Remarkable Rhinophoridae in a growing generic genealogy (Diptera: Calyptratae,Oestroidea)

Four new genera (Apomorphyto gen.n. from Costa Rica, Bixinia gen.n. from Australia, Rhinodonia gen.n. from New Caledonia, Rhinopeza gen.n. from Papua New Guinea) and nine new species (Apomorphyto inbio sp.n. , Bixinia collessi sp.n. , B. solitaria sp.n. , B. spei sp.n. , B. variabilis sp.n. , B. winkleri sp.n. , Rhinodonia antiqua sp.n. , R. flavicera sp.n. , Rhinopeza gracilis sp.n.) of Rhinophoridae (Diptera: Calyptratae, Oestroidea) are described. All new species were included in a morphology‐based phylogenetic analysis to provide arguments for the justification and monophyly (when nonmonotypic) of the new genera and for including these in the Rhinophoridae. The New Caledonian Rhinodonia is a candidate sister taxon to all other rhinophorids, and the Australasian ‘axiniine’ species emerge inside a clade of all Neotropical taxa thus suggesting migration from South America across Antarctica into Australia. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:51C1F448‐DDD0‐4F14‐8173‐B8C687F7E841 .     

New fossils from China elucidating the phylogeny of Praesiricidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera)

A new subfamily of Praesiricidae (Pamphilioidea), Decorisiricinae subfam.n. , is erected based on three new genera: Decorisiricius gen.n. , Limbisiricius gen.n. and Brevisiricius gen.n. Two new species – Decorisiricius patulus gen. et sp.n. and D. longus sp.n. – from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation and three species –Limbisiricius aequalis gen. et sp.n. , Limbisiricius complanatus sp.n. and Brevisiricius partialis gen. et sp.n. – from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation, are described. Based on these well‐preserved new fossil specimens and previously published data, the nonmonophyly of Praesiricidae is confirmed and the phylogenetic relationships of species of Praesiricidae are analysed for the first time. Two main clades within Praesiricidae are recognized from the cladistic analysis: Decorisiricinae subfam.n. forms a monophyletic lineage, with the remaining members of Praesiricidae plus Megalodontes (Megalodontesidae) forming its sister group. The two subfamilies Archoxyelydinae and Praesiricinae are discarded with no strong supported synapomorphic characters based on phylogenetic research. A key to all genera of Praesiricidae is provided. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:38D703ED‐127A‐4DB0‐8153‐8D78AF4AC212 .     

A new species of Pseudotettigonia Zeuner (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) with an intact stridulatory field and reexamination of the subfamily Pseudotettigoniinae

Pseudotettigonia leona sp.n. is described from a single left forewing collected from the Middle Eocene Kishenehn Formation in northwestern Montana, U.S.A. P. leona is the second of only two fossil macropterous Tettigoniidae that preserve an intact stridulatory apparatus. The subfamily Pseudotettigoniinae is reexamined. The specific epithet bricei is assigned to the late Miocene fossil tettigoniid Tettigonia bricei sp.n. , originally described as the extant Tettigonia viridissima. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E69E83CE‐9046‐4BBD‐AA11‐E0AD0C382700 .     

Phylogeny of Evanioidea (Hymenoptera,Apocrita), with descriptions of new Mesozoic species from China and Myanmar

The phylogeny of the superfamily Evanioidea is presented using morphology and DNA sequence data of selected extant and fossil genera by employing two phylogenetic methods, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. Based on our new results, the monophyly of Evanioidea is corroborated. Evanioidea, Anomopterellidae, Othniodellithidae, Andreneliidae and Evaniidae are monophyletic families, while Praeaulacidae, Aulacidae, Baissidae and Gasteruptiidae are paraphyletic families. In addition, four new genera (Sinuevania gen.n. , Curtevania gen.n. , Exilaulacus gen.n. , Heterobaissa gen.n. ) with five new species (Sinuevania mira sp.n. , Curtevania enervia sp.n. , Exilaulacus loculatus sp.n. , Exilaulacus latus sp.n. , Heterobaissa apetiola sp.n. ), and five additionally new species (Newjersevania longa sp.n. , Newjersevania brevis sp.n. , Cretevania tenuis sp.n. , Cretevania venae sp.n. , Praeaulacus rectus sp.n. ) and one new combination [Cretevania mitis (Li, Shih & Ren, 2014a) comb.n. ] are described based on well‐preserved fossils from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation in Inner Mongolia, China, the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Liaoning, and mid‐Cretaceous amber from Myanmar. This study documents the diversification of one major lineage of the mid‐Mesozoic parasitoid revolution that dramatically changed food‐web relationships in terrestrial ecosystems. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CBC04ADA‐0176‐402D‐9B43‐E1B3CDA080E1 .     

