A new genus of Scoliidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of northeast China

A new genus and species of Scoliidae (Hymenoptera), Sinoproscolia yangshuwanziensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Inner Mongolia, China and attributed to the subfamily Proscoliinae. Some characteristics, including complete crossveins 1r-rs and 2r-m in the forewing, and a free section present in almost all longitudinal veins indicate a basal position of the new genus in Proscoliinae. The presence of vein 2A suggests its atavistic origin in Sinoproscolia gen. nov. rather than a true plesiomorphy.     

The first moth lacewing (Insecta: Neuroptera: Ithonidae) from the mid-Cretaceous amber of Myanmar

The lacewing family Ithonidae is reported from the mid-Cretaceous amber of Myanmar for the first time. A new genus and species, Burmithone pennyi gen. et sp. nov., is herein described based on an almost completely preserved female specimen. The new genus exhibits a number of remarkable forewing characters, such as the proximal branches of RP vein fused with the MA vein and the peculiar configuration of MP and CuA. The systematic position of Burmithone gen. nov. is briefly discussed in comparison with other genera of Ithonidae.     

A new family of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) in mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber

A new family of aphids, the Isolitaphidae fam. nov. (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea), is described for the new genus and species, Isolitaphis prolatantennus gen. et sp nov., in mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Burma). The new species is compared with previously described Mesozoic Aphidoidea, including members of the families Parvaverrucosidae and Burmitaphididae that were described earlier from Myanmar amber. The new taxon can be separated from all previously described extant and extinct Aphidoidea by its 10-segmented antenna, the presence of an ovipositor, siphons, a three-branched M vein and forked C vein. The new species adds to the morphological diversity of Mesozoic Aphidoidea.     

The discovery of a new family Sunopteridae fam.nov.(Insecta: Protorthoptera) from Shaanxi Province,China

The fossil specimens discussed in this paper were collected from the grayish green mudstone and shale in the upper part of Lower Member of Middle Triassic Tongchuan Formation (T2t) in Shaanxi Province, China. Venationary feature correlation with old families and taxonomic discussion show that, among them, one specimen can be assigned to a new family - Sunopteridae fam. nov., which includes a new genus and species and can be referred to Order Protorthoptera Handlirsch, 1906 in taxonomic position, thus belonging to a new member of the Tongchuan Entomoassemblage of Shaanxi Entomofauna (belonging to Shaanxi Biota). The discovery of the new family and its new genus and species has certain reference values as follows: ① The discovery of the new family and its new genus and species fills firstly the vacancy in the protorthopterous field of China; ② In the meantime, it fills also the gaps of the valuable Middle Triassic protorthopterous fossil specimens between Late Carboniferous and Late Triassic Epochs in the world; ③ Judging from venationary features and taxonomic position, especially in the course of the formation of the merged vein of M and Cu, it formed a new unique and particular style of merged vein M+Cu. It not only is unique and simple, but also can be distinguished from the above mentioned 10 old families, thus providing important taxonomic evidence.     

A new genus and species of aphids,Tanyaulus caudisetula gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea: Burmitaphidae) in mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber

A new genus and species of aphids, Tanyaulus caudisetula gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea: Burmitaphidae), is described from mid- Cretaceous Myanmar amber. Autapomorphies for the new genus are stub-like hind wings, 7-segmented antenna, long rostrum equal to body length, 4 veins departing from the main vein, cubital veins distinctly separated, with a very short, curved basal proximal cubitus, one-branched M vein with distal fork arched at the base, distinct claval folds at wing bases and caudal protuberance with extended setae. The new fossil adds to our knowledge of the morphological diversity of Mesozoic Aphidoidea.     

