FOSSIL GRAMMOLINGIIDAE FROM THE MESOZOIC (INSECTA,NEUROPTERA)

线蛉科是脉翅目中的一个灭绝科,仅发现于中国中侏罗统和蒙古晚侏罗统地层中.线蛉科昆虫脉序独特,为其分类地位的确定以及整个脉翅目翅脉演化的研究提供了重要的线索;此外,线蛉科昆虫前后翅上均具有条带状的斑纹,初步推测这种斑纹在其生存繁衍过程中发挥了积极作用,也可能是导致其灭绝的最直接因素之一.目前线蛉科已发表3属9种,本文对其进行了简要的回顾,并编制了线蛉科化石种检索表,对当时的古环境特征进行了简单推测,初步探讨了翅斑在其生存和灭绝中的作用.     

中国东北中生代安纽蝎蛉总科研究进展

安纽蝎蛉总科由长翅目中3个灭绝的科组成.它们的共同的特征是具有长管状吸收式口器,推测其与裸子植物的授粉有密切关系.目前在我国东北中生代共发现安纽蝎蛉总科化石5属11种,对它们进行了简单地综述并提供了相应的检索表,探讨了当时这类具有“长口器”的长翅目昆虫与裸子植物之间的取食和授粉过程,以及二者之间协同进化模式,并对早期被子植物传粉模式做了初步推测.     

中生代脉翅目昆虫的叶状拟态

拟态是一种生物模拟另一种生物或环境中的其它物体从而使自身获得好处的现象,是昆虫在进化过程中特化出的一种极为重要和有效的防御策略。脉翅目昆虫是一类完全变态性昆虫,在其超过2.7亿年的演化历史中,出现了形态多样的翅斑。美翼蛉属Bellinympha Wang,Ren,Liu,Shih&Engel,2010是脉翅目溪蛉科丽翼蛉亚科的一个绝灭属,发现于中国内蒙古道虎沟地区中侏罗世九龙山组地层。该属的发现代表了迄今报道的最古老的叶状拟态现象,也是唯一报道的昆虫模拟裸子植物或蕨类植物叶片。本文简要概述了脉翅目昆虫研究概况,总结了中生代脉翅目翅斑的多样性,对美翼蛉属进行了描述,并对其叶状拟态及其生物学意义进行了探讨。     

Ancient pinnate leaf mimesis in Mesozoic lacewings

拟态是一种生物模拟另一种生物或环境中的其它物体从而使自身获得好处的现象,是昆虫在进化过程中特化出的一种极为重要和有效的防御策略.脉翅目昆虫是一类完全变态性昆虫,在其超过2.7亿年的演化历史中,出现了形态多样的翅斑.美翼蛉属Bellinympha Wang,Ren,Liu,Shih&Engel,2010是脉翅目溪蛉科丽翼蛉亚科的一个绝灭属,发现于中国内蒙古道虎沟地区中侏罗世九龙山组地层.该属的发现代表了迄今报道的最古老的叶状拟态现象,也是唯一报道的昆虫模拟裸子植物或蕨类植物叶片.本文简要概述了脉翅目昆虫研究概况,总结了中生代脉翅目翅斑的多样性,对美翼蛉属进行了描述,并对其叶状拟态及其生物学意义进行了探讨.     

丽翼蛉昆虫的化石介绍及其防御策略分析

丽翼蛉科是脉翅目昆虫中的一个绝灭科，迄今为止正式发表9属12种，仅在我国、蒙古国、俄罗斯的侏罗统地层及黎巴嫩的白垩统地层中被发现。本文介绍了丽翼蛉科成虫的特征、分类研究状况，以及多样的翅斑类型，并分析了丽翼蛉化石标本展示的色彩防御策略，如混隐色、瞬彩、警戒色和拟态等。     

中生代丽蛉拟态及灭绝机制的探讨(脉翅目,丽蛉科)

