A new genus of nemonychid weevil from Burmese amber (Coleoptera,Curculionoidea)

The first fossil nemonychid (Nemonychidae) in Burmese amber, belonging to the subfamily Rhinorhynchinae, is described and figured as Burmonyx zigrasi Davis & Engel, gen. n. and sp. n. While this specimen also comprises the first definitive record of the subfamily in the Asian continent, other compression fossils exist at least from the Yixian Formation of China and the Karatau site of Kazakhstan which may also deserve placement within this group. Although several important areas of the body are obscured by the shape and fragmented condition of the amber piece, a sufficient number of features are visible to consider adequate placement within Rhinorhynchinae, including the fairly strongly punctate elytral striae and appendiculate, nearly bifid pretarsal claws.     

New Apioninae (Coleoptera: Brentidae) in Dominican amber

The following new species of Apioninae weevils (Coleoptera: Brentidae) are described from Dominican amber. Toxorhynchus leptorhinusn. sp., Toxorhynchus robustusn. sp., Toxorhynchus amphioculusn. sp., Toxorhynchus atriartusn. sp., Toxorhynchusatriantenusn. sp. and Toxorhynchus hispaniolicusn. sp. are members of the Toxorhynchus decoloratum species group. Toxorhynchus microsomusn. sp., Toxorhynchus stenelytrusn. sp., Toxorhynchus dominicanusn. sp., Toxorhynchus convexusn. sp., Toxorhynchus fuscocorpusn. sp., Toxorhynchus hispidulusn. sp. and Toxorhynchus convexoculusn. sp. are members of the Toxorhynchus sordidum species group. A new subtribe, Stenapiina n. subtribe of the tribe Toxorhynchini, is erected. New species Apionion homochrononn. sp.,Apionion kallimosumn. sp.,Apionion formoculusn. sp. and Stenapion levigatumn. sp. are described. The dominate species of the genus Toxorhynchus and especially those in the Toxorhynchus decoloratum and Toxorhynchus sordidum species groups in Dominican amber are now absent from the West Indies. A systematic update of extant representatives of Apioninae in Hispaniola is provided.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2D4A59DB-E804-4B45-8773-C027A8AD5A02     

New species of the subfamily Cossoninae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Dominican amber

The following new genus and seven new species of Cossonine weevils (Curculionidae: Cossoninae) are described from Dominican amber: Acamptus exilipes Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to A. rigidus), Caulophilus camptus Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to C. bennetti), Caulophilus elongatus Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to C. swensoni), Caulophilus ruidipunctus Poinar and Legalov, n. sp., Dryotribus pedanus Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to D. amplioculus), Ogygius obrieni Poinar and Legalov, n. gen., n. sp. (similar to the genus Apotrepus), and Stenotrupis pumilis Poinar and Legalov, n. sp. (similar to S. breviscapus). A key to the Dominican amber species of the genus Caulophilus is provided. Based on the extant weevil fauna, it appears that the Hispaniolan Cossonine were more diverse in the Tertiary than at present. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:14D1CFC0-4967-4D22-888B-0DE3E157D6BD     

Pleurambus strongylus n. gen., n. sp. (Coleoptera: Belidae) in Dominican amber

A new genus and species of belid weevils, Pleurambus strongylus Poinar and Legalov, n. gen., n. sp. (Coleoptera: Belidae) in the tribe Allocorynini is described from Dominican amber. Belid fossils are quite rare and the new species is the first fossil member of the family from the Neotropics. This discovery suggests that belid diversity in Hispaniola during the Tertiary was higher than at present since no extant belids have been reported from the West Indies.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DF79FF39-634D-4BD7-AD0B-F5FB3BBE1081     

New species of the subfamily Conoderinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Dominican amber

Eulechriops argyrosoman. sp. (Curculionidae: Conoderinae: Lechropini) and Geratozygops platysoman. sp., Geratozygops stenosoman. sp. and Geratozygops arsinotusn. sp. (Curculionidae: Conoderinae: Zygopini) are described from Dominican amber. The small size, nearly parallel sides of the pronotum and silvery sheen distinguish Eulechriops argyrosoma from extant members of the genus, which have not been recorded from Hispaniola. Size and rostral and pronotal characters separate the three Geratozygops species from the single species (Geratozygops atropos) previously described from Dominican amber.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:89BC7F43-6C1A-4A6A-839B-CE94C7F6F140     

New species of the genera Dryophthorus Germ. and Stenommatus Woll. (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) in Dominican amber