A new genus of mantidflies discovered in the Oriental region,with a higher‐level phylogeny of Mantispidae (Neuroptera) using DNA sequences and morphology

A remarkable new genus and two new species of Mantispidae (Neuroptera) are described from the Oriental region. Allomantispa Liu, Wu, Winterton & Ohl gen.n. , currently including A. tibetana Liu, Wu & Winterton sp.n. and A. mirimaculata Liu & Ohl sp.n. The new genus is placed in the subfamily Drepanicinae based on a series of morphological characteristics and on the results of total evidence phylogenetic analyses. Bayesian and Parsimony analyses were undertaken using three gene loci (CAD, 16S rDNA and COI) combined with 74 morphological characters from living and fossil exemplars of Mantispidae (17 genera), Rhachiberothidae (two genera) and Berothidae (five genera), with outgroup taxa from Dilaridae and Osmylidae. The resultant phylogeny presented here recovered a monophyletic Mantispidae with ?Mesomantispinae sister to the rest of the family. Relationships among Mantispidae, Rhachiberothidae and Berothidae support Rhachiberothidae as a separate family sister to Mantispidae. Within Mantispidae, Drepanicinae are a monophyletic clade sister to Calomantispinae and Mantispinae. In a combined analysis, Allomantispa gen.n. was recovered in a clade comprising Ditaxis McLachlan from Australia, and two fossil genera from the Palaearctic, ?Promantispa Panfilov (Kazakhstan; late Jurassic) and ?Liassochrysa Ansorge & Schlüter (Germany; Jurassic), suggesting a highly disjunct and relictual distribution for the family. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:464B06E8‐47E6‐482E‐8136‐83FE3B2E9D6B .     

Fossil water striders in Cretaceous French amber (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha: Mesoveliidae and Veliidae)

Fossil gerromorphan bugs from the Cretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian boundary) amber of Charentes, SW France, are reviewed. A larva described by Perrichot et al. (2005) as incertae familiae within the Gerromorpha is now placed in the Mesoveliidae. Three new genera and species are also described and illustrated: Emilianovelia audax Solórzano Kraemer & Perrichot, gen. et sp.n. , and Malenavelia videris Solórzano Kraemer & Perrichot, gen. et sp.n. , which are placed in the Mesoveliidae: Mesoveliinae; and Arcantivelia petraudi Solórzano Kraemer & Perrichot, gen. et sp.n. , which is the first Mesozoic member of the Veliinae. The relationships between these fossils and their palaeoecology are discussed. The new discoveries confirm the antiquity of the semi‐aquatic gerromorphans, particularly the clade (Veliidae + Gerridae). The habitat is described as aquatic and likely marine‐influenced, yet adaptation to a fully marine habitat in these gerromorphans remains difficult to establish. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F8C034B8-7BD0-4C03-B8FC-CD81D75C7001 .     

The oldest known clerid fossils from the Middle Jurassic of China,with a review of Cleridae systematics (Coleoptera)

Three fossil beetles recorded from Inner Mongolia, China (Callovian, Middle Jurassic, approximately 165 Ma) are assigned to Cleridae and constitute the earliest known representatives of this family. Two of the fossils are described as Protoclerus korynetoides gen. et sp.n. and the third as Wangweiella calloviana gen. et sp.n. Ninety‐six morphological characters of the larvae and adults of 17 extant clerid representatives and seven cleroid families as outgroups were analysed under maximum parsimony with, and without, fossil species included in the matrix. The results indicate that Protoclerus gen.n. is a separate lineage within the family, whereas Wangweiella gen.n. is sister to the rest of Epiclininae. The resulting trees are compared with the most recent morphological and molecular phylogenies of Cleridae. The trees presented appear congruent with the latest molecular phylogenies. The evolution of Cleridae, as well as their biogeography and systematics, are briefly reviewed. A complete list of clerid fossil species described to date is provided. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:32240D3D-2A7A-41F6-B485-A66F2265CB8A .     

