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 .     

Report on the Polycystididae (Rhabdocoela, Kalyptorhynchia) from Australia, with the Description of Twelve New Species and Six New Genera

Twelve new species of Polycystididae Graff, 1905 are described from the Australian east coast. Nine of them could not be placed in any of the existing genera, and therefore six new genera are erected. Alchoides n. gen. differs from all other polycystidid genera by the presence of a bundle of glands that opens into the distal part of the male atrium (accessory vesicle type V). Two species are included in the genus, A. alchoides n. sp. and A. dittmannae n. sp., which differ from each other in the shape of the stylet. Ametochus gehrkei n. gen n. sp. can be distinguished from other polycystidids by the presence of a prostate vesicle type III associated with a prostate stylet type III, combined with the presence of an accessory stylet type III, while a prostate stylet type II is lacking. Typical for Arrawarria inexpectata n. gen n. sp. is the combined presence of an armed cirrus with a prostate vesicle type II connected to a prostate stylet type II. Two species are assigned to the new genus Duplexostylus n. gen.: D. rowei n. sp. and D. winsori n. sp. These two species have two unique features: a prostate vesicle type IV directly connected to a prostate stylet type III and an asymmetrical septum that surrounds the proximal part of the male atrium. They can be distinguished from each other by differences in the detailed construction of their stylets. Two new species are placed in the new genus Stradorhynchus n. gen.: S. caecus n. sp. and S. terminalis n. sp. They have unpaired gonads and a prostate vesicle type IV connected to a prostate stylet type IV, which combination of characters makes them unique within the Polycystididae. The two species differ from each other in the shape and size of the stylet. Triaustrorhynchus armatus n. gen., n. sp. is the first species of the Polycystididae to have three types of stylet in the male atrium: a prostate stylet type II, a prostate stylet type III and an accessory stylet type III. Three new species could be placed in existing genera: Cincturorhynchus monaculeus n. sp., Paraustrorhynchus caligatus n. sp. and Polycystis australis n. sp. All three differ from their congeners in the form and dimensions of their stylets. All newly described species are discussed, giving their similarities and differences with resembling species. Austrorhynchus hawaiiensis Karling, 1977 is reported for the first time in Australia, and the Australian population is compared with populations from other regions. The presence of Gyratrix hermaphroditus Ehrenberg, 1831, one new species of Paulodora Marcus, 1948 and a new genus of Typhlopolycystidinae Evdonin, 1977 is mentioned.     

New and little known crickets of the subfamily Phalangopsinae (Orthoptera,Gryllidae): 6. Neotropical taxa of the tribes Phalangopsini and Paragryllini

Two new genera, ten new species, and two new subspecies: Uvaroviella izerskyi sp. n., U. morona sp. n., U. ucayali sp. n., U. pastaza sp. n., U. affinis sp. n., U. bolivia sp. n., U. bora atalaya subsp. n., Kevanacla orientalis contraria subsp. n., Peruacla solitaria gen. et sp. n., Ecuadoracla propria gen. et sp. n., Adelosgryllus spurius sp. n., and A. phaeocephalus sp. n. are described. The tribe Paragryllini is divided into three subtribes: Paragryllina Desutter, 1988 stat. n., Neoaclina Desutter, 1988 stat. n., and Strogulomorphina Desutter 1988, stat. n. The composition of the genera Uvaroviella Chop. and Neoacla Desutter is discussed. The species from Costa Rica and the Antilles are supposed to belong to these genera and subgenera. New synonymy [U. trinidadi Gorochov, 2007 = U. enodos Otte et Perez-Gelabert, 2009, syn. n. and N. multivenosa (Chopard, 1937) = Selvacla choreutes Otte, 2006, syn. n.] is proposed.     

New fossil Ochteridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Ochteroidea) from the Upper Mesozoic of north‐eastern China,with phylogeny of the family

Specimens of the velvety shore bugs (Hemiptera: Ochtheridae) occur in the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in north‐eastern China. We describe two new genera and three new species –Pristinochterus ovatus Yao, Zhang & Ren sp. nov., Floricaudus multilocellus Yao, Ren & Shih gen.n. et sp.n. and Angulochterus quatrimaculatus Yao, Zhang & Ren gen.n. et sp.n. – from this deposit. A cladistic analysis based on a combination of fossil and extant taxa, and their morphological characters, clarifies the phylogenetic status of the new fossils and allows the reconstruction of relationships within the family Ochteridae. Two main clades within Ochteridae are recognized from the cladistic analysis: Pristinochterus Yao Cai & Ren and Floricaudus Yao, Ren & Shih gen.n. form a monophyletic lineage; and Angulochterus Yao, Zhang & Ren gen.n. emerges as a sister group to all extant velvety shore bugs. A key to all fossil and extant genera of Ochteridae is provided.     