A new species of Dryophthorus and two new species of Stenommatus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) are described from Dominican amber. Dryophthorus microtremus n. sp. is characterised by monochrome dorsal scales, nearly parallel sides of the pronotum, wide elytral intervals and the elytral apex only slightly narrowed. Stenommatus tanyrhinus n. sp. is characterised by an elongate rostrum 4.5 times as long as wide in the middle. S. leptorhinus is characterised by small body size, a thin rostrum 3.0 times as long as wide in the middle, wide striae and a narrow prosternal process. This brings the total number of species of Dryophthorini in Dominican amber to five, which is more than half the number of extant species.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4329D0DA-57BD-4CEA-9464-ABD5D1577FC9     

New and little known weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from the Paleogene and Neogene

A new tribe, Palaeorhopalotriini Legalov, n. tribe, new genera, Electranthribus Legalov, n. gen. (type species: Electranthribus zherikhini n. sp.), Palaeorhopalotria Legalov, n. gen. (type species: Palaeorhopalotria neli n. sp.), Eoceneithycerus Legalov, n. gen. (type species: Eoceneithycerus carpenteri n. sp.), Succinorhynchites Legalov, n. gen. (type species: S. alberti n. sp.), Palaeophelypera Legalov, n. gen. (type species: Palaeophelypera kuscheli n. sp.) and Archaeocallirhopalus Legalov, n. gen. (type species: A. larssoni n. sp.) and new species, Electranthribus zherikhini Legalov, n. sp. (Anthribidae: Anthribinae: Zygaenodini) from Baltic amber, Succinometrioxena bachofeni Legalov, n. sp. from Baltic amber, Palaeorhopalotria neli Legalov, n. sp. (Belidae: Oxycoryninae: Allocorynitae) from Alès-Monteils, Upper Eocene, Eoceneithycerus carpenteri Legalov, n. sp. (Ithyceridae: Ithycerinae) from USA Lower Eocene, Succinorhynchites alberti Legalov, n. sp. (Rhynchitidae: Rhynchitini: Perrhynchitina) from Baltic amber, Ceutorhynchus succinus Legalov, n. sp. (Curculionidae: Baridinae: Ceutorhynchini) from Baltic amber, Palaeophelypera kuscheli Legalov, n. sp. (Entiminae: Hyperini: Cepurina) from Baltic amber, and A. larssoni Legalov, n. sp. (Entiminae: Cneorhinini alaeophelypera) from Baltic amber are described. Isotheinae Scudder 1893, n. syn. is synonymised to the tribe Rhynchitini Gistel, 1848. Trichapiina Alonso-Zarazaga 1990, n. syn. is synonymised to the subtribe Toxorhynchina Scudder 1893. Phialodes durus (Heer 1865), n. placem. and n. comb. is transferred from the genus Attelabus Linnaeus, 1758 to the genus Phialodes Roelofs, 1874.     

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.     

Two new species of the genus Rhynchitobius Sharp, 1889 (Coleoptera: Rhynchitidae) in Dominican amber

New species of rhynchitid weevils, Rhynchitobius tanyrhinus n. sp. and R. xuthocolus n. sp. (Coleoptera: Rhynchitidae) in the tribe Auletini are described from Dominican amber. The former species is characterized by a long rostrum, narrow pronotum and elytra, rugose elytral intervals and distinct elytral striae. The latter species has a short rostrum, wide antennal club, yellow legs, non-rugose elytral intervals and weak elytral striae. The present study describes the first representatives of the family Rhynchitidae from Dominican amber.     

Electraesalopsis beuteli gen.& sp.nov., the first lucanid beetle from the Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea)

The first stag beetle found in Cretaceous Myanmar amber,Electraesalopsis beuteli Bai,Zhang & Qiu gen.& sp.nov.,is described and illustrated on the basis of one well-preserved specimen.This specimen provides more detailed morphological characters compared with compression fossils,e.g.the highly setose antennae and the punctured elytra.However,the systematic position of the new genus is still questionable and we provisionally place it as Lucanidae incertae sedis.In addition,the discovery ofElectraesalopsis Bai,Zhang & Qiu gen.nov.also indicates that there is very high biodiversity in Burmese amber.The new discoveries in future studies on Burmese amber will provide more information and improve our knowledge of biogeography and early evolution of the Lucanidae.     

Paleoleishmania proterus n. gen., n. sp., (Trypanosomatidae: Kinetoplastida) from Cretaceous Burmese amber

A trypanosomatid (Trypanosomatidae: Kinetoplastida) associated with a blood-filled female sand fly in Cretaceous Burmese amber, is described in the new genus and species, Paleoleishmania proterus. The genus Paleoleishmania is established as a collective genus for digenetic fossil trypanosomes associated with sand flies. Amastigotes, promastigotes and paramastigotes are described. Paleoleishmania proterus is the first fossil kinetoplastid and provides a minimum age for the digenetic Trypanosomatidae. Its discovery indicates that vector-borne pathogens had been established by the Early Cretaceous.     