The first Surijokocixiidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) from the Triassic of China

A planthopper originally assigned to the genus Boreocixius in Surijokocixiidae (Surijokocixioidea, Fulgoromorpha) from the Ladinian (Middle Triassic) of Tongchuan in Shaanxi, northwestern China is described as Boreocixius tongchuanensis Zhang et al. sp. nov. As the third species ascribed to the genus, it differs from its congeners in having the much larger tegmen with postnodal veinlets and pigmented bands, providing new morphological information for Boreocixius. The establishment of the new species further increases the diversity of Boreocixius and Surijokocixiidae as well.     

Mongolocypris kohi sp. nov.: A new Early Cretaceous non-marine ostracod species from the Jinju Formation,South Korea

A new non-marine ostracod Mongolocypris kohi sp. nov. is described from the upper Lower Cretaceous Jinju Formation of the Gyeongsang Basin, South Korea. This new species was described as Cypridea (Pseudocypridina) spp. by previous authors, but the typical rostrum shape, inconspicuous alveolar notch, the lack of alveolar ridge and the elongate limen are features that this species has in common with the genus Mongolocypris Szczechura, 1978. M. kohi sp. nov. is characterized by a reduced rostrum, the presence of a faint alveolar furrow and a slightly curved limen. This new species is considered an ‘early form’ of the genus Mongolocypris by its reduced rostrum and the faint alveolar furrow.     

Pseudorhapydionina bilottei sp. nov., an endemic foraminifera from the post-Cenomanian/Turonian boundary (Pyrenees,NE Spain)

A new species of the foraminiferal genus Pseudorhapydionina is reported from the Santonian shallow-water carbonate and mixed deposits of La Cova Unit, in the Montsec and Pedraforca thrust sheets (Southern Pyrenees, NE Spain). Pseudorhapydionina bilottei sp. nov. differs from the Cenomanian species of the genus in its larger test size and the number of chambers in its early planispiral-involute stage. The discovery of P. bilottei sp. nov in the Santonian indicates that the genus Pseudorhapydionina escaped extinction during the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary (CTB) event in the Pyrenean bioprovince. A new subfamily Pseudorhapydionininae is described.     

The extant genus Eutheia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae) discovered in Upper Cretaceous Taimyr amber

The Eutheiini includes over 90 extant species classified in seven genera and distributed predominantly in the Northern Hemisphere. So far only one extinct genus and species unambiguously placed in this tribe has been known, Archeutheia, from Albian of Spain. We report the discovery of Eutheia, a member of the largest extant genus of Eutheiini, in Santonian of northern Siberia. Extant species of Eutheia are primarily defined on the basis of male genital characters, and the specimen discovered in Taimyr amber is a female; consequently it is described as Eutheia sp. The new finding remarkably extends the known range of Eutheiini during Cretaceous over the area of about 6 thousand kilometers, from the Iberian Plate to northern Siberia. A long morphological stasis in Eutheia suggests that this genus was associated with stable mesic microhabitats of the upper soil layers or rotten wood for at least 83 my.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Scombroclupea occidentalis</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Clupeiformes,Teleostei) from the Cenomanian (Cretaceous) Plattenkalk deposits of NE Mexico

A new species of the clupeid genus Scombroclupea is described from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Plattenkalk locality “Loma la Mula” in Coahuila, northeastern Mexico. The material provides new osteological data for the genus, which clarify its systematic position. The Mexican Scombroclupea points to an occurrence of the genus in the western Tethys and indicates a vicariant event between S. macrophthalma from Lebanon and Croatia and the new species described herein. The analysis of the functional morphology of Scombroclupea supports the reconstruction of an oscillatory locomotion mode in this genus.     

Another amber first: A tiny tetraphalerin beetle (Coleoptera: Archostemata) in Myanmar birmite

A new tetraphalerin beetle, Tetraphalerus lindae sp. nov. (Insecta: Coleoptera: Archostemata) is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber from northern Myanmar. This is the first species of this Jurassic-recent genus of archaic beetles to be described from amber inclusions, and is the first tetraphalerin cupedid from Burmese amber. This small, unusual Cretaceous Tetraphalerus is considered to belong to the T. bruchi species group of this now relict South American genus.     