New and little known phalangopsinae (Orthoptera,Gryllidae): 7. Neotropical taxa of the tribes Paragryllini and Luzarini

Three new genera, one new subgenus, and 13 new species (Strogulomorpha separata sp. n., S. davidi sp. n., S. proxima sp. n., Luzarida lata sp. n., Luzara venado sp. n., L. sapani sp. n., Ucayacla pulchella gen. et sp. n., Peruzara atalaya gen. et sp. n., P. loreto sp. n., Amazonacla imitata gen. et sp. n., A. primitiva sp. n., Leptopsis (Leptopsis) ucayali sp. n., and L. (Aberracla subgen. n.) morona sp. n.) are described. The composition of the tribes Paragryllini and Luzarini and of the genera Luzarida Heb. and Luzara Walk is discussed. The new synonymies Luzarida Hebard, 1928 = Ecuazarida Nischk et Otte, 2000, syn. n.; Lerneca Walker, 1869 = Doposia Otte et Perez-Gelabert, 2009, syn. n.; Nemoricantor Desutter-Grandcolas et Hubbell, 1993 = Kumalorina Otte et Perez-Gelabert, 2009, syn. n. are given. The systematic position of some previously described species is corrected.     

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 .     

Phylogenetic analyses with four new Cretaceous bristletails reveal inter‐relationships of Archaeognatha and Gondwana origin of Meinertellidae

Based on fifteen Archaeognatha (=Microcoryphia) specimens from Myanmar (Burmese) amber, including males, females and immatures, two new genera and four species, Cretaceomachilis longa sp.n ., Unimeinertellus abundus gen. et sp.n. , U. bellus sp.n. and Nullmeinertellus wenxuani gen. et sp.n. , are described. Phylogenetic analyses of taxa in Archaeognatha were conducted using Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference based on morphological characters and DNA sequence data. Our results confirm the phylogenetic position of the new genera, clarify the monophyly of Meinertellidae and indicate that the ‘paleo‐types’ excluding Ditrigoniophthalmus are nested within the Machilidae group, but suggest that the three subfamilies within Machilidae may be artificial. The diversity of meinertellids with derived characters found from the Cretaceous indicate that the divergence time of Machilidae and Meinertellidae is much earlier than the Cretaceous. We propose the possibility that Meinertellidae might have originated on Gondwana.     

Discheramocephalini,a new pantropical tribe of featherwing beetles (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae): description of new taxa and phylogenetic analysis

Abstract Two new genera and eight new species of featherwing beetles (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) possessing a remarkable horizontal perforation of the mesoventral keel are described: Skidmorella vietnamensis sp.n. (Vietnam), S. memorabilis sp.n. (Indonesia), S. serrata sp.n. (Vietnam), Fenestellidium capensis gen. et sp.n. (South Africa, type species), F. kakamegaensis sp.n. (Kenya), Cissidium okuensis sp.n. (Cameroon), Dacrysoma usambarensis gen. et sp.n. (Tanzania, type species) and D. felis sp.n. (Madagascar). A phylogenetic analysis of 24 taxa and 37 parsimony‐informative characters supports the hypothesis of a single origin of the mesoventral perforation, thus uniting Discheramocephalus, Skidmorella, Africoptilium, Fenestellidium, Cissidium and Dacrysoma into a pantropically distributed clade, for which a new tribe Discheramocephalini (type genus Discheramocephalus) is proposed. Identification keys to Discheramocephalini genera and, in some cases, to species are provided. Each new species is illustrated with scanning electron microscopy images.     

Diving ducks from the Middle Miocene of western Mongolia

Medium-sized diving ducks from the Middle Miocene of the Sharga locality (western Mongolia) are described. Sharganetta mongolica gen. et sp. nov. and Nogusunna conflictoides gen. et sp. nov. are evolutionary more advanced than the thoroughly studied Early Miocene genus Mionetta, but more primitive than Anatinae and Oxyurinae. The humeral morphology gives evidence of an aberrant position of the two new genera. Another taxon, Protomelanitta gracilis gen. et sp. nov. presumably belongs to basal Mergini.     