对新近发现于内蒙古和辽宁的多块脉翅目丽蛉科化石上的眼斑进行了描述,根据现生昆虫的拟态及现存脉翅目昆虫的行为特点,分析了丽蛉在进化上出现的拟态现象在当时的古生态环境中可能起到恐吓捕食者和引诱猎物的作用。眼斑拟态这种高度特化的生态适应现象使得多脉丽褐蛉在当时的古生态群落中占据了十分独特的生态位,同时也导致了其在中生代晚期环境突然变化中的灭绝。     

溪蛉科研究进展

溪蛉是脉翅目中比较稀少的一个类群,可以作为天敌资源和研究昆虫演化的"活化石"材料,但历史上溪蛉科在脉翅目中的系统地位一直是个颇具争议难以解决的问题。本文综述了溪蛉科国内外分类研究简史,探讨了溪蛉科的地理分布,以及溪蛉科生物学、化石等其他方面的研究进展。最后提出了溪蛉科分类研究中亟须解决的几个问题并呼吁应该加强对其应用价值的研究。     

脉翅目细蛉科昆虫研究进展

本文综述了脉翅目细蛉科化石与现生昆虫的分类学与系统发育学研究历史及进展。介绍了细蛉科成虫和幼虫的形态特征与生物学特性;分别回顾了现生与化石细蛉科昆虫的研究历史;分述了各地质历史时期细蛉科昆虫的属种及生物地理学分布;并介绍了近年细蛉科包括化石与现生属种的系统发育学研究进展,从细蛉科在脉翅目中的系统位置及细蛉科内亚科、属间的系统发育关系展开了讨论;并附世界化石与现生细蛉科昆虫的属种名录。     

“中生代的蝴蝶”——脉翅目丽蛉类昆虫

丽蛉类昆虫是脉翅目昆虫在中生代特有的一类绝灭昆虫,被誉为"中生代的蝴蝶",其体型巨大、脉序复杂,部分身体特征高度特化,与现代脉翅目昆虫表现出明显的差异,而其在脉翅目演化中的地位也是一直难以确定。同时,由于化石保存的局限性,该类昆虫多是依靠不完整的结构进行分类,缺少系统的总结和修订,也为该类群的深入研究带来了很大的困难。本文对中生代丽蛉类昆虫进行了总结,统计了至今全世界所发现的所有丽蛉类昆虫名录,概述了其研究历史,地质年代及地理分布,系统发育研究进展,功能形态学研究及生态学特性等问题,并提出了研究该类群有待解决的问题及研究展望。     

侏罗纪中阶普草蛉的修订及中生代草蛉科的演化*

普草蛉属Mesypochrysa Martynov,1927隶属于脉翅目草蛉科昆虫中的绝灭亚科篱草蛉亚科,是该科中最为古老的属.该属内种间的主要区分特征有前翅亚前缘基横脉0-2支;Rs支脉7-26支;m-cu横脉2、3支;CuA+MP末端4-7栉状分支;1A和2A二分叉或不分叉.该属的中阶普草蛉Mesypochrysa intermedia Panfilov,1980鉴定特征主要为前翅亚前缘基横脉1支;Rs约14分支;具1m-cu横脉;CuA+MP末端6栉状分支;1A和2A不分叉.该种此前已发现多块标本,均为前翅,仅有一块归于中阶普草蛉(近似种)Mesypochrysa cf.intermedia的残缺标本NIGP 161886保存有后翅.本文基于在中国内蒙古自治区赤峰市宁城县道虎沟村中侏罗统九龙山组地层中新发现的保存有近乎完整前后翅的标本,补充修订了中阶普草蛉的种征,并对中阶普草蛉(包括近似种)标本存在的问题,普草蛉属与中生代其他属的差异,以及该属内各物种的鉴定特征进行了讨论.     

Familial Clarification of Saucrosmylidae stat. nov. and New Saucrosmylids from Daohugou,China (Insecta,Neuroptera)

BackgoundSaucrosmylids are characterized by the typically large body size, complicated venation and diverse wing markings, which were only discovered in Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, Ningcheng county, Inner Mongolia, China.Conclusions/SignificanceThe intriguing group represents a particular lineage of Neuroptera in the Mesozoic Era. The familial status of Saucrosmylidae was firstly advanced that clarified the former incorrect citation and use of the family name. As an extinct clade, many species of the saucrosmylids were erected just based on a single fore- or hindwing, and it should be realized that providing more stable characters is necessary when describing new lacewing taxa just based on an isolated hindwing. It is vital for the systematics of Saucrosmylidae.     