Bicalcasura maculata n. gen., n. sp. (Curculionoidea: Dryophthoridae) with a list of weevils described from Dominican amber

A new genus and species, Bicalcasura maculata n. gen., n. sp. (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Rhynchophorinae: Dryophthoridae) is described from Dominican amber as the first fossil member of the Tribe Diocalandrini. The new genus is characterised by procoxae located in the middle of the prothorax; a thick, short and strongly curved rostrum with the scape not reaching the pronotum; a weak extension of the rostrum in respect to the antennal attachment; slightly elongated fifth ventrite; narrow (not bilobed) third tarsomere and a pair of apical spurs on the protibiae. This set of characters separates the fossil from the extant genus Diocalandra Faust, 1894, the only other member of this tribe. A list of weevils (Curculionoidea) described from Dominican amber is included.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D25F7915-3C49-4E22-A37C-F574F573C67D     

The past and the present through phylogenetic analysis: the rove beetle tribe Othiini now and 99 Ma

In order to classify and taxonomically describe the first two fossil Othiini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae) species from three well‐preserved specimens in Cretaceous Burmese amber, a phylogenetic analysis was conducted, combining extant and extinct taxa. A dataset of 76 morphological characters scored for 33 recent species across the subfamilies Staphylininae and Paederinae was analysed using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference methods. The many differing phylogenetic hypotheses for higher‐level relationships in the large rove beetle subfamilies Staphylininae and Paederinae were summarized and their hitherto known fossil record was reviewed. Based on the analyses, the new extinct genus Vetatrecus gen.n. is described with two new species: V. adelfiae sp.n. and V. secretum sp.n. Both species share character states that easily distinguish them from all recent Othiini and demonstrate a missing morphological link between subfamilies Staphylininae and Paederinae. This is the first morphology‐based evidence for the paraphyly of Staphylininae with respect to Paederinae, suggested earlier by two independent molecular‐based phylogenies of recent taxa. Our newly discovered stem lineage of Othiini stresses the importance of fossils in phylogenetic analyses conducted with the aim of improving the natural classification of extant species. It also suggests that the definitions of Staphylininae and Paederinae, long‐established family‐group taxa, may have to be reconsidered. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:817F39C4-F36B-4FD9-96CD-5F8FB064C39E .     

Early lineages of Vespidae (Hymenoptera) in Cretaceous amber

Three wasp (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) fossils in Cretaceous amber (Late Albian) of northern Myanmar are described. Two are new species of the Mesozoic genus Curiosivespa (Rasnitsyn): C. zigrasi sp.n. and C. striata sp.n. The third species, Protovespa haxairei gen.n. et sp.n. , has a combination of features unique among Mesozoic Priorvespinae and the extant subfamilies. These well preserved fossils provide new morphological data for a cladistic analysis of the basal lineages of Vespidae. Results suggest that Euparagiinae is the sister group of all other Vespidae. The new genus Protovespa appears more closely related to extant Masarinae, Eumeninae and social wasps than to Priorvespinae. We assign it to a new subfamily: Protovespinae. Finally, fossil information combined with a phylogenetic tree shows that the main groups of Vespidae probably evolved during the Early Cretaceous. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1E7E4796‐6E70‐4D81‐BB34‐0FEEA765DC25 .     

New Nemonychidae,Brentidae and Curculionidae (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from the Turonian of Kzyl-Dzhar (Kazakhstan)

Five new genera, Turononemonyxn. gen. (type species: Turononemonyxsamsonovin. sp.) (Nemonychidae: ? Cretonemonychinae: ? Cretonemonychini), Falsotanaosn. gen. (type species: Falsotanaos convexusn. sp.), Pretanaosn. gen. (type species: Pretanaosocularisn. sp.), Longotanaosn. gen. (type species: Longotanaosrasnitsynin. sp.) from Brentidae: Apioninae: Tanaini) and Turonerirhinusn. gen. (type species: Turonerirhinuskaratavensisn. sp.) from Curculionidae (Erirhininae: Erirhinini), and seven new species, Falsotanaosconvexusn. sp., Paratanaos samsonovin. sp., Pretanaos ocularisn. sp., Longotanaos rasnitsynin. sp., Turonerirhinus karatavensisn. sp., Turonerirhinuspunctatusn. sp. and Turonerirhinus poinarin. sp., are described from Kzyl-Dzhar locality (Kazakhstan, Upper Cretaceous, Turonian).http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:13E0316E-C229-471A-90AA-2D71253B12F9     

A surprisingly derived hydrometrid (Hemiptera,Gerromorpha) from the Crato Formation,Early Cretaceous of Brazil

In the present paper, we review the fossil record of the Hydrometridae (Hemiptera, Gerromorpha) and present a new species from the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation of Northeastern Brazil, Christometra paradoxa gen. et sp. nov. This species is based on a new specimen (a female), as well as a previously figured one (a male), providing a rare case of preservation of sexually dimorphic features in the fossil record. This is the third species coming from this deposit, which is Aptian-Albian in age and the oldest deposit to have yielded hydrometrids so far. Only five other Mesozoic species are known, being slightly younger in age (Cenomanian). So far, phylogenetic analyses have recovered Cretaceous hydrometrids as basal relative to Cenozoic genera but, Christometra paradoxa exhibits several advanced characteristics that unite it in a clade together with the extant genera Hydrometra and Bacillometroides, in a more derived position than any previously known fossil hydrometrid.