Four new coprophilous hyphomycetes

Four new and interesting coprophilous Hyphomycetes are described from India: (1)Sympodina coprophila gen. et sp. n. isolated from goat dung from Jaipur; this fungus produces 2-celled, brown, solitary, dry blastospores developing acrogenously at the tips of conidiophores and at their sympodially produced successive growing points; (2)Adhogamina ruchira gen. et sp. n. isolated from pony dung from Rishikesh; the fungus produces one-celled, brown, solitary, dry blastospores without longitudinal germ slit developing in basipetal order on conidiophores; (3)Bahupaathra samala gen. et sp. n. occurring on cow dung from Chakrata; the fungus produces distinct, erect, intricately branched conidiophores with fertile and sterile branches and one-celled slimy phialospores forming globose masses at the tips of characteristic collarettes; and (4)Angulimaya sundara gen. et sp. n. occurring on cow dung from Chakrata; the fungus produces erect conidiophores bearing crowded clusters of annellophores from which one-celled conidia are produced in simple dry basipetal chains. The forms are compared with related genera.     

New click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) from the cretaceous of Russia and Kazakhstan

A new tribe, two new genera, and seven new species of click beetles are described: Pollostelaterini, trib. nov., Pollostelater baissensis, gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia (Baisa locality), five new species in the genus Cryptocoelus Dolin et Nel C. sinitshenkovae, sp. nov. (Romanovka locality), C. shcherbakovi, sp. nov., C. baissensis, sp. nov., C. lukashevichae, sp. nov., C. dolini, sp. nov. (all from Baisa locality), and Turonelater giganteus, gen. et sp. nov. from the Turonian of Southern Kazakhstan (Kzyl-Dzhar locality).     

New bugs of the family Archegocimicidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from the Upper Jurassic of Mongolia

Two new genera and five new species of Archegocimicidae are described from the Upper Jurassic of the Shar-Teg locality in Mongolia: Shartegocimex rasnitsyni, gen. et sp. nov., S. distans, sp. nov., Shartegocorpus paranotalis, gen. et sp. nov., Saldonia formosa, sp. nov., S. insolita, sp. nov.     

New genera and species of Scelionidae (Insecta: Proctotrupoidea) from Rovno amber

Two new genera and three new species of parasitic wasps from the family Scelionidae are described from the Late Eocene Rovno amber: Pseudotelea gracilis Kononova, gen. et sp. nov. (subfamily Scelioninae), Pseudidris striatus Kononova, gen. et sp. nov., and Ceratobaeoides cornutus Kononova, sp. nov. (subfamily Baeinae). The new taxa are compared with representatives of the Recent fauna.     

New genera and species of Jumping Ground Bugs (Hemiptera: Schizopteridae) in Dominican and Burmese amber,with a description of a meloid (Coleoptera: Meloidae) triungulin on a Burmese specimen

New genera and species of jumping ground bugs (Hemiptera: Schizopteridae) are described in Dominican and Burmese amber. In Dominican amber are described: Hypselosoma dominicana Poinar & Brown sp. n., Schizoptera dominicana Poinar sp. n. and Schizoptera hispaniolae Poinar sp. n. In Burmese amber are described: Lumatibialis burmitis Poinar gen. et sp. n. and Hexaphlebia burmanica Poinar gen. et sp. n. A triungulin attached to the dorsum of the abdomen of Lumatibialis burmitis is described as Microentomus epibatus Poinar gen. et sp. n. in the family Meloidae (Coleoptera). This specimen represents the oldest known triungulin and the first fossil phoretic association of a triungulin and hemipteran.     

PERMIAN OSTRACODS FROM THE LERCARA FORMATION (MIDDLE TRIASSIC–CARNIAN?), SICILY,ITALY

Abstract: A rich, diverse Permian ostracod fauna has been recovered from the red and grey, laminated shales and quartz‐rich shales of the Triassic Lercara Formation. Forty‐seven species have been identified, 13 of which are newly described here; they belong to 26 genera of which three are new: Anahuacia lercaraensis sp. nov., Aurigerites siciliaensis sp. nov., Bairdia portellaensis sp. nov., Cristanaria? katyae sp. nov., Fabalicypris gruendeli sp. nov., Lethiersa salomonensis gen. et sp. nov., Lethiersia sinusoventralis gen. et sp. nov., Portella trapezoida gen. et sp. nov., Siciliella elongata gen. et sp. nov., Siciliella infernespinosa gen. et sp. nov., Siciliella prima gen. et sp. nov., Siciliella quadrata gen. et sp. nov., and Siciliella spinorobusta gen. et sp. nov. The assemblages contain or are composed of palaeopsychrospheric forms, which are regarded as index fossils for deep environments. The bathymetry of the different associations in life is evaluated.     

