A new genus of myrmicine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Eocene Baltic amber

Examination of fossil ant specimens from various private and institutional German collections of Baltic amber has revealed a new genus and species of Myrmicinae, described here as Thanacomyrmex hoffeinsorum gen. et sp. nov. The new worker morphotype shares some similarities with the coeval extinct genus Parameranoplus Wheeler, also from Baltic amber, and the extant genera Pristomyrmex Mayr and Acanthomyrmex Emery, suggesting placement of the new fossil in the Myrmecina genus-group within the tribe Crematogastrini. The new genus highlights the tremendous diversity of ants that evolved in the Palaeogene European forests and composed the first major radiation of crown-group ants.     

A new species of the bee genus Ctenoplectrella in middle Eocene Baltic amber (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae)

A new species of the extinct bee genus Ctenoplectrella Cockerell (Megachilinae: Ctenoplectrellini) is described and figured from two females preserved in middle Eocene (Lutetian) Baltic amber. Ctenoplectrella phaetonsp. n. is distinguished from its congeners on the basis of its body proportions, integumental sculpturing, wing venation, and pubescence, and is one of the more distinctive members of the genus. A revised key to the species of Ctenoplectrella is provided.     

Ten new species of caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Baltic amber

Ten new species of caddisflies of the families Polycentropodidae (nine) and Molannidae (one) are described from the Eocene Baltic amber: Holocentropus peregrinator sp. nov., H. proximorepertus sp. nov., H. dugoi sp. nov., H. fundamentalis sp. nov., H. telergon sp. nov., Plectrocnemia varigoria sp. nov., P. synthesia sp. nov., P. novokshonovi sp. nov., Nyctiophylax valideturbidus sp. nov., and Molanna okraina sp. nov.     

A new species of Diochus from Baltic amber (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Diochini)

The first fossil of the staphylinine tribe Diochini Casey is described and figured from an inclusion in mid-Eocene (Lutetian) Baltic amber. Diochus electrussp. n. is distinguished from its congeners and the diversity of rove beetles (Staphylinidae s.l.) is summarized briefly.     

A new genus and species of timber beetle (Coleoptera: Lymexylidae) from the Baltic amber

Ponomarenkylon alexandri gen. et sp. nov. (Melittommatinae) from the Late Eocene Baltic amber is described. The long filiform antennae and the apparent absence of sensillary organs, which are frequently present on modified maxillary palps in other lymexylids, are evidence of the primitive state of the new genus.     

A new species of the genus Smicrips Le Conte (Coleoptera: Smicripidae) from Baltic amber

Smicrips gorskii sp. nov. from the Upper Eocene Baltic amber, distinguished from all congeners by the dark color and very long antennomere 2 is described.     

New species ofElectribius Crowson 1973 (Coleoptera: Artematopodidae) from Baltic amber

Three new species of the genusElectribius Crowson 1973 (Coleoptera: Artematopodidae),E. friederichi, E. balticus, andE. procerus are described from the Baltic amber. The characters separating the extant and fossil species ofElectribius are summarised in a key. A list of the known extant and fossil species of Artematopodidae sensuLawrence (1995) with synonyms and remarks on the geographical distribution is provided. The distribution of the members of the family and the identical morphological specializations of the fossil and extant species ofElectribius suggest that the taxon formerly had a much wider distribution and is relatively old. The possibility that the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous generaSinoelaterium Ping 1928and Artematopodites Ponomarenko 1990 represent early members of the Artematopodidae is discussed.     

A new genus and species of Dictyopharidae (Homoptera) from Rovno and Baltic amber based on nymphs

Alicodoxa rasnitsynigen. et sp. n. (Dictyopharinae: Orthopagini) is described based on a nymph from Rovno amber; it also occurs in Baltic amber. A small additional wax plate dorsal to the large wax plate of abdominal tergites VI-VIII is first reported in this and other genera of Dictyopharidae. A lectotype is designated for Pseudophana reticulata Germar & Berendt, 1856 transferred to Protepiptera (Achilidae): Protepiptera reticulata (Germar & Berendt, 1856), comb. n.     