陕西秦岭东部地区中生代钼、铜矿床时空分布规律、控矿因素及找矿潜力分析

陕西秦岭东部地区中生代钼、铜矿床成矿类型齐全,有斑岩型、斑岩-矽卡岩型、矽卡岩型、石英脉型和碳酸岩脉型。钼矿床主要分布在小秦岭地区,有向西秦岭过渡和向南秦岭延伸的趋势;铜矿床主要分布在南秦岭地区。除碳酸岩脉型钼矿床外,这些钼、铜矿床多与花岗质小岩体具有密切的成因联系,不受容矿地层的限制,成矿时代主要集中在晚三叠世—早侏罗世和晚侏罗世2个阶段,与共生岩体的成岩时代多数相同,个别相差在10 Ma内。赋矿岩体多受近EW向与NE向或NW向断裂构造交汇部位的控制,与钼矿床有关的成矿岩体显示高硅(w(Si O2)71%)、高钾(K2O/Na2O1)、中铁(w(TFe)=0.13%~2.45%)特征,而与铜矿床有关的岩体相对低硅(70%w(Si O2)62%)、中钾(K2O/Na2O0.88)、高铁(w(TFe)=1.9%~4.8%)。矿石、岩体和地层的S、Pb、Sr、Nd同位素组成显示,除晚三叠世碳酸岩脉型和石英脉型钼矿的成矿物质来源于Ⅰ型富集地幔外,早侏罗世—晚白垩世斑岩-矽卡岩型及石英脉型钼、铜矿成矿物质以壳幔混源为主,但铜矿比钼矿具有更多的幔源物质。地质和地球化学特征指示,南秦岭和北秦岭地区有形成斑岩型铜、钼矿床的有利条件,也有不利因素,不利因素导致南秦岭和北秦岭地区浅部不易形成大型斑岩铜、钼矿床,但形成小-中型铜、钼矿床的潜力大。     

A new genus and species of pygidicranid earwigs from the Upper Cretaceous of southern Asia (Dermaptera: Pygidicranidae)

A third genus and species of fossil pygidicranid earwigs from Burmese amber is described and figured as Stonychopygia leptocerca Engel, Huang, Thomas, and Cai, gen. et sp. nov. (type species of Stonychopygia Engel and Huang, gen. nov.; Stonychopygiinae Engel and Huang, subfam. nov.). Stonychopygia have features similar to the subfamily Echinosomatinae such as the combination of shorter, subequal second and third flagellomeres and femora that are neither compressed or keeled. However, the new fossil species differs from echinosomatines in many details, particularly the slender form, head longer than wide, slender scape, slender and elongate forceps, and absence of stout, short bristles over the integument. The new fossil is compared with its contemporaneous and modern relatives, and comments are provided regarding the classification of Pygidicranoidea, with the genus Haplodiplatys Hincks removed from Diplatyidae to Haplodiplatyidae Engel, fam. nov.     

First fossil insect from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber in Syria (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Lebanoculicoides bloudani a new species of Ceratopogonidae from the Lower Cretaceous ambers of Syria and Lebanon is studied. The new species is characterized, described, illustrated, and compared with the other fossil taxa of the same extinct genus. A key to the species of the genus Lebanoculioides is proposed.     

Burmadysagrioninae,a new subfamily (Odonata: Zygoptera: Dysagrionidae) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

A new subfamily, Burmadysagrioninae Zheng, Wang and Nel, subfam. nov., for the genus and species Burmadysagrion zhangi Zheng, Wang and Nel, gen. et sp. nov. is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. This is the third dysagrionid damselfly from the Mesozoic and the second one from Burmese amber. The new specimen has a unique discoidal cell with the anterior and posterior sides not parallel, and the basal side longer than the distal side, unlike the typical ‘sieblosiid-dysagrionine’ type. It differs from other dysagrionid damselflies by the presence of a simple wing venation, the vein IR1 originating below the pterostigma and a special discoidal cell.     