Two new species of Sinosmylites Hong (Neuroptera, Berothidae) from the Middle Jurassic of China, with notes on Mesoberothidae

Two new species of the genus Sinosmylites Hong are described from the Middle Jurassic locality at Daohugou (Inner Mongolia, China): Sinosmylites fumosussp. n. and Sinosmylites rasnitsynisp. n. This is the oldest known occurrence of the family Berothidae. The berothid affinity of this genus is confirmed by examination of the hind wing venation characteristic of the family. The Late Triassic family Mesoberothidae may represent an early group of Berothidae.     

A new genus and species of the cockroach family Blattulidae from Lebanese amber (Dictyoptera,Blattina)

A new genus and species of the cockroach family Blattulidae, Ocelloblattula ponomarenkoi gen. et sp. nov., are described from the Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber. In the wing venation, the new genus is extremely similar to the Jurassic genus Blattula Handlirsch, differing from the latter in a number of characters in its body structure. This find reveals much about the body structure of the extinct family Blattulidae, which is related to ancestors of the suborders Mantina and Blattina.     

A new species of Fuziidae (Insecta, Blattida) from the Inner Mongolia, China

A new species attributed to the genus Parvifuzia Guo & Ren, 2011, Parvifuzia peregrinasp. n., is described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China. This new species, with apex of wing almost reaching the end of the abdomen and forewing venation with 30-32 veins at margin, broadens the diversity of Parvifuzia. This new species, with strongly curved cerci, could tightly clasp female and complete copulation more efficiently, same as other members of the family Fuziidae.     

Mesozoic chrysopid-like Planipennia: a phylogenetic approach (Insecta: Neuroptera)

The Mesozoic chrysopid-like Planipennia are revised and several new genera and species are described. The new superfamily Chrysopoidea is proposed for the extant and fossil Chrysopidae, and the fossil families Liassochrysidae n. fam., Allopteridae Zhang 1991 n. sensu, Mesochrysopidae Handlirsch, 1906 n. sensu, Tachinymphidae n. fam., and Limaiidae Martins-Neto and Vulcano 1989 n. sensu. A phylogenetic analysis of the Chrysopoidea is proposed, based on the wing venation characters. With at least the four families Allopteridae, Mesochrysopidae, Tachinymphidae, and Chrysopidae, showing different wing venation patterns, the systematic diversity and morphological disparity of the Chrysopoidea are maximal during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. The Mesozoic family Limaiidae was still present during the Paleocene/Eocene suggesting a minimal impact on the Chrysopoidea of the crisis of the diversity at the K-T boundary. Other Cenozoic Chrysopoidea can be attributed to the Chrysopidae sensu stricto.     

A NEW MIDDLE JURASSIC APHID FAMILY (INSECTA: HEMIPTERA: STERNORRHYNCHA: SINOJURAPHIDIDAE FAM. NOV.) FROM INNER MONGOLIA, CHINA

Abstract:  A new monotypic aphid family, Sinojuraphididae, is described from the Middle Jurassic of China. Its antennae and wing venation have very plesiomorphic structures, even more than in known Triassic taxa (e.g. 12 antennomeres, Cu with a very long stem, very narrow pterostigma), confirming the persistence of ancient, probably Triassic, lineages among Jurassic aphids.     