A new protopristocerine wasp (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

Ramageoptera platycephala gen. et sp. nov., a new protopristocerine wasp, is described and figured from a female individual preserved in mid-Cretaceous amber from Tanai, northern Myanmar. Ramageoptera platycephala gen. et sp. nov. shows most of the known characters used to circumscribe the extinct subfamily Protopristocerinae, and highlights the putative status of stem-Pristocerinae that may occupy the Protopristocerinae. Ramageoptera platycephala gen. et sp. nov. is unique among the Protopristocerinae, at least, for possessing a flat and square shaped head; eyes glabrous and small; mandibles with four conspicuous sharp teeth; antenna with short scape; forewing with Rs + M vein absent; vein M straight; cell 2R1 distally opened; cell 1Cu closed, sub-equal to R cell; cell 2Cu open.     

A new genus and species of the rove beetle tribe Mesoporini from Baltic amber (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae)

A new extinct rove beetle, Palaeomesoporus electiricus gen. et sp.n., is described from a single specimen of Eocene Baltic amber. This fossil beetle is placed in the tribe Mesoporini, a ‘basal’ group of the mega-diverse subfamily Aleocharinae. Palaeomesoporus is easily discriminated from other mesoporine genera due to its less-developed antennal club, longer and slender elytron lacking a sinuate posterior margin, and prominently shorter mesotarsus. This finding sheds light on the paleodiversity and evolutionary history of the tribe and ‘basal’ Aleocharinae.     

Olemehlia krali,a new genus and species of Ripidiinae from Baltic amber (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae)

A new genus and species, Olemehlia krali n. g. & n. sp. (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae: Ripidiinae), is described from Baltic amber. The newly described genus is compared with all known fossil and extant closely related genera of the subfamily Ripidiinae. It is characterised by the following combination of characters: antennae consisting of 10 antennomeres, with scape, pedicel, and antennomere 3 simple and antennomeres 4–10 uniflabellate, mouthparts reduced to a small single unpaired tubercle, postocular ommatidia absent, pronotum trapezoid without grooves or impressions, elytra without white apical spots, tarsal formula 5–5–4, hind tarsomere I shorter than three remaining combined. Diversity of Ripiphoridae in Baltic amber is discussed; key to Ripidiinae genera from Baltic amber is provided.     

First record of the family Embolemidae (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea) from Korea

The family Embolemidae Westwood, 1833 is recorded for the first time in Korea, based on a species Embolemus ruddii Westwood. A diagnosis of this species complemented by digital images are provided.     

A new species of tumbling flower beetles of the genus Mordellaria (Insecta: Coleoptera: Mordellidae) from the Baltic amber

The beetle Mordellaria friedrichi sp. nov. is described from the Baltic amber. The new species differs from extant species of the genus in the shape of the eyes and antennae and in the ratios of the length of the pygidium and length of the elytron, pronotum, and anal sternite.     

中国四斑金小蜂属分类研究及二新种记述(膜翅目：金小蜂科)

记述了中国金小蜂科金小蜂亚科的四斑金小蜂属(Cheiropachus Westwood,1828)5个种,包括2新种：马氏四斑金小蜂C. mai新种分布于甘肃(兰州);细体四斑金小蜂C. vimineus新种分布于北京。文中提供了分种检索表、新种形态描述和特征图。模式标本保存于中国科学院动物研究所动物 标本馆。     

A new genus and species of scorpionfly (Mecoptera) from Baltic amber,with an unusually developed postnotal organ

A new genus and species of fossil scorpionflies (Mecoptera) Baltipanorpa damzeni gen. et sp.n. is described from two well‐preserved male specimens in Baltic amber (middle Eocene: Lutetian). The most characteristic feature of the new taxon is an unusually developed postnotal organ on abdominal tergum IV. This is the most extremely developed example of this organ among Mecoptera and the only observation of notal and postnotal organs among fossil scorpionflies. The following combination of characters are provided to distinguish the new genus from other Panorpidae: Sc, short; R₁ and R₂ two‐branched; A₁ joins posterior margin of wing only at same level as fork of vein Rs; unusual shape of abdomen, abdominal segments I–IV strongly reduced, abdominal segment V elongate and widened, segments VII and VIII strongly elongate; notal and postnotal organs present, strongly developed process (postnotal organ) on tergum IV, unknown in all described extant and fossil scorpionflies. Different types of notal organs of Mecoptera are compared and their function and morphology are discussed. Morphological analysis of notal and postnotal organs in extant species permits us to conclude that B. damzeni sp.n. is characterized by the most developed and complex notal organs in all Mecoptera.