An interesting new species of Sisyridae (Neuroptera) from the Upper Cretaceous Taimyr amber

Prosisyrina sphinga sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) is described from Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Taimyr amber of northern Siberia (Yantardakh locality). The new species is preliminary assigned to this Cretaceous genus, mainly based on character states of the maxillary palpus and the hind wing vein M and crossvein 1r-m, and the presumable absence of tibial false spurs. However, the structure of the costal space and the RP branching in the hind wing indicate that it may belong to a new, closely related genus. The discovery of this second species from the locality might suggest that sisyrids were usual members of the Santonian riparian biocenoses of northern Siberia.     

A new afrograptid (Diplostraca: Estheriellina) from the Lower Cretaceous of southern England

The Family Afrograptidae is a ‘conchostracan’ group with multiple radial costae reaching to the umbo on their carapaces. It comprises four described genera: Afrograpta, Camerunograpta, Congestheriella and Graptoestheriella with a total of thirteen described species which are occasionally reported from the Jurassic and the Cretaceous in Africa, Europe and South America (i.e. Afrograpta from the Upper Cretaceous of Cameroon; Camerunograpta from the Jurassic to Cretaceous of Cameroon; Congestheriella from the Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous of the Congo Basin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Venezuela and Argentina; and Graptoestheriella from the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous of Brazil). A new genus and a new species, Surreyestheria ockleyensis gen. et sp. nov., belonging to the Family Afrograptidae from the Lower Cretaceous (lower Barremian) Upper Weald Clay Formation of Ockley Village, Surrey County, southern England is described in this paper. The new genus mainly differs from the other four genera by the special reticulate ornamentation on its carapace. It indicates that the Family Afrograptidae was more diverse and more widely distributed in the late Mesozoic than previously supposed. Afrograptidae is a special branch of Estheriellina the latter originating in the late Palaeozoic and the former in the early Mesozoic. Afrograptids, as a whole had been widespread across Pangea in the Early Jurassic.     

The earliest Attagenus species (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Attageninae) from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber

A new species belonging to the extant dermestid genus Attagenus, Attagenus burmiticus sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on a well-preserved specimen from the Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber. The discovery suggests that Attagenus is an ancient group, originating as early as in the mid-Cretaceous. Along with another species of Attagenus known from the Upper Cretaceous New Jersey amber, it implies that Attagenus were widespread in the Mesoozic.     

Taxonomy and stratigraphy of Early Cretaceous species of Debrunia Masse and Fenerci-Masse (Hippuritida,Monopleuridae) of the Mediterranean region

The genus Debrunia is characterized by its myophoral organisation: the left valve posterior myophore is an erect plate, the anterior is a bulge or a crest, myophores of right valve are on shell wall, the ligament groove is inconspicuous and the cardinal apparatus tends to be shifted posteriorly. Shell habit varies from low conical to elongated cylindrical, and the shape of the left valve ranges from capuloid to flat. The taxonomic revision of Debrunia species of the Mediterranean regions reveals the presence of thirteen species, among which seven are described as new. Multiple Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis document the existence of five groups of species in correspondence with the height of the left valve and the commissural diameter. The longevity of Debrunia is high, 32 Myr, whereas its species have shorter durations which account for a significant biostratigraphic potential within the Valanginian–Albian time span. Debrunia has its FO (First occurrence) in the lower Valanginian and its LO (Last occurrence) in the Albian. Its developmental phase starts in the Hauterivian, marked by an increasing species diversity and a biogeographic expansion; and peaks in the late Barremian, followed by a collapse in diversity and a specific turnover, coeval with the “Agriopleura extinction event”. The mid-Aptian crisis is expressed by a drastic decline in species diversity, controlled by the overall restriction or demise of carbonate platforms in European regions. As elevators, Debrunia species tend to build dense monospecific aggregations and some of them possess a remarkable bioconstructional potential. The contribution of Debrunia to rudist communities is significant throughout the history of the genus.