Ants of the tribe Formicini (Hymenoptera,Formicidae) from Late Eocene amber of Europe

The tribe Formicini (Formicinae) from the Late Eocene Baltic, Bitterfeld, Rovno, and Scandinavian ambers is revised. Ants are recorded for the first time from the Bitterfeld and Scandinavian ambers. Two new genera (Cataglyphoides gen. nov. and Conoformica gen. nov.) and six new species (Cataglyphoides intermedius sp. nov., Conoformica bitterfeldiana sp. nov., Formica kutscheri sp. nov., F. palaeopolonica sp. nov., F. radchenkoi sp. nov., F. zherikhini sp. nov.) are described. A new combination, Cataglyphoides constrictus (Mayr, 1868), comb. nov., is established. A lectotype of Camponotus constrictus Mayr, 1868 and a neotype of Formica phaethusa Wheeler, 1915 are designated. Formica clymene Wheeler, 1915 is recognized as a new synonym of F. phaethusa Wheeler, 1915. An identification key for workers of Formicini species from Late Eocene European ambers is provided.     

Early Paleogene insectivore mammals of Asia and establishment of the major groups of Insectivora

Early Paleogene insectivore mammal associations of Asia include true insectivores (superorder Insectivora: order Lipotyphla: suborders Erinaceomorpha and Soricomorpha; orders Didymoconida and Leptictida) and insectivore-like placentals (superorder Ferae: order Cimolesta: suborders Didelphodonta, Palaeoryctida, and Pantolesta). The associations from Mongolia are the most taxonomically diverse. The Late Paleocene association from the Zhigden Member of the Naran-Bulak Formation of the Tsagan-Khushu and Naran-Bulak localities includes the following soricomorph insectivores: the micropternodontid Sarcodon pygmaeus Matthew et Granger and Hyracolestes ermineus Matthew et Granger (Sarcodontinae), the geolabidid Gobigeolabis verigranum Lopatin, the nyctitheriid Praolestes nanus Matthew, Granger et Simpson, P. maximus Kondrashov, Lopatin et Lucas (Praolestinae subfam. nov.), Jarveia erronea Kondrashov, Lopatin et Lucas (Asionyctiinae). Moreover, the Zhigden association includes the didymoconid Archaeoryctes euryalis Lopatin (Ardynictinae), the palaeoryctid Pinoryctes collector gen. et sp. nov., and the pantolestid Zhigdenia nemegetica gen. et sp. nov. (Pantolestinae). The Early Eocene association from the Bumban Member of the Naran-Bulak Formation of the Tsagan-Khushu locality includes the micropternodontid Prosarcodon maturus Lopatin et Kondrashov (Sarcodontinae); the nyctitheriids Bumbanius rarus Russell et Dashzeveg (Praolestinae), Oedolius perexiguus Russell et Dashzeveg, Edzenius lus gen. et sp. nov. (Asionyctiinae), and Eosoricodon terrigena Lopatin (Eosoricodontinae); the plesiosoricid Ordolestes ordinatus gen. et sp. nov. (Butseliinae); and the cimolestids Naranius infrequens Russell et Dashzeveg, Tsaganius ambiguus Russell et Dashzeveg, and Bagalestes trofimovi gen. et sp. nov. (Cimolestidae). The Middle Eocene association from the Khaychin Formation of the Khaychin-Ula 2 and Khaychin-Ula 3 localities includes the erinaceomorphs Eogalericius butleri Lopatin and Microgalericulus esuriens gen. et sp. nov. (Erinaceidae, Galericinae), the soricomorphs Metasarcodon reshetovi Lopatin et Kondrashov (Micropternodontidae, Sarcodontinae), Soricolestes soricavus Lopatin (Soricidae, Soricolestinae), and Asiapternodus mackennai Lopatin (Apternodontidae, Asiapternodontinae subfam. nov.); the didymoconids Ardynictis captor Lopatin (Ardynictinae), Khaichinula lupula gen. et sp. nov. (Didymoconinae), Kennatherium shirense Mellett et Szalay, and Erlikotherium edentatum gen. et sp. nov. (Kennatheriinae subfam. nov.); and the palaeoryctid Nuryctes gobiensis Lopatin et Averianov (Palaeoryctidae). Late Paleocene insectivores from the Dzhilga 1a locality (Kazakhstan) comprise the nyctitheriids Voltaia minuta Nessov and Jarveia minuscula Nessov (Asionyctiinae). The faunal assemblage dated terminal Early Eocene from the Andarak 2 locality (Kyrgyzstan) includes the micropternodontid Metasarcodon udovichenkoi (Averianov), the erinaceid Protogalericius averianovi gen. et sp. nov. (Galericinae), and the palaeoryctids Nuryctes alayensis Lopatin et Averianov and Palaeoryctidae gen. et sp. indet. From the end of the Paleocene to the onset of the Middle Eocene, the taxonomic composition and ecological structure of insectivore communities of Central Asia gradually changed, insectivore-like placentals and primitive soricomorph groups were replaced by the Recent families of Lipotyphla. The morphological and evolutionary study of Early Paleogene Asian insectivores has provided important data on phylogenetic relationships of the Insectivora. The family Micropternodontidae is divided into the subfamilies Sarcodontinae and Micropternodontinae. The earliest insectivore family Geolabididae is recorded in the Paleogene of Asia. A new classification of the family Nyctitheriidae, dividing it into the subfamilies Nyctitheriinae, Amphidozotheriinae, Asionyctiinae, Eosoricodontinae, and Praolestinae subfam. nov., is proposed. Based on the morphological continuity between Eosoricodontinae (Nyctitheriidae) and Soricolestinae (Soricidae), the family Soricidae is proposed to originate from eosoricodontine nyctitheriids. The family Plesiosoricidae is divided into the subfamilies Butseliinae and Plesiosoricinae. A new subfamily, Asiapternodontinae subfam. nov., is established in the family Apternodontidae. The analysis of evolutionary transformations of the dental system suggests the continuity of molar types in the suborder Soricomorpha, which supports the validity of the infraorders Tenrecomorpha and Soricota (the latter includes the superfamilies Micropternodontoidea, Nesophontoidea, Soricoidea, Talpoidea, and Solenodontoidea). The subfamily Galericinae (Erinaceidae) is recorded in Asia at the Early-Middle Eocene boundary. The family Didymoconidae is divided into the subfamilies Ardynictinae, Didymoconinae, and Kennatheriinae subfam. nov. Some members of the subfamily Kennatheriinae display a clear edentate functional pattern, which is atypical for insectivores and is interpreted as an adaptation for feeding on colonial insects. The following scenario of insectivore evolution, describing the major stages of their history, is proposed: (1) in the first half of the Late Cretaceous, the first occurrence of Insectivora (probably in North America); (2) in the second half of the Late Cretaceous, the primary radiation of Insectivora, establishment of Leptictida, Didymoconida, and Lipotyphla; detachment of Erinaceomorpha and Soricomorpha; (3) at the Cretaceous-Paleocene boundary, the primary radiation of Soricomorpha and establishment of Tenrecomorpha (Africa) and Soricota (North America); (4) in the Paleocene, expansion of Soricota in the Northern Hemisphere, the primary radiation of Erinaceomorpha, and emergence of Erinaceidae (North America); (5) at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary, radiation of Soricota and Erinaceidae; (6) at the Early-Middle Eocene boundary, appearance of Soricidae, Talpidae, and Galericinae; (7) in the Middle Eocene-Oligocene, replacement of primitive groups by Recent families and related groups and the formation of the Recent subfamilial diversity of the families Soricidae, Talpidae, Erinaceidae, and Tenrecidae; (8) in the Miocene-Pliocene, disappearance of primitive groups of the Recent families, a decrease in the diversity of Erinaceomorpha, extensive radiation of Soricidae and the formation of the Recent generic diversity of insectivores.     

Gall midges of the supertribe stomatosematidi (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae) in the Palaearctic region,with descriptions of new taxa from the late Eocene Rovno Amber. 2. The genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Didactylomyia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rovnodidactylomyia</Emphasis> gen. n.

One new genus (Rovnodidactylomyia Fedotova et Perkovsky, gen. n.) and four new species (Didactylomyia dlusskyi sp. n., Rovnodidactylomyia zosimovichi gen. n. et sp. n., R. sidorenkoi sp. n., and R. iconica sp. n.) are described from an amber sample of the late Eocene Period (Rovno District, Ukraine). Two species from a Baltic amber sample of the late Eocene Period, described earlier in the genus Bryocrypta, are attributed to the genus Rovnodidactylomyia (R. girafa (Meunier, 1904) comb. n. and R. capitosa (Meunier, 1904)). The first fossil species of the genus Didactylomyia is described for the first time; two contemporary Palaearctic species are recorded. Keys to the species of the genus Didactylomyia are given.     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nalassus</Emphasis> Mulsant (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Helopini) from the Baltic amber

The first Eocene species of the tribe Helopini, Nalassus klebsi sp. nov., from the Baltic amber is described. The new species is included in the nominative subgenus and similar to the extant species N. dermestoides (Illiger) and N. laevioctostriatus (Goeze), from which it differs in the shape of eyes (eyes are considerably less transverse than in living Palearctic species of the genus Nalassus Mulsant), the shape of the pronotum with acute posterior angles (other Palearctic Nalassus have obtuse or straight pronotal angles) as well as convex elytral intervals. Species of the less specialized nominative subgenus are widespread in forests and (partly) alpine landscapes of Europe (eastwards up to the Urals) and eastern Asia.     

Gall midges of the supertribe Stomatosematidi (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae) in the Palaearctic Region,with descriptions of new taxa from the Late Eocene Rovno amber: 1. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stomatosema,Vanchidiplosis, Clarumreddera</Emphasis> gen. n.

Three recent genera are included in the supertribe Stomatosematidi: Stomatosema (16 species), Vanchidiplosis (4 species), and Didactylomyia (3 species). Seven species of the genus Stomatosema and two species of the genus Vanchidiplosis occur in the Palaearctic Region. No reliable findings of representatives of the supertribe were known in fossilized condition. One new genus and 3 new species are described from amber of the Late Eocene age (Rovno Region): Stomatosema iljieteugeniae sp. n., Clarumreddera korneyevi gen. n. et sp. n., and C. conceptiva sp. n.     

Ants of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fallomyrma</Emphasis> Dlussky et Radchenko (Hymenoptera,Formicidae, Myrmicinae) from Late Eocene European Ambers

The extinct monotypic ant genus Fallomyrma was described by Dlussky and Radchenko in 2006 based on workers from Late Eocene Rovno (Ukraine), Scandinavian (Denmark), and Bitterfeld (Germany) ambers. Three new Fallomyrma species from the Rovno amber are here described based on workers: F. anodonta sp. nov., F. marginata sp. nov., and F. robusta sp. nov. A key to all known species of this genus is compiled. The quantity ratios (of the numbers of species and specimens) of Fallomyrma and other amber Myrmicinae genera are considered. The opinion of the autochthonous origin of the Rovno amber is confirmed.     

New Species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crassatina</Emphasis> (Bivalvia) from the Middle and Upper Eocene of Ukraine

Representatives of the genus Crassatina from the Upper Eocene Mandrikovka Beds in the vicinity of Dnepr (former Dnepropetrovsk) are discussed and figured. From the Mandrikovka assemblage, two new species, C. conquisita and C. insolita, are described. One more new species, C. subcostata, is described from the Middle Eocene deposits of southern suburbs of Krivoi Rog. Two species, C. raricostata (Klushnikov) and C. expolita (Klushnikov), which were originally established as varieties, are redescribed and their species rank is substantiated.     

The first record of the subfamily Xenoscelinae (Coleoptera,Erotylidae) from the Baltic amber

The first Erotylidae of the subfamily Xenoscelinae from the Late Eocene Baltic amber, Warnis tvanksticus gen. et sp. nov., is described. The new genus is distinguished from closely related Xenoscelis Woll. and Zavaljus Reitt. by the presence of well-developed femoral lines on the first abdominal ventrite and also the shape of the pronotum, the body size, the absence of lateral carina on the elytra or pits at the base of the pronotum, and the presence of a gular pit.     

Two new genera of cuckoo wasps (Chrysididae: Amiseginae) from Rovno and Baltic ambers

Cuckoo wasps of the subfamily Amiseginae, Eosega heterotarsata gen. et sp. nov. and Foveorisus kilimniki gen. et sp. nov., from the Late Eocene Baltic (Russia) and Rovno ambers (Ukraine), respectively, are described. Primitive Eosega is close to the extinct genus Palaeobethylus Brues in Kieffer, 1914 and represents the so-called American series of genera of Amiseginae. Foveorisus is found to be morphologically close to a number of extant oriental genera. All known fossil Amiseginae are listed. Stick insects of the family Archipseudophasmatidae, possible hosts of the Eocene amisegines, are recorded in the Rovno amber for the first time.     

First Record of the Subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Empis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Planempis</Emphasis>) (Diptera,Empididae) from Middle Asia,with Description of a New Species

A new species of the subgenus Planempis Frey, 1953 (Diptera: Empididae), Empis (Planempis) gussakovskiisp. n., is described from Tajikistan, being the first record of the subgenus from Middle Asia. The relationships of the new species within the subgenus Planempis are shortly discussed. An updated check-list of Planempis species is provided.     

A new species of the pufferfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eotetraodon</Emphasis> (Tetraodontiformes,Tetraodontidae) from the Eocene of the Northern Caucasus

The Eocene pufferfish genus Eotetraodon (Tetraodontidae) has previously been known only on the basis of E. pygmaeus (Zigno, 1887) from the lowermost Middle Eocene of Monte Bolca, Italy. To Eotetraodon we now add E. gornylutshensis sp. nov. from the uppermost Middle Eocene of the Kuma Horizon of the northern Caucasus (Gorny Luch locality). E. gornylutshensis sp. nov. differs from E. pygmaeus by having much longer ribs and one less vertebra in the caudal peduncle.     

A new genus of seed beetles (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) in Baltic amber

The new genus and new species of seed beetles (Copeoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) Electrocaryedon poinari gen. et sp. nov. are described from the Late Eocene Baltic amber. This new genus differs from the genus Caryedon Schoenherr, 1823 in the completely separate procoxal cavities, not shortened lateral carina on pronotum, and wider body with sparse setae.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cannabis</Emphasis> is indigenous to Europe and cultivation began during the Copper or Bronze age: a probabilistic synthesis of fossil pollen studies

Conventional wisdom states Cannabis sativa originated in Asia and its dispersal to Europe depended upon human transport. Various Neolithic or Bronze age groups have been named as pioneer cultivators. These theses were tested by examining fossil pollen studies (FPSs), obtained from the European Pollen Database. Many FPSs report Cannabis or Humulus (C/H) with collective names (e.g. Cannabis/Humulus or Cannabaceae). To dissect these aggregate data, we used ecological proxies to differentiate C/H pollen, as follows: unknown C/H pollen that appeared in a pollen assemblage suggestive of steppe (Poaceae, Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae) we interpreted as wild-type Cannabis. C/H pollen in a mesophytic forest assemblage (Alnus, Salix, Populus) we interpreted as Humulus. C/H pollen curves that upsurged and appeared de novo alongside crop pollen grains we interpreted as cultivated hemp. FPSs were mapped and compared to the territories of archaeological cultures. We analysed 479 FPSs from the Holocene/Late Glacial, plus 36 FPSs from older strata. The results showed C/H pollen consistent with wild-type C. sativa in steppe and dry tundra landscapes throughout Europe during the early Holocene, Late Glacial, and previous glaciations. During the warm and wet Holocene Climactic Optimum, forests replaced steppe, and Humulus dominated. Cannabis retreated to steppe refugia. C/H pollen consistent with cultivated hemp first appeared in the Pontic-Caspian steppe refugium. GIS mapping linked cultivation with the Copper age Varna/Gumelni?a culture, and the Bronze age Yamnaya and Terramara cultures. An Iron age steppe culture, the Scythians, likely introduced hemp cultivation to Celtic and Proto-Slavic cultures.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Protocopidosoma</Emphasis> gen. nov. (Hymenoptera,Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae) from the Late Eocene Danish amber

Protocopidosoma kononovae gen. et sp. nov. from Danish amber is described. The specimen is very similar to representatives of the extant genus Copidosoma Ratzeburg, 1844 and differs from them in the long and wide veins in the forewing, as in most encyrtids from Late Eocene European ambers.     

A new species of Micromalthidae (Coleoptera) from the Rovno amber: 1. Adult morphology

Micromalthus priabonicus sp. nov. from the Late Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine) is described. The new species is readily distinguished from M. eocenicus Kirejtshuk et al., 2010 from the Early Eocene amber of Oise in France by the shorter body, unequal length of antennomeres 3 and 4, ovate terminal antennomere, less transverse head, transverse scutellum, and by the considerably shortened adsutural elytral margin.     

Neogene phasianids (Aves: Phasianidae) of Central Asia: 2. Genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Perdix,Plioperdix</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bantamyx</Emphasis>

The phasianid genera Perdix, Plioperdix, and Bantamyx from the Neogene of Mongolia and Transbaikalia are reviewed. Based on published data and new material, the diagnoses of Late Pliocene Perdix margaritae Kurochkin and Plioperdix ponticus (Tugarinov) and Late Miocene Bantamyx georgicus Kurochkin are emended. It is shown that a tarsometatarsus from the Upper Miocene of the Pavlodar locality belongs to the genus Palaeoperdix rather than Palaeortyx, as was proposed in the previous studies. Small Neogene Asian phasianids are compared in detail with Neogene taxa from Europe and extant genera.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cantharellus</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amethystini</Emphasis> in Asia

In this contribution on the genus Cantharellus in Asia, C. subvaginatus is described from the Republic of Korea as a close relative to the Chinese C. vaginatus, which is here reported for the first time from India. Both species are here placed in Cantharellus subg. Cantharellus sect. Amethystini, together with the Indian C. pseudoformosus (syn.: C. umbonatus) and the Malayan C. subamethysteus. As such, Asia has suddenly become the continent with the highest diversity for Amethystini. Species delimitation in sect. Amethystini is molecularly supported by a combined phylogenetic analysis of rDNA sequences obtained for LSU and ITS and additionally suggests the existence of a still undescribed species in North America. Character variability is discussed for all known members of Amethystini, including atypical specimens of the North American C. lewisii that are morphologically more reminiscent of the South Korean C. subvaginatus.     

The first Eocene tumbling beetle of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Isotrilophus</Emphasis> (Insecta: Coleoptera: Mordellidae) from the Green River Formation (Colorado,United States)

The first fossil representative of the genus Isotrilophus Liljeblad (Mordellidae), I. rasnitsyni sp. nov., from the Lower Eocene of the Green River Formation (Colorado) is described. The new species differs from its only congener, I. erraticus (Smith, 1883), in the shape of eye, metepisternum, configuration of temporal angle, lateral edge of the prothorax, and in the length ratio of the prothorax and elytra. The first I. erraticus south of Nicaragua (e.g., in Costa Rica and Peru) are recorded.     

On the taxonomic position of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Issus reticulatus</Emphasis> Bervoets, 1910 (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Issidae) from Baltic amber

A new genus Bolbossus gen. n. is erected in the tribe Parahiraciini for Issus bervoetsi Gnezdilov et Bourgoin, nom. n. pro Issus reticulatus Bervoets, 1910 (nom. praeocc., non Issus reticulatus Herrich-Schäffer, 1835) described from the Baltic amber of Kaliningrad Province in Russia. The genus Issites Haupt, 1956 is assigned to the nominotypical subtribe of the tribe Issini Spinola. Bolbossus bervoetsi (Gnezdilov et Bourgoin) is the first species of the Oriental tribe of the family Issidae discovered in Europe. This finding implies the dispersal of taxa from the Oriental Region to the Western Palaearctic during the Eocene. Other fossil Issidae are briefly discussed.