Discovery of the family Babinskaiidae (Insecta: Neuroptera) in mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar

The lacewing family Babinskaiidae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontoidea) is first reported in mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar. Two new genera and three new species are herein described, namely Babinskaia martinsnetoi sp. nov., Burmobabinskaia tenuis gen. et sp. nov., and Electrobabinskaia burmana gen. et sp. nov. The male and female genitalia of Babinskaiidae are described for the first time, and the genital morphology is compared with that of some related families in Myrmeleontoidea, e.g., Nymphidae and Nemopteridae. A brief discussion on the phylogenetic status of Babinskaiidae is given.     

A new gigantic lacewing species (Insecta: Neuroptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil confirms the occurrence of Kalligrammatidae in the Americas

Makarkinia kerneri sp. nov. is described from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil, based on an incomplete but very well-preserved hind wing (Neuroptera: Kalligrammatidae). The previously presumed attribution of the genus is confirmed, based on the diagnostic characters of its wing venation (e.g., dense crossvenation; the anteriorly directed branches of MP) and the presence of a distinct eye-spot on the wing. Makarkinia is the only American representative and youngest known genus of Kalligrammatidae. With an estimated wing length of 100–160 mm, it has the largest wings amongst all fossil and extant Neuroptera.     

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.     

New genera and species of the family Dipteromantispidae (Insecta: Neuroptera) from the Cretaceous amber of Myanmar and New Jersey

Three new genera and two new species, namely Burmodipteromantispa jiaxiaoae gen. et sp. nov., Mantispidipterella longissima gen. et sp. nov., and Jersimantispa gen. nov., respectively from the Cretaceous amber of Myanmar and New Jersey, are herein described in the lacewing family Dipteromantispidae, which is an enigmatic group by the mantispid-like appearance combined with strongly reduced, haltere-like hind wings. The male genitalia of Dipteromantispidae is described for the first time and provides new insight for understanding the familial phylogenetic position. A key to the dipteromantispid genera is also given.     

New taxa of unusual Dilaridae (Neuroptera) with siphonate mouthparts from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

Cretadilar olei gen. et sp. nov. and Burmopsychops groehni sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Dilaridae) are described from the Late Cretaceous (earliest Cenomanian/late Albian) Burmese amber. Their dilarid affinities are supported by two autapomorphies of the family: the reduction of the ligula and the presence of pectinate antennae in males. They are considered to belong to two new subfamilies, Cretanallachiinae subfam. nov. and Cretadilarinae subfam. nov., respectively. These subfamilies are easily distinguished from other dilarids (Dilarinae, Nallachiinae, and Berothellinae) by possessing siphonate mouthparts; however they strongly differ from each other. In particular, the broad gonocoxites 9 of Cretanallachiinae females are not fused to form a distinct ovipositor, and bear long gonostyli, whereas a distinct saber-like ovipositor (short, lacking gonostyli) is present in Cretadilarinae. It is assumed that Cretanallachiinae primarily fed on pollen and Cretadilarinae on the nectar of flowers.     

The oldest armoured harvestman (Arachnida: Opiliones: Laniatores), from Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber

The oldest laniatorean harvestman, Petrobunoides sharmai gen. et sp. nov. (Opiliones: Laniatores) is described, from the Upper Cretaceous (lowermost Cenomanian) amber of Myanmar. This is the first fossil Laniatores recovered from Southeast Asia, which is placed in the extant family Epedanidae. It is also the first fossil known within the superfamily Epedanoidea