False fairy wasps in Early Cretaceous amber from Spain (Hymenoptera: Mymarommatoidea)

Abstract: The fauna of false fairy wasps (Proctotrupomorpha: Bipetiolarida: Mymarommatoidea) occurring in Early Cretaceous (Albian) amber from north and north‐eastern Spain (Moraza, San Just, and El Soplao outcrops) is described. In total, 12 specimens have been recovered and four species recognized, all new: Alavaromma orchamum gen. nov. and sp. nov. (Alavarommatidae fam. nov.), Archaeromma hispanicum sp. nov. (Mymarommatidae), Galloromma alavaensis sp. nov., and G. turolensis sp. nov. (Gallorommatidae). The study indicates the necessity of revision and maybe fusion of both superfamilies, Mymarommatoidea and Serphitoidea, as the boundaries between them are less and less defined. However, major classificatory rearrangements must await the completion of the cladistic studies presently underway.     

New maimetshid wasps in Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Insecta: Hymenoptera)

The extinct, exclusively Cretaceous wasp family Maimetshidae is newly recorded from Earliest Cenomanian Burmese amber. Two new genera and species are described. Burmaimetsha concava gen. et sp. nov., based on a male and a female, is most similar to Guyotemaimetsha Perrichot, Nel & Néraudeau, from Albian-Cenomanian French amber, but differs in its larger mandibles, distinctly concave face, elongate antennomeres, and forewing with cell [1Rs] smaller and fourth abscissa of Rs shorter. Maimetshasia kachinensis gen. et sp. nov., is based on a male, and is characterized by asymmetric mandibles with two and three teeth, by its forewing venation without cross-vein 2rs-m, with cell [1M] large and trapezoidal, and vein 2Rs + M very short, and by the hind wing without a free apex of Rs. The family was evidently widespread in the Cretaceous, and the new records extend the paleobiogeographical range to the South-East of Eurasia. A discussion about the possible biology of Maimetshidae is provided.     

A new genus of fossil Mymaridae (Hymenoptera) from Cretaceous amber and key to Cretaceous mymarid genera

Myanmymar aresconoidesgen n., sp. n. is described from one female in Burmese amber, dated as about 100 my. It is similar to Arescon on wing features but is unique among Mymaridae in having distinctly segmented palpi. It is the fifth mymarid genus definitely referable to the Cretaceous period. A key to Cretaceous mymarid genera is presented and the features of Myanmymar are compared with the other Cretaceous and extant mymarid genera.     

Early collapse of Vespa simillima (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) colonies in central Japan

During the past 15 years in the Ina Valley, Japan, mature fifth instar larvae of the yellow hornet, Vespa simillima, have been occasionally ejected from colonies during September. During 2005, this unusual behavior was particularly widespread, and collection of several V. simillima colonies confirmed that very few fifth instar larvae were present. When compared with an average colony, constructed from 41 colonies collected 20 years previously, colonies in 2005 had 80% fewer fifth instar larvae, despite queen egg‐laying rates remaining similar. It may be that the amount of food provided to the larvae by workers is less than the amount of larval secretions received by workers, which is causing the larvae to become emaciated and preventing them from pupating. This phenomenon normally occurs naturally at the end of the colony cycle in November, when prey abundance decreases and larval secretions or other sources of carbohydrates, for example from ripe fruit, tree sap, or aphid secretions, are needed by sexuals to build up fat reserves. However, another possibility is that the unexplained appearance of this phenomenon in September, which is causing colonies to collapse without producing any or very few sexuals, is due to foragers feeding the larvae prey that are contaminated with insect growth regulators, via pesticides, which are known to prevent successful pupation.     

Snakefly diversity in Early Cretaceous amber from Spain (Neuropterida, Raphidioptera)

The Albian amber from Spain presently harbors the greatest number and diversity of amber adult fossil snakeflies (Raphidioptera). Within Baissopteridae, Baissoptera? cretaceoelectra sp. n., from the Peñacerrada I outcrop (Moraza, Burgos), is the first amber inclusion belonging to the family and described from western Eurasia, thus substantially expanding the paleogeographical range of the family formerly known from the Cretaceous of Brazil and eastern Asia. Within the family Mesoraphidiidae, Necroraphidia arcuata gen. et sp. n. and Amarantoraphidia ventolina gen. et sp. n. are described from the El Soplao outcrop (Rábago, Cantabria), whereas Styporaphidia? hispanica sp. n. and Alavaraphidia imperterrita gen. et sp. n. are describedfrom Peñacerrada I. In addition, three morphospecies are recognized from fragmentary remains. The following combinations are restored: Yanoraphidia gaoi Ren, 1995, stat. rest., Mesoraphidia durlstonensis Jepson, Coram and Jarzembowski, 2009, stat. rest., and Mesoraphidia heteroneura Ren, 1997, stat. rest. The singularity of this rich paleodiversity could be due to the paleogeographic isolation of the Iberian territory and also the prevalence of wildfires during the Cretaceous.     