New Paleocene large cassiduline foraminifera (Cassidinidae fam. nov., Miscellanacea) from Egypt and its phylogeny

Larger foraminifera of the Late Paleocene–Early Eocene lower slope to toe-of-slope deposits of the southern Galala, Egypt, are described. Sulcocassidina nakkadyi n. gen. et sp. (base) and Vacuolicassidella dakhlensis n. gen. et sp. (top) represent a phylogenetic line related to the family Cassidinidae (new family), superfamily Miscellanacea (new superfamily) in the latest Paleocene (shallow benthic zone 4) of the southern Galala, Egypt. In addition, Oscucassidella cassis n. gen. et sp., Pellatispiroides youssefi n. gen. et sp. and Chordcassidella ainshamsiana n. gen. et sp. are described and illustrated. Genus: Pomerolina n. gen. (Type species: Alveolina meandrina Carter, 1861, is newly erected and it belongs to Cassidinidae. In this family, the chambers are initially arranged streptospirally, whereas in later stages they are planispirally enrolled. Lateral chamberlets (retral process) are separated from the laminae by a passage and a marginal crest is added during growth.     

Two New Genera of Baetidae (Ephemeroptera; Insecta) from Madagascar

Two new genera of Baetidae (Ephemeroptera), Scutoptilum gen. n. and Echinopus gen. n., are described to accommodate three new species from Madagascar: Scutoptilum verrucosum sp. n., Echinopus giboni sp. n., Echinopus minutus sp. n.. They all share a unique apomorphy; they possess a subapico-transverse arc of long setae on the outer margin of femora. Scutoptilum presents important adaptations to fast flowing waters and mouthparts modified for scraping. Moreover, Scutoptilum shows an unusual general habitus with a prothorax broadly expanded laterally, forewing pads extremely developed and shape of the head subrectangular. Echinopus appears less derived and possesses more plesiomorphic features. Both genera are closely related to the Afrotropical genus Afroptilum and belong to the Centroptiloides complex.     

Mandibulate chironomids: primitive or derived? (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Abstract Mandibulate functional mouthparts are reported in males and females of the two Early Cretaceous Chironomidae (Diptera): Wadelius libanicus Veltz et al., 2007 (in Tanypodinae) and Libanochlites Brundin, 1976 (transferred from the Podonominae to the Tanypodinae). Females of Haematotanypus libanicus gen.n. et sp.n. (subfamily Tanypodinae) have mandibulate mouthparts. Although currently considered as plesiomorphic structures, the presence of such mandibulate mouthparts in these Tanypodinae and in the recent Podonominae genera Archaeochlus and Austrochlus could correspond to reversals, based on a parsimony argument after the current chironomid phylogeny. On the contrary, similar mandibulate mouthparts probably are plesiomorphic in the Early Cretaceous Cretaenne kobeyssii gen.n. et sp.n. and Cretaenne inexpectata sp.n. (Aenneinae or stem group of recent Chironomidae).     

Small but not ephemeral: newly discovered species of Aphelinidae and Trichogrammatidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Eocene amber

New species of fossil Aphelinidae and Trichogrammatidae are described from middle Eocene (Lutetian) Baltic amber (41.3–47.8 Ma). A new subfamily, two new genera and three new species of Aphelinidae are described, with comments on their placement: Phtuaria fimbriae gen.n. , sp.n. in Phtuariinae subf.n. , Glaesaphytis interregni gen.n. , sp.n. and Centrodora brevispinae sp.n. These represent the first described true fossil Aphelinidae. Four new species of Trichogrammatidae are described: Mirufens illusionis sp.n. , Palaeogramma eos gen.n. , sp.n. , Pterandrophysalis plasmans sp.n. and Szelenyia terebrae sp.n. , thus expanding our knowledge of fossil Trichogrammatidae beyond the single previously described species. The presence of recognizable extant genera of Aphelinidae and Trichogrammatidae in the Eocene suggests that the morphology of these genera has been relatively invariant despite highly variable conditions during and since the Eocene. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E9AD60B6‐3D56‐4E74‐AA54‐F7B91F4FDC79 .