A new weevil genus of the tribe Metrioxenini (Coleoptera: Belidae) in Eocene Baltic amber

A new genus, Succinometrioxena n. gen., and a new species, S. poinari n. sp. (Metrioxenini: Oxycoryninae), are described from Baltic amber. This new genus resembles the recent genus Wallacexena Legalov, 2009 but differs from it by the frons with horn-like tubercles on either side, the absence of a middle pronotal carina, teeth on the side of the pronotum, the anterior margin of the pronotum lacking teeth and two long carinae on the elytra. From the fossil genus Paltorhynchus Scudder, 1893 the present fossil differs by possessing a frons with horn-like tubercles on either side, the absence of a middle pronotal carina, teeth on the sides of the pronotum, two long carinae on the elytra and short temples. From the fossil genus Archimetrioxena Voss, 1953, the new genus differs by the frons with horn-like tubercles on either side, the absence of the two truncated elytral carinae, the sides of the pronotum with teeth, short temples and a larger body size.     

The first cupedine beetle from Burmese amber (Coleoptera: Cupedidae)

A rare archaic beetle, Mallecupes qingqingae gen. et sp. n., (Insecta: Coleoptera: Archostemata: Cupedidae) is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. It shows affinity with Paracupes found in South America today and ‘Paracupes’ found in North America during the Cretaceous. Archostemata are diverse in Burmese amber.     

Doratomantispa burmanica n. gen., n. sp. (Neuroptera: Mantispidae), a new genus of mantidflies in Burmese amber

A new genus and new species of mantidflies, Doratomantispa burmanica n. gen., n. sp. (Neuroptera: Mantispidae), is described from Burmese amber. Diagnostic characters of the new genus are small body size, trichosors present around entire wing margin except basally, protarsus 5-segmented with paired, simple claws but no aroleum, profemur bearing six cuticular spines, inner surface of protibia with row of peg-like protrusions, Sc meets R₁ in region of pterostigma, costal space greatly narrows toward wing apex, with 16 veinlets in costal space on front wing while costal veinlets on hind wing are replaced by trichosors and CuP absent in hind wing. The abdomen of the mantidfly is filled with large spheres resulting from a possible rickettsial infection. Phoretic heterostigmatid mites are adjacent to the wings of the fossil.     

New species of bark beetles from the Rovno amber (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Two new species of bark beetles are described from the Late Eocene Rovno amber. Xylechinus mozolevskae sp. nov. (Hylesininae: Tomicini) is the first fossil representative of this genus, differing from recent species in having large triangular scales along the suture. Taphramites rovnoensis sp. nov. (Scolytinae: Dryocoetini) differs from the closest species, T. gnathotrichus from Baltic amber, in the presence of short thin hairs on the elytra.     

Fossil history of Mesozoic weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea)

Abstract The first synopsis of Mesozoic weevils (Curculionoidea: Coleoptera) is presented. Changes of family, genera and species abundance during the Mesozoic revealed three distributional patterns. The Jurassic (Karatau) fauna was dominated by the Nemonychidae. During the Early Cretaceous (beginning at the Jurassic/Cretaceous border), the Ithyceridae was the prevalent group with a significant role played by the Nemonychidae. In the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian and Turonian), the major groups were the Curculionidae and Brentidae. Obviously, the change of weevil fauna during this period was due to the expansion of the angiosperms, which provided multiple niches in their vegetative and reproductive organs for weevil development.     

New Nemonychidae,Brentidae and Curculionidae (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from the Turonian of Kzyl-Dzhar (Kazakhstan)

Five new genera, Turononemonyxn. gen. (type species: Turononemonyxsamsonovin. sp.) (Nemonychidae: ? Cretonemonychinae: ? Cretonemonychini), Falsotanaosn. gen. (type species: Falsotanaos convexusn. sp.), Pretanaosn. gen. (type species: Pretanaosocularisn. sp.), Longotanaosn. gen. (type species: Longotanaosrasnitsynin. sp.) from Brentidae: Apioninae: Tanaini) and Turonerirhinusn. gen. (type species: Turonerirhinuskaratavensisn. sp.) from Curculionidae (Erirhininae: Erirhinini), and seven new species, Falsotanaosconvexusn. sp., Paratanaos samsonovin. sp., Pretanaos ocularisn. sp., Longotanaos rasnitsynin. sp., Turonerirhinus karatavensisn. sp., Turonerirhinuspunctatusn. sp. and Turonerirhinus poinarin. sp., are described from Kzyl-Dzhar locality (Kazakhstan, Upper Cretaceous, Turonian).http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:13E0316E-C229-471A-90AA-2D71253B12F9