New psychopsoid Neuroptera from the Early Cretaceous of Baissa,Transbaikalia

Two new genera and fi ve new species of the psychopsoid Neuroptera (one of which is unnamed) are described from the Early Cretaceous locality at Baissa, Transbaikalia, Russia: Epipsychopsis fusca n. gen., n. sp., E. variegata n. sp. (Psychopsidae), Pseudopsychopsis gradata n. gen., n. sp., P. baissensis n. sp. (Brongniartiellidae), and Sophogramma sp. (Kalligrammatidae).     

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?     

Description of a new genus and two new species of Corioxenidae from Jordan (Insecta: Strepsiptera)

Abstract

Two new species of twisted-wing insects (Strepsiptera) of the family Corioxenidae, Proceroxenos jordanicus n.gen., n.sp., and Dundoxenos breviphlebos n.sp., are described from Jordan. Identification keys to the subfamilies of the Corioxenidae, the genera of the subfamily Uniclavinae, and the species of the genus Dundoxenos are provided. A list of all described species of Corioxenidae is given, including information on geographic distribution, and host species when available.     

New Middle Permian insects from Salagou Formation of the Lodève Basin in southern France (Insecta: Pterygota)

Summary

New insects are described from the Middle Permian (Guadalupian) of Salagou Formation in the Lodève Basin (Languedoc region, France). Palaeopterans are represented by new odonatopterans viz. Huangiopterum lodevense n. gen., n. sp. and Huangiopterum species B, attributed to clade Panodonata (Huangiopteridae n. fam.), already recorded through the family Saxonagrionidae in the same formation, and a diaphanopterodean Martynovia cf. halli Beckemeyer 2004 (Martynoviidae) known from the Lower Permian of Oklahoma. Archaeorthopterans are supplemented by Bethouxia ariegensis n. gen., n. sp., Paralongzhua elongata n. gen., n. sp., Lodevolongzhua incompleta n. gen., n. sp., the caloneurodean Jarmiloptera mouralensis n. gen., n. sp., and a cnemidolestodean cf. Tococladus sp. (Tococladidae). Permophyllum rotundatum n. sp. (?Tettigoniidae) demonstrates the first presence of Orthoptera with wings probably mimicking Peltaspermales reproductive organs in Late Palaeozoic possibly analogous to the known crypsis of roachoid tegmina with pteridosperm pinnules. Frequent occurrence of hardly identifiable grylloblattid wing fragments support their significant role in term of abundance and diversity of the Permian faunas. New taxa based on wing venation pattern as Genera and species undetermined A, B (Liomopteridae), Permobaharellus salagousensis n. gen., n. sp. (family uncertain), Lodevophlebia reticulata n. gen., n. sp. (Sylvaphlebiidae), Oborella lodevensis n. sp. (Euryptilonidae), and Genus and species undetermined C, were described. Paoliida is represented by a paoliid gen. et sp. indet. and three anthracoptilids Strephocladus gandi n. sp., Strephocladus mouralensis n. sp., Lodevocladus subtilis n. gen., n. sp. The first record of miomopteran Palaeomantis sp. (Paleomanteidae) from Salagou Formation is presented. Acercarian insects are represented by the first record of Thripida and diverse new hemipterans, namely Euroscytina lutevanorum n. gen., n. sp. (Cicadomorpha: Scytinopteridae), Prosbole dio n. sp., Prosbole garrici n. sp., Pervestigia cf. veteris Becker-Migdisova 1961 (Prosbolidae), Archescytina species A (Paleorrhyncha: Archescytinidae) and Permopsyllidium lesclansis n. sp. (Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea: Protopsyllidiidae). Entomofauna from the Salagou Formation demonstrate highly diverse insect communities with some taxa linked to early and late Permian ones known from assemblages in Euramerica and Russia, such as Obora (Czech Republic), Wellington Formation (Kansas and Oklahoma, USA), and Tshekarda (Ural, Russia).     

