyletic group that is a sister group to the group formed by the genera Passaloecus Shuckard, 1837 and Eopinoecus Budrys, 1993. This indirectly corroborates the hypothesis of the geographically different origin of the Rovno and Baltic ambers.     

New species of sap beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Nitidulini) from the Baltic and Bitterfeld ambers

A new genus, Microsoronia, gen. nov., and new species of this genus, M. hoffeinsorum, sp. nov. from the Bitterfeld amber and M. kerneggeri sp. nov., M. nigerrima sp. nov., and M. interfax, sp. nov. from the Baltic amber, are described. The earliest known member of the genus Phenolia, P. (Lasiodites) angustitibialis, sp. nov., is described from the Baltic amber. The systematic position of these two genera, their possible evolution, as well as the possible ecology and bionomics of their members are discussed. It is shown that “Phenolia” incapax Scudder, 1890 should be included in the family Peltidae, rather than Nitidulidae.     

New species of the genus Glaesotropis (Insecta: Coleoptera: Anthribidae) from Rovno amber

A new species of the fungus weevil genus Glaesotropis is described from the Late Eocene Rovno amber. G. diadiasashai sp. nov. differs from G. weitschati and G. minor described from Baltic amber in having a longer rostrum and in the structure of its antennae, with the third and fourth antennomeres being longer than the first and second ones. Additionally, the new species differs from G. weitschati in being smaller, in having unswollen frons, and weakly and smoothly concave elytral margin near hind coxae. The new species also differs from G. minor in having an uninterrupted posterior transverse carina on the pronotum, elytra less convex longitudinally, and a slightly broadened rostrum at the attachment of antennae.     

Succinapion telnovi n. gen. et n. sp. of the tribe Kalcapiini (Coleoptera: Brentidae: Apioninae) in Baltic amber

A new genus and species, Succinapion telnovi n. gen. et n. sp. (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Brentidae: Apioninae: Kalcapiini) is described and illustrated from Upper Eocene Baltic amber. The new genus is similar to the genus Melanapion Wagner, 1930 but differs from it in having femora ventrally with spine at distal 1/3, simple claws, a longer rostrum, elytra weakly widened towards apex, longer antennae and slightly narrower elytral striae.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2A95C49D-5589-4ACA-8A87-0DDF635BA25E     

The first fossil record of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polyrhachis</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) from the Upper Miocene of Crete (Greece)

Polyrhachis annosus n. sp., based on part and counterpart of a unique ant worker specimen from Late Miocene deposits of the island of Crete (Greece), is figured and described here. Features of P. annosus unique for the large recent genus Polyrhachis include a large first gastral segment, a scapus attached at some distance from the clypeus, and an alitrunk (mesosoma) and petiole each with a pair of teeth or spines. The new taxon represents the first occurrence of the genus in the fossil record. The origin and rise of one of the world’s largest and most distinct ant genera are still a puzzle, and closely related genera are quite diverse in Tertiary amber deposits. Interestingly, the abundance of Polyrhachis in Indonesian copal confirms the statement that their absence in Baltic amber is not casual.     

Modern thrips families Thripidae and Phlaeothripidae in Early Cretaceous amber (Insecta: Thysanoptera)

Two specimens of Thysanoptera with forked sensilla on third and fourth antennal segments were described from the Lebanese Neocomian and the Spanish Albian ambers, and attributed to the new genus Tethysthrips n. gen. in the family Thripidae Stevens 1829. One specimen with a tubular tenth abdominal segment was also discovered in the Lebanese Neocomian amber, and attributed to the new genus Rohrthrips n. gen. belonging to the family Phlaeothripidae Uzel 1895. Thripidae and Phlaeothripidae are nowadays the most species-rich families of Thysanoptera. The present discoveries of Early Cretaceous fossils show how diversified these families and thrips already were at that time. Moreover, this tubuliferan Rohrthrips specimen has plesiomorphies no longer present in the recent genera, in particular on the wings. Therefore it brings new insight in the evolution of Tubulifera.     

Small but not ephemeral: newly discovered species of Aphelinidae and Trichogrammatidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Eocene amber

New species of fossil Aphelinidae and Trichogrammatidae are described from middle Eocene (Lutetian) Baltic amber (41.3–47.8 Ma). A new subfamily, two new genera and three new species of Aphelinidae are described, with comments on their placement: Phtuaria fimbriae gen.n. , sp.n. in Phtuariinae subf.n. , Glaesaphytis interregni gen.n. , sp.n. and Centrodora brevispinae sp.n. These represent the first described true fossil Aphelinidae. Four new species of Trichogrammatidae are described: Mirufens illusionis sp.n. , Palaeogramma eos gen.n. , sp.n. , Pterandrophysalis plasmans sp.n. and Szelenyia terebrae sp.n. , thus expanding our knowledge of fossil Trichogrammatidae beyond the single previously described species. The presence of recognizable extant genera of Aphelinidae and Trichogrammatidae in the Eocene suggests that the morphology of these genera has been relatively invariant despite highly variable conditions during and since the Eocene. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E9AD60B6‐3D56‐4E74‐AA54‐F7B91F4FDC79 .     