The present publication is registered in the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (Zoobank), under the registration number http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3CFA88AB-3CBC-4CCC-8196-698ECC863947. The registration number for the nomenclatural act of the genus is http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:84744426-1259-4864-8E3F-E43E0DAB2021, and that of the species is http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:23700AB2-F7AD-4F50-A5E7-CB28868079B2.     

Diverse oxyporine rove beetles from the Early Cretaceous of China (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Two new genera and species, Protoxyporus grandis gen. et sp.n. and Cretoxyporus extraneus gen. et sp.n. , are described and figured on the basis of two well‐preserved impression fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China. The two genera display a combination of traits that are diagnostic of the extant staphylinid subfamily Oxyporinae: large and prominent mandibles, distinctly separated mesocoxae, abdominal tergites III–VII each with a pair of basolateral ridges, and abdominal intersegmental membranes with ‘brick‐wall’ pattern. Protoxyporus differs from extant Oxyporus in retaining the following plesiomorphic features: an elongate intercoxal process (or longitudinal carina) between metacoxae, relatively narrowly separated mesocoxae, less developed metaventral anterior process, and long infraorbital ridges. Cretoxyporus is morphologically very similar to Oxyporus, but retains distinct elongate infraorbital ridges. The discovery of two new oxyporine genera suggests that the early oxyporines were more diverse and their evolutionary history more complicated than previously documented. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:11503976‐D577‐45D2‐ACCB‐8226782EF817 .     

On the genus Sunius Curtis, 1829 of Turkey III. Four new species from western Anatolia,Turkey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae)

Four new micropterous species of the genus Sunius Curtis, 1829 are described and illustrated from western Anatolia: Sunius akdaghensis sp. n. from Kütahya province, Sunius ciceki sp. n. from Bal?kesir province, Sunius ozgeni sp. n. and Sunius cagatayi sp. n. from Denizli province. Additional records are presented for three species. The genus Sunius is now represented in Turkey by 36 species.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F3808D28-65E9-4619-A350-781C971701EC     

Two new species of Torymidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) reared from flower heads of Echinops orientalis Trautvetter in south-eastern Turkey

Two new species of torymids, Pseudotorymus hasanberkayi sp. n. and Microdontomerus kahramanmarasensis sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), were reared from flower heads of Echinops orientalis Trautvetter (Asteraceae) collected in Kahramanmara? province, south-eastern Turkey. The new species are described and their diagnostic characters are illustrated.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:848B4E9D-AE8A-4EF8-8072-1F28BE21ADA1     

Skates and rays (Elasmobranchii,Batomorphii) from the Eocene La Meseta and Submeseta formations,Seymour Island,Antarctica

Abstract

Eocene deposits of the famous La Meseta Formation of Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula, yielded the most diverse Paleogene fossil elasmobranch association of the Southern Hemisphere. In this assemblage, sharks clearly dominate the fauna, whereas batoids are very rare components. Herein, we describe two new taxa of cold water tolerant skates, Marambioraja leiostemma gen. et sp. nov., and Mesetaraja maleficapelli gen. et sp. nov., two new species of the genus Raja, Raja amphitrita sp. nov. and Raja manitaria sp. nov., as well as remains of warm water adapted myliobatiforms. It is, however, not possible to unambiguously assign these remains either to Myliobatidae or Rhinopteridae, or to any specific genus. Previously reported remains of Raja/Bathyraja sp. are assigned to the new described species Raja manitaria sp. nov. The biogeographic distribution of extant and extinct rays and skates clearly shows that both groups are more widely distributed today than in the past, and additionally seem to have been more diverse in the Northern than the Southern Hemisphere. The occurrence, albeit rare of isolated teeth of skates (Rajidae) and rays (Myliobatidae) in the La Meseta Formation representes a minimum age constraint for their first appearance in the Southern Ocean.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E507D86C-FFEC-4047-A337-AE77606BB1A6     

New data on spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of Iraq

Until recently only 33 species of spiders had been known from Iraq. New material collected in northern Iraq reveals 20 species, 13 genera and six families new to the country. One species, Pterotricha arzhantsevi sp. n. is described as new to science. Comparative figures are provided for seven species; the 54 species currently known from Iraq are listed and their occurrence in neighbouring Iran and Turkey is shown.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4812F8A8-7A95-4D66-8E2D-CE42F73E7E91