Latest occurrences of the Mesozoic family Elcanidae (Insecta: Orthoptera), in Cretaceous amber from Myanmar and Spain

Mesozoic orthopterans of the family Elcanidae are reported (as nymphs) in amber, from the latest Albian-Cenomanian of northern Myanmar and the Albian of northern Spain. Four distinct new species in two new genera occur, Burmelcana longirostris n. gen, n. sp. in amber from Myanmar and Hispanelcana arilloi n. gen, n. sp., H. alavensis n. sp. and H. lopezvallei n. sp. from Spanish amber. Detailed preservation reveals the fine structure of the tibial spurs and spines that are so distinctive to Elcanidae, as well as details of the abdominal styli, cerci, tarsomeres, and mouthparts. Elcanidae and their stem group, Permelcanidae, are known from the Early Permian to the Early Cretaceous (Aptian), so the amber fossils represent the latest known occurrence of this clade.     

The first Praesiricidae (Hymenoptera) from Northeast China

A new subfamily Rudisiricinae Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. subfam. and a new genus Rudisiricius Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. gen. with three new species R. belli Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih n. sp., R. crassinodus Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. sp., and R. celsus Gao, Rasnitsyn, Ren & Shih, n. sp. are described and illustrated from the family Praesiricidae. The type specimens were collected from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation, northeastern China. The new subfamily also includes Aulidontes Rasnitsyn from the Upper Jurassic of Karatau in Kazakhstan. This is the first record of Praesiricidae in China. These well-preserved nearly-complete new fossils reported here provide additional material and structure characters about this family, which helps filling some gap in the evolution of Lower Hymenoptera.     

New griffenfly,Bohemiatupus elegans from the Late Carboniferous of western Bohemia in the Czech Republic (Odonatoptera: Meganisoptera: Meganeuridae)

Abstract

A new griffenfly, Bohemiatupus elegans n. gen., n. sp. (Meganeuridae) is described from the Upper Carboniferous (Bolsovian) deposits of the Ov?ín near Radnice in western Bohemia (Czech Republic). The new taxon based on fore- and hindwing venation is compared with the other meganeurid genera. It is the first record of a large griffenfly from the continental basins of the Bohemian Massif supplementing the other giant insects such as Bojophlebia prokopi Kukalová-Peck 1985 or Carbotriplura kukalovae Kluge 1996 from the same strata.     

Austrini - a new tribe of Tropiduchidae planthoppers from the Eocene Baltic amber (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha)

A new tribe Austrini n. trib. of Tropiduchidae planthoppers from the Eocene Baltic amber is described to comprise Austris raffelis n. gen., n. sp. Fossils ascribed to family Tropiduchidae are discussed.     

New Tridactyloidea in Miocene amber from the Dominican Republic (Orthoptera: Caelifera)

Two new Tridactyloidea of the families Ripipterygidae and Tridactylidae are described from the Early Miocene (Burdigalian) amber of the Dominican Republic, namely: Archaeoellipes engeli n. gen., n. sp. (Tridactylidae: Tridactylinae) and Mirhipipteryx antillarum n. sp. (Ripipterygidae). These new taxa represent the fi rst record of Tridactyloidea in Dominican amber and the fi rst fossil record of Ripipterygidae, which are otherwise known only from the extant fauna.     

The first agetopanorpine mecopteroid insect from Middle Permian of China (Insecta: Mecoptera: Permochoristidae)

Sinoagetopanorpa permiana n. gen., n. sp., first Chinese Permian Agetopanorpinae, is described and compared to the other genera of this group.     

A new genus and a new species of Akicerinae (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Pamphagidae) from Libya

A new genus, Neotmethis gen. n., with a new species, Neotmethis bidentatus sp. n., from the Fezzan Province of Libya is described and illustrated. A key to the Libyan genera of the subfamily Akicerinae is provided. Some additional characters of female genitalia at generic and species level are also provided.     