New genus and species of broad-nosed weevils from Baltic amber and notes on fossils of the subfamily Entiminae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

Arostropsis groehnigen. et sp. n. is described from Baltic amber and temporarily placed in the tribe Naupactini. It differs from all recent Naupactini genera with open corbels by very short and flattened scape, distinct lateral carina of the pronotum and elytra, and the rostrum distinctly narrower than the head capsule. The shape of head in the extinct genus is somewhat similar to that of the extant Naupactini genera with enclosed corbels (Platyomus Sahlberg, 1823 and Aptolemus Schoenherr, 1842), but differs in the slender body, open corbels, very short antennal scape and epifrons without a median sulcus (only a longitudinal depression is slightly visible). It is also similar to the Tanymecine genus Pandeleteius Schoenherr, 1834 in general appearance, but distinct by the straight anterior edge of the pronotum, lack of postocular spurs, lobes, and vibrissae, a slightly sloping elytral declivity, lateral ridges on the pronotum, subflattened antennal scape, elongate rostrum, and sparsely setose epistome. A new synonymy of the generic names Protonaupactus Zherikhin, 1971 and Sucinophyllobius Wanat & Borowiec, 1986, syn. n., is established. The Madagascan genus Corecaulus Fairmaire, 1903 is transferred from the tribe Naupactini to the Brachyderini because of its connate claws and the similarity in chaetotaxy of the epistomal area with African and Madagascar Brachyderini genera. A key to the identification of known Baltic amber genera of Entiminae is proposed. A checklist of the prepleistocene fossil Entiminae, based on V.V. Zherikhin's data, with remarks and corrections, is presented.     

Baltic amber Ibaliidae (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea): a new genus with implications for the phylogeny and historical biogeography of the family

Abstract. The first definitive ibaliid wasp (Cynipoidea: Ibaliidae) is described and illustrated from a female preserved in middle Eocene (Lutetian) Baltic amber. Archaeibalia succinica Liu & Engel gen. et sp.n. is distinct from all other members of the family, cladistically placed as sister to all other Ibaliidae, and classified in its own subfamily, Archaeibaliinae Liu & Engel subfam.n. The genus was putatively a parasitoid of wood‐boring insects in hardwood trees. Given that the species is exceptionally rare in Baltic amber (a single individual) despite a habitat that would have placed it in immediate proximity with resin flows, the host of A. succinica was probably not living in the ‘Baltic amber tree’. The historical biogeography and evolution of ibaliids is reconsidered based on the present paleontological evidence.     

How diverse were ferns in the Baltic amber forest?

Diverse temperate forest types and a high atmospheric humidity have recently been suggested for the Eocene source area of Baltic amber. However, ferns are astonishingly rare as inclusions in this amber, which is in contrast to other seed‐free land plants, fungi, and lichens. Moreover, the identities of some of the few described putative fern taxa are dubious, and some fossils were even assigned to the Paleozoic seed fern genera Alethopteris, Pecopteris and to the form genus Sphenopteris containing Paleozoic and Mesozoic fern‐like leaf fossils. Here, we review previously described fern inclusions from Baltic amber and identify further fern‐like leaf inclusions as belonging to the extant angiosperm genus Comptonia (sweet ferns, Myricaceae). We conclude that only one taxon, Matonia striata (Matoniaceae), can with confidence be identified as a Polypodiopsida representative. Although “Pecopteris” humboldtiana is so far only known as sterile foliage, its leaf morphology strongly suggests that also this taxon belongs to the Polypodiopsida rather than to any other tracheophyte lineage. We propose accommodating “Pecopteris” humboldtiana in the new genus Berendtiopteris. “Alethopteris” serrata and “Sphenopteris” phyllocladoides are not to be regarded as evidence of ferns from Baltic amber. Reinvestigation of the holotypes of these two taxa did not reveal to which tracheophyte lineages these fossils belong. We suggest that the scarcity of fern remains from Baltic amber may reflect both a relatively low fern diversity in the source area of the fossil resin, and an absence or rarity of epiphytic and climbing ferns as observed in modern temperate forest ecosystems.     

New species of the subfamily Cossoninae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Dominican amber

The following new genus and seven new species of Cossonine weevils (Curculionidae: Cossoninae) are described from Dominican amber: Acamptus exilipes Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to A. rigidus), Caulophilus camptus Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to C. bennetti), Caulophilus elongatus Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to C. swensoni), Caulophilus ruidipunctus Poinar and Legalov, n. sp., Dryotribus pedanus Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to D. amplioculus), Ogygius obrieni Poinar and Legalov, n. gen., n. sp. (similar to the genus Apotrepus), and Stenotrupis pumilis Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to S. breviscapus). A key to the Dominican amber species of the genus Caulophilus is provided. Based on the extant weevil fauna, it appears that the Hispaniolan Cossonine were more diverse in the Tertiary than at present. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:14D1CFC0-4967-4D22-888B-0DE3E157D6BD     

New species of the subfamily Conoderinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Dominican amber

Eulechriops argyrosoman. sp. (Curculionidae: Conoderinae: Lechropini) and Geratozygops platysoman. sp., Geratozygops stenosoman. sp. and Geratozygops arsinotusn. sp. (Curculionidae: Conoderinae: Zygopini) are described from Dominican amber. The small size, nearly parallel sides of the pronotum and silvery sheen distinguish Eulechriops argyrosoma from extant members of the genus, which have not been recorded from Hispaniola. Size and rostral and pronotal characters separate the three Geratozygops species from the single species (Geratozygops atropos) previously described from Dominican amber.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:89BC7F43-6C1A-4A6A-839B-CE94C7F6F140     

New species of the tumbling flower beetle genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glipostena</Emphasis> (Insecta: Coleoptera: Mordellidae) from Rovno amber

A new fossil species of the tumbling flower beetle genus Glipostena is described from Rovno amber. It differs from its recent and fossil congeners in the shapes and proportions of the antennomeres, and the number and position of lateral ridges on the hind tibia.