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.     

Paleorhodococcus dominicanus n. gen., n sp. (Actinobacteria) in a faecal droplet of Triatoma dominicana (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) in Dominican amber

Paleorhodococcus dominicanus n. gen., n sp. (Actinobacteria) is described from a faecal droplet of Triatoma dominicana (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) in Dominican amber. The fossil can be distinguished from the species of the closely related extant genus Rhodococcus Zopf 1891 by its spherical–ellipsoidal cocci forming substrate filaments with elementary branching, the clustering of coccoidal elements, the short filaments bearing reduced side branches and its occurrence in a faecal droplet of the extinct triatomine bug, P. dominicanus. This is the first fossil record of an Actinobacter, which shows that these organisms formed symbiotic associations with insects by the mid-Tertiary.     

Vetuformosa buckleyi n. gen., n. sp. (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae; Vetuformosinae n. subfam.), a new subfamily of mayflies in Early Cretaceous Burmese amber

A new subfamily, genus and species of mayflies, Vetuformosa buckleyi n. gen., n. sp. (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae; Vetuformosinae n. subfam.), are described as the first representative of the family Baetidae from Early Cretaceous Burmese amber. The female fossil is characterised by unusually long antennae, two pairs of gonostyli representing a primitive appendiculate ovipositor, sensory patches on sternites 8, 9 and 10, protuberances on the egg chorion and the absence of a costal projection on the hind wing. This is the first documentation of such long antennae and a primary ovipositor in the Ephemeroptera.     

Predatory behaviour of the social orb-weaver spider,Geratonephila burmanica n. gen., n. sp. (Araneae: Nephilidae) with its wasp prey,Cascoscelio incassus n. gen., n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in Early Cretaceous Burmese amber

The present work shows predatory behaviour of the social orb-weaver spider, Geratonephila burmanica n. gen., n. sp. (Araneae: Nephilidae) against a parasitic wasp, Cascoscelio incassus n. gen., n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in Early Cretaceous Burmese amber. An adult male and juvenile of G. burmanica in the same web provide the first fossil evidence of sociality in spiders. The spider is characterised by a pedipalp with a hemispherical tegulum, a subtegulum curved at 180°and an apical spiralled embolas-conductor bent approximately 45°at midpoint. The male wasp is characterised by an ocellar tubercle, 12-segmented antennae with a feeble five-segmented clava, thick sensilla trichodea curvata with rounded ends on the claval antennomeres, a short uncus, a short post-marginal vein and a nebulose radial sector (Rs) vein extending from the uncus to the costal margin of the forewing. This is the first fossil evidence of spider sociality and a fossil spider attacking prey trapped in its web.     

Allopsoroptoides galli n. g., n. sp., a new genus and species of feather mites (Acari: Analgoidea: Psoroptoididae) causing mange in commercially raised domestic chicken in Brazil

A new feather mite, Allopsoroptoides galli n. g., n. sp. (Psoroptoididae: Pandalurinae), is described from the domestic chicken, Gallus gallus (Linnaeus) (Galliformes: Phasianidae), from Brazil. This is the first record of a representative of the feather mite family Psoroptoididae from an avian host of the order Galliformes. The new genus is closely related to the genus Cygnocoptes Fain & Bochkov, 2003 but clearly differs from the latter and all other genera of the family by the loss of four median pairs of hysteronotal setae (c1, d1, e1, and h1) in both sexes and by the unique shape of the male opisthosoma. Instead of the bilobate opisthosoma, the male opisthosoma in this genus has a narrow and long median projection, ending with a pair of semi-ovate terminal lamellae. These mites were first detected during a mange outbreak in several commercial poultry facilities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.     

Macrosiagon deuvei n. sp. (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae) from the French Eocene amber

Macrosiagon deuvei n. sp., the second fossil representative of this extant genus of Ripiphoridae: Ripiphorinae: Macrosiagonini is described from the lowermost Eocene amber of Oise (France). The new species is compared with the extant species of the genus. Taxonomic position of other two fossil representatives of the family described from France by Perrichot et al. (2004) is discussed. The genus Paleoripiphorus Perrichot et al. 2004 is tentatively transferred from Ripiphorinae to Ripidiinae.     

Discovery of the genus Suhpalacsa Lefèbvre (Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae: Ascalaphinae) in Japan, with description of a new species

Suhpalacsa iriomotensis sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae: Ascalaphinae), is described from Iriomotejima Island, Japan. This new species can be easily distinguished from other species of the genus by the unique ventrolateral prominences of the male ectoproct. This is the first record of the genus Suhpalacsa from Japan. The morphology of the male ectoproct and the monophyly of Suhpalacsa are discussed briefly.     