Evolutionary relationships of wing venation and wing size and shape in Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

We explored evolutionary changes in wing venation and wing size and shape in Aphidiinae, one of the well-known groups of parasitic wasps from the family Braconidae. Forewings of 53 species from 12 genera were examined, for which a molecular phylogeny was constructed on the basis of the mitochondrial barcoding gene COI. By covering all types of wing venation within the subfamily Aphidiinae and by using landmark-based geometric morphometrics and phylogenetic comparative methods, we tested whether evolutionary changes in wing shape correlate to the changes in wing venation and if both changes relate to wing size. The relationship between wing morphology and host specificity has been also investigated. We found that six types of wing venation, with different degree of vein reduction, could be recognized. Wing venation type is largely genus specific, except in the case of maximal reduction of wing venation which could be found across examined Aphidiinae taxa. The reconstruction of evolutionary changes in wing venation indicates that evolutionary changes in wing shape are related to the changes in wing size, indicating that miniaturization play a role in evolution of wing morphology while host specialization does not affect the wing shape within the subfamily Aphidiinae.     

Two new species of Archaeohelorus (Hymenoptera,Proctotrupoidea, Heloridae) from the Middle Jurassic of China

Two new fossil species, Archaeohelorus polyneurus sp. n. and A. tensus sp. n., assigned to the genus Archaeohelorus Shih, Feng & Ren, 2011 of Heloridae (Hymenoptera), are reported from the late Middle Jurassic, Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia, China. Based on the well-preserved forewings and hind wings of these specimens, the diagnosis of the Archaeohelorus is emended: forewing 2cu-a intersecting Cu and Rs+M at the same point or postfurcal, and hind wing may have tubular veins C, Sc+R, R, Rs, M+Cu, M and Cu distinct, or simplified venation. The new findings also elucidate the evolutionary trend of forewing and hind wing venation and body size for the Heloridae from the late Middle Jurassic to now.     

The Gomphaeschninae (Odonata: Aeshnidae): new fossil genus, reconstructed phylogeny, and geographical history

ABSTRACT. Three new species of fossil Anisoptera (dragonflies) are reported from Tiffanian (Late Palaeocene) sediments of the Paskapoo Formation, near Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. The three species are all assigned to the new genus Alloaeschna , which is classified in the subfamily Gomphaeschninae.
Phylogenetic analysis of gomphaeschnine wing venation suggests that the subfamily is paraphyletic, with derived gomphaeschnines such as Boyeria and Linaeschna more closely related to the Brachytroninae and Aeshninae than are other gomphaeschnines. One of the most primitive gomphaeschnines, and the oldest fossil form, is the Jurassic Morbaeschna. Parallelism, convergence and reversal in the evolution of features of the wing venation is common.
The new genus Alloaeschna is at about the same evolutionary grade as the old-world genus Oligoaeschna and the new-world genus Gomphaeschna , and is one of the more primitive known members of the Gomphaeschninae. The new species are the first recorded Palaeocene gomphaeschnines and the oldest known gomphaeschnines from the Americas.
Several extant genera have fossil representatives on continents different from those on which they now survive, suggesting repeated crossing of land bridges and/or widespread ancestral species prior to the separation of the continents, and subsequent extinction leading to present relict distributions.     

Anomopterellidae Restored,with Two New Genera and Its Phylogeny in Evanioidea (Hymenoptera)

Background

Anomopterellidae was originally classified as a family within the Evanioidea, and later lowered to a subfamily, Anomopterellinae, of Praeaulacidae. Up to date, only Rasnitsyn 1975, with four species, was assigned to Anomopterellinae. Due to their special wing venation and their metasomal attachment similar to those known in Evanioidea, the systematic position of Anomopterellinae in Evanioidea has been in contention.

Principal Findings

Here we report a new fossil genus Synaphopterella gen. nov. and six species from the Middle Jurassic of China and transfer Anomopterella stenocera Rasnitsyn, 1975, from Upper Jurassic of Kazakhstan, to Choristopterella gen. nov. We place these three genera in the restored family Anomopterellidae and provide a key to known genera and species.

Conclusions/Significance

Based on new fossil specimens and phylogenetic analyses, Praeaulacidae has the most basal position in Evanioidea and it is justifiable to restore Anomopterellidae Rasnitsyn, 1975 as a full family. Comparing the size of all described anomopterellids from China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan, we conclude that the species from China have larger bodies and forewings. Diversity of the Praeaulacidae and Anomopterellidae in the late Middle Jurassic of Daohugou suggests that Evanioidea appeared at least before the late Middle Jurassic.