Olemehlia krali,a new genus and species of Ripidiinae from Baltic amber (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae)

A new genus and species, Olemehlia krali n. g. & n. sp. (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae: Ripidiinae), is described from Baltic amber. The newly described genus is compared with all known fossil and extant closely related genera of the subfamily Ripidiinae. It is characterised by the following combination of characters: antennae consisting of 10 antennomeres, with scape, pedicel, and antennomere 3 simple and antennomeres 4–10 uniflabellate, mouthparts reduced to a small single unpaired tubercle, postocular ommatidia absent, pronotum trapezoid without grooves or impressions, elytra without white apical spots, tarsal formula 5–5–4, hind tarsomere I shorter than three remaining combined. Diversity of Ripiphoridae in Baltic amber is discussed; key to Ripidiinae genera from Baltic amber is provided.     

Preliminary notes on the genus Aeschnosoma Selys 1870 (Odonata: Anisoptera: Corduliidae s. str.)

Three new species of the genus Aeschnosoma are briefly described and illustrated. A. pseudoforcipula n. sp. and A. heliophila n. sp., both from the Brazilian Central Plateau are respectively related to the two Amazonian species A. forcipula Hagen in Selys 1871, and A. auripennis Geijskes 1970. A. louissiriusi n. sp. from Northern Brazil is not closely related to any known species. Based on larval and adult derived characters, the genus Aeschnosoma appears closely related to the Australian genus Pentathemis Karsch 1890, and also to the Madagascan genus Libellulosoma Martin 1907. The clade Aeschnosomata nov. is erected to receive the three genera. Some putative plesiomorphies would place this clade sister group of the remaining Corduliidae s.str.     

Descriptions of new Neotropical Lycoperdininae (Coleoptera: Endomychidae) and their phylogenetic placement

Two new genera and three new species of Lycoperdininae (Coleoptera: Endomychidae) from South America, are described and illustrated based on adults: Hylaperdina n. g., along with H. brevicornis n. sp. from Ecuador and H. costariciensis n. sp. from Costa Rica, and Chileanus n. g., along with C. talca n. sp. from Chile. Their most likely placement within the Lycoperdininae is discussed. A key to genera of the neotropical Lycoperdininae is provided.     

The earliest fossil schizopterid bug (Insecta: Heteroptera) in the Lower Cretaceous amber of Lebanon

The schizopterid bug Libanohypselosoma popovi n. gen., n. sp. belonging to the subfamily Hypselosomatinae is described from the Lower Cretaceous amber of Lebanon. This fossil is the earliest record of the Schizopteridae. The species is distinguished from its related taxa, a discussion is given.     

Review of subtribe Pterellina Rohdendorf, 1967 (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) of Middle East with descriptions of twelve new species

Summary

Based on a revision of large recent collections housed at the Natural History Museum (London), Tel Aviv University and in the private collection of Yu. Verves and L. Khrokalo (Kyiv, Ukraine), new distributional data and an updated list with comments of 28 species of Middle Eastern Sarcophagidae of the subtribe Pterellina are presented. Seventeen of them are recorded for Israel, 11 for Egypt, four for Iran, two each for the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and one each for Jordan and the UAE. No data are known for the territories of Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria and Yemen. Twelve species new to science are described, including nine from Israel (Chaetapodacra montana n. sp., Eremasiomyia bicolor n. sp., E. deserta n. sp., E. fuscata n. sp., Protomiltogramma bidentata n. sp., P. serrata n. sp., Pterella hermonica n. sp., P. indigens n. sp., P. zefatica n. sp.), two from Egypt (Chaetapodacra griseola n. sp., Eremasiomyia alba n. sp.) and one from Saudi Arabia (Protomiltogramma arabica n. sp.). The male of Eremasiomyia nigra Rohdendorf, 1935 is described for the first time. One new combination of specific name is proposed ? Protomiltogramma immunita (Villeneuve, 1923), n. comb. Original keys for the identification of genera and species are proposed. An annotated list of all world genera and species and compiled data on larval habits of Pterellina are included.