Palerasnitsynus gen. n. (Trichoptera, Psychomyiidae) from Burmese amber

Palerasnitsynus ohlhoffigen. et sp. n. is described fromBurmese amber of late Albian (Lower Cretaceous) age. This is the first record of the family Psychomyiidae from Burmese amber, and the earliest fossil record of the family. The genus Palerasnitsynusgen. n. differs from all other known psychomyiid genera by the absence of fork III in the forewings.     

Euzetia occultum n. g., n. sp. (Euzetiinae n. subf.), a monocotylid monogenean from the gills of Rhinoptera neglecta (Rhinopteridae) from Moreton Bay,Queensland, Australia

Euzetia occultum n. g., n. sp. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) is described from the gills of the Australian cownose ray Rhinoptera neglecta Ogilby collected in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. Euzetia has one central and ten peripheral loculi, which is similar to species in Decacotyle Young, 1967. However Euzetia is distinguished from other genera in the family by the presence of an additional loculus on either side of the central loculus. Because Euzetia does not fit into any of the six existing subfamilies in the Monocotylidae Taschenberg, 1879, as currently recognised, we propose the Euzetiinae n. subf. to accommodate the new genus. Euzetia occultum is described and illustrated fully. This is the first published record of a monocotylid from a species of Rhinoptera Cuvier.     

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     

Empruthotrema dasyatidis n. sp. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) from the olfactory sacs of Dasyatis fluviorum (Rajiformes: Dasyatidae) from Moreton Bay,Queensland

The monocotylid monogenean Empruthotrema dasyatidis n. sp. is reported from the olfactory sacs of the brown stingray, Dasyatis fluviorum Ogilby, 1908, from Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. This is the first record of Empruthotrema from the family Dasyatidae. E. dasyatidis n. sp. differs from other species of Empruthotrema by possessing eye pigment, which may be scattered, and by its small size. The generic diagnosis for Empruthotrema is amended.     

A new genus of mantidflies discovered in the Oriental region,with a higher‐level phylogeny of Mantispidae (Neuroptera) using DNA sequences and morphology

A remarkable new genus and two new species of Mantispidae (Neuroptera) are described from the Oriental region. Allomantispa Liu, Wu, Winterton & Ohl gen.n. , currently including A. tibetana Liu, Wu & Winterton sp.n. and A. mirimaculata Liu & Ohl sp.n. The new genus is placed in the subfamily Drepanicinae based on a series of morphological characteristics and on the results of total evidence phylogenetic analyses. Bayesian and Parsimony analyses were undertaken using three gene loci (CAD, 16S rDNA and COI) combined with 74 morphological characters from living and fossil exemplars of Mantispidae (17 genera), Rhachiberothidae (two genera) and Berothidae (five genera), with outgroup taxa from Dilaridae and Osmylidae. The resultant phylogeny presented here recovered a monophyletic Mantispidae with ?Mesomantispinae sister to the rest of the family. Relationships among Mantispidae, Rhachiberothidae and Berothidae support Rhachiberothidae as a separate family sister to Mantispidae. Within Mantispidae, Drepanicinae are a monophyletic clade sister to Calomantispinae and Mantispinae. In a combined analysis, Allomantispa gen.n. was recovered in a clade comprising Ditaxis McLachlan from Australia, and two fossil genera from the Palaearctic, ?Promantispa Panfilov (Kazakhstan; late Jurassic) and ?Liassochrysa Ansorge & Schlüter (Germany; Jurassic), suggesting a highly disjunct and relictual distribution for the family. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:464B06E8‐47E6‐482E‐8136‐83FE3B2E9D6B .     

Diplocoelus probiphyllus n. sp., the first known fossil False Skin Beetle (Coleoptera: Biphyllidae)

The first fossil species of the family Biphyllidae LeConte 1861, Diplocoelus probiphyllus n. sp., is described from Baltic amber. This species, which shows intermediate characters of antennae, sculpturing and pubescence between Diplocoelus Guérin-Ménéville 1844 and Biphyllus Dejean 1821, also suggests the presence of temperate mixed forests and a climate cooler than it has been until today hypothesised for Baltic Amber.     