New bethylid and chrysidid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea) from Canadian Late Cretaceous amber

A new bethylid species, Celonophamia granama, and two new chrysidid species, Procleptes eoliami, and P. hopejohnsonae, are described from Late Cretaceous (Campanian) amber collected at the Grassy Lake locality in Alberta, Canada. Within the deposit these taxa constitute the first bethylid, and the second and third chrysidid species to be described, respectively. The new taxa expand the sparse fossil record of Chrysidoidea, particularly that of Chrysididae—a group that was previously represented by only three described species in the Mesozoic. The presence of Celonophamia species in both Canadian amber and Siberian (Taimyr) amber further emphasizes faunal similarities between these two northern Late Cretaceous amber deposits. Given the prevalence of metallic coloration in Chrysididae, the specimens described here also provide evidence for the taphonomic alteration of perceived insect colors in Cretaceous amber inclusions.     

New genus of fossil apoid wasps (Hymenoptera,Apoidea) from the Cretaceous amber of Myanmar

The new genus 2Burmasphex is proposed for two fossil species, 2Burmasphex sulcatus sp. nov. and 2Burmasphex pilosus sp. nov., described from Myanmar Cretaceous amber. It exhibits many plesiomorphic features in relation to the extant Apoidea and is here provisionally allocated in the extinct family 2Angarosphecidae.     

Evidence of mycoparasitism and hypermycoparasitism in Early Cretaceous amber

Evidence of mycoparasitism and hypermycoparasitism is demonstrated in Early Cretaceous Burmese amber. The agaric, Palaeoagaracites antiquus gen. sp. nov., is parasitized by the mycoparasite, Mycetophagites atrebora gen. sp. nov., which in turn is parasitized by the hyperparasite, Entropezites patricii gen. sp. nov. This discovery shows that sophisticated patterns of fungal parasitism were well developed some 100 Myrago.     

The serphitid wasps (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupo‐morpha: Serphitoidea) of Canadian Cretaceous amber

Five new species and one new genus of Serphitidae microhymenoptera are described from Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) amber originating at the Grassy Lake locality in Alberta, Canada. New taxa include Serphites hynemani sp.n. , Serphites bruesi sp.n. , Serphites kuzminae sp.n. , Serphites pygmaeus sp.n. and Jubaserphites ethani gen. et sp.n. Topotype material for the type species of Serphites, Serphites paradoxus Brues is re‐illustrated and redescribed in greater detail, clarifying the characteristics of the species for comparison with the numerous serphitids that have been described subsequent to the work of Brues. We provide the first comprehensive report of known serphitid specimens in Canadian amber, draw comparisons with taxa in other Cretaceous deposits, and comment upon the palaeoecological connotations of the relatively diverse and morphologically disparate Canadian serphitid assemblage.     

Phylogeny of Stephanidae (Hymenoptera: Apocrita) with a new genus from Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber

A new wasp species, Lagenostephanus lii Li, Rasnitsyn, Shih and Ren gen. et sp.n. , is assigned to Stephaninae (Hymenoptera: Stephanidae). The specimen is described from the lowermost Upper Cretaceous Myanmar (Burmese) amber. This is the second stephanid wasp described from Myanmar amber after Kronostephanus zigrasi Engel & Grimaldi, representing the earliest fossil occurrences of Stephanidae. Based on morphological characters of all extant and extinct genera, a phylogenetic analysis of Stephanidae was conducted. The results indicate that Schlettereriinae and Stephaninae are monophyletic, whereas Electrostephanus Brues, as the only genus within Electrostephaninae, belongs to Stephaninae. Therefore, we propose a synonymy of Electrostephaninae with Stephaninae. Based on the fossil evidence, we infer that the family of Stephanidae was significantly diverse in the Late Cretaceous and that they originated during the Early Cretaceous or late Jurassic. A key to genera of Stephanidae is provided. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C082C245-8FD3-42B0-880F-94333286500B .     

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.     

Nematode (Nematoda: Mermithidae) and hairworm (Nematomorpha: Chordodidae) parasites in Early Cretaceous amber

The present report describes a mermithid nematode (Nematoda: Mermithidae) and a gordiid hairworm (Nematomorpha: Chordodidae) from Early Cretaceous Burmese amber dated at 100-110 million years. The mermithid, Cretacimermis protus sp. n., is emerging from a biting midge (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) while the hairworm, Cretachordodes burmitis, gen. n., sp. n. had already emerged from its host. These rare specimens represent the first fossil mermithid parasite of a ceratopogonid midge and second oldest described nematode and the earliest known and only Mesozoic fossil of the phylum Nematomorpha. A list of previously described fossil mermithids is included.     

A new Early Cretaceous snakefly (Raphidioptera: Mesoraphidiidae) from El Soplao amber (Spain

A virtually complete specimen of the family Mesoraphidiidae (Insecta: Raphidioptera) is described as Cantabroraphidia marcanoi n. gen., n. sp. It was found in early Albian amber from a new deposit named El Soplao within the Las Peñosas Fm. in northwestern Cantabria (Spain). It has been compared to all adult fossils placed in the Mesozoic family Mesoraphidiidae. Some taxonomical comments are provided, and we propose to restore the genus Yanoraphidia Ren 1995 and the combination Yanoraphidia gaoi Ren 1995 stat. rest., provisionally retained in the family Mesoraphidiidae.     

日本佳盾蜾蠃的生物学特性观察

日本佳盾蜾蠃Euodynerus nipanicus（Schulthess）是一种重要的独栖捕食性天敌昆虫,对我国南方林区鳞翅目蛾类害虫的控制具有一定作用。本文报道了日本佳盾蜾蠃的形态特征、生活史及幼虫和成虫的行为等生物学特性。该蜂在江西赣州地区 1 年发生 4 代,以滞育的老熟幼虫在巢管虫室内越冬,滞育期约 190 d。翌年的4月下旬成虫开始外出活动,主要包括交配、筑巢、产卵、捕食等行为。通过野外收集筑巢巢管,室内饲养观察等,发现该蜂的卵近似微弯的长圆柱形,长 2.912 ± 0.127 mm,卵期2-4 d,平均 2.5 ± 0.99 d;非越冬幼虫期 8. 1 ± 0. 99 d;预蛹期4.3 ± 0. 48 d;蛹期7. 4 ± 0.84 d;雌雄比约为 2. 95:1。本研究丰富了日本佳盾蜾蠃的生物学基础知识,为进一步利用该蜂防治南方林区鳞翅目蛾类害虫提供了依据。     

Nest thermoregulation in Polybia scutellaris (White) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Polybia scutellaris (White) builds large nests characterized by numerous spiny projections on the surface. In order to determine whether or not the nest temperature is maintained because of homeothermic conditions of the nest individuals or otherwise, we investigated the thermal conditions within the nests built by P. scutellaris. We measured the temperature within active and abandoned nests. The temperature in the active nest was almost stable at 27°C during data collection, whereas the temperature in the abandoned nest varied with changes in ambient temperature. These results suggest that nest temperature was maintained by the thermogenesis of the individuals of the colony. This is the first report of nest incubation caused by thermogenesis of species of Polybia wasps.     

Two new non-biting midges from the Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Abstract

Two chironomid flies, Ziadeus kamili n. gen., n. sp. and Paicheleria magnifica n. gen., n. sp., respectively attributed to the recent subfamilies Tanypodinae and Prodiamesinae, are described from the Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber. Although very old, this non-biting midge fauna was very diverse with no less than 11 genera and species. However, it was also strongly different from the recent faunas for the complete absence of the Chironominae, that is today the dominant subfamily. The development of the modern chironomid fauna occurred during the Late Cretaceous and/or the Early Paleogene, but when and how?     

A new, putatively primitive Cretaceous fossil braconid subfamily from New Jersey amber (Hymenoptera, Braconidae)

Protorhyssalus goldmani gen. n., sp. n., in a new subfamily of braconid wasps, the Protorhyssalinae, is described from Late Cretaceous amber fossils from New Jersey, USA. The Protorhyssalinae appears to be cyclostome and shows a similar set of plesiomorphic characters to the extant Rhyssalinae. However, it possesses hindwing vein 2-CU, a feature only found among the cyclostome braconids in the rare and putatively primitive Chilean subfamily Apozyginae.