New insect host records for mites of the family Microdispidae (Acari: Heterostigmatina), with description of a new species of the genus Paramicrodispus

The mite Paramicrodispus scarabidophilus Hajiqanbar and Rahiminejad sp. nov. (Acari: Prostigmata: Microdispidae) is described and illustrated based on phoretic females recovered from Oryctes nasicornis L. (Col.: Scarabaeidae) hosts, which were collected from forests in northern Iran. It is the first record of the genus Paramicrodispus for the mite fauna of Iran. We also found Paramicrodispus crenulatus (Savulkina, 1978) associated with Lucanus ibericus Motschulsky (Col.: Lucanidae), the first report of association between beetles of the family Lucanidae and the mite family Microdispidae. Moreover, for the first time we report an association between beetles of the family Scarabaeidae and Paramicrodispus mites.     

Melogonimus rhodanometra n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Ptychogonimidae) from the elasmobranch Rhina ancylostoma Bloch & Schneider (Rhinobatidae) from the southeastern coastal waters of Queensland,Australia

The new genus Melogonimus is defined and adults of its type-species, M. rhodanometra n. sp., are described from Rhina ancylostoma from Moreton Bay, Queensland. This is the first record of a digenean from this host species. It is argued that metacercariae from the portunid crab Portunus pelagicus from Hervey Bay, off Queensland, belong to M. rhodanometra. The definition of the family Ptychogonimidae is amended, and a key to its two genera is given. Melogonimus is characterised by a smooth genital atrium wall, a large sinus-organ, a large muscular seminal vesicle, a weakly developed pars prostatica, a pre-testicular uterus and confluent post-testicular vitelline fields.     

Phylogeny of ensign scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Ortheziidae) based on the morphology of Recent and fossil females

The Ortheziidae (ensign scale insects) is a morphologically well‐defined family. The morphology and occurrence in the fossil record suggests a probable early origin of the family in scale insect evolution. The present phylogenetic analysis – based on 69 morphological characters of female ortheziids, using 39 exemplar Recent species – provides the first analytical assessment of relationships among living genera of the family, as well as the relationships of eight fossil species, based on complete, well‐preserved specimens in amber. Monophyly of the subfamilies Newsteadiinae, Ortheziinae and Ortheziolinae is supported, but Nipponortheziinae is found to be paraphyletic by inclusion of the Ortheziolinae. Thus, the subfamily Ortheziolinae is reduced in rank to tribe Ortheziolini stat.n. , which now includes Matileortheziola Kozár & Foldi, Ortheziolacoccus Kozár, Ortheziolamameti Kozár and Ortheziola?ulc. Consequently, the tribes Matileortheziolini, Ortheziolacoccini and Ortheziolamametini are synonymized ( syn.n. ) here under Ortheziolini. Five new species and one new genus of fossil ensign scales are described from three amber deposits: Burmorthezia gen.n. with type species Burmorthezia kotejai sp.n. and also B. insolita sp.n ., both in mid‐Cretaceous Burmese amber (98 Ma) and Arctorthezia baltica sp.n. in Eocene Baltic amber (c. 43 Ma) based on second‐instar nymphs; Mixorthezia kozari sp.n . and M. dominicana sp.n . in Miocene Dominican amber (c. 17 Ma) based on adult females. Fossil placements are unambiguous, with Burmorthezia forming a stem to crown‐group (Recent and Tertiary) Ortheziidae. A summary of described fossil ortheziids is provided.     

Burmaphlebia reifi gen. et sp. nov., the first anisozygopteran damsel-dragonfly (Odonata: Epiophlebioptera: Burmaphlebiidae fam. nov.) from Early Cretaceous Burmese amber

A new family, genus and species of damselfly, Burmaphlebia reifi gen. et sp. nov. (Burmaphlebiidae fam. nov.), is described as the second fossil odonate from Early Cretaceous Burmese amber. Its phylogenetic position is discussed and the fossil is attributed to a new family at the base of the anisozygopteran grade, probably closely related to the Recent relict group Epiophlebiidae. It is the first record of the ‘anisozygopteran’ grade from amber and the smallest known representative of this group.http://zoobank.org/6EFE7288-BD89-42F9-BFA5-804CE6B904A6     

Early Cretaceous origin of pollen‐feeding beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Oedemeridae)

The taxonomic position of a new pollen‐feeding fossil beetle from Spanish amber (late Albian, 105 Ma) is analysed. A phylogenetic analysis allows me to accommodate Darwinylus marcosi gen. et sp. nov. in the Polyphaga: Oedemeridae within current limits for the family, which clearly belongs in the subfamily Oedemerinae. It corresponds to the oldest definitive record for the family. Some autapomorphies, mainly in antennae, are observable in the fossil compared with extant members of the family. A discussion about these problematic characters and the evolution of the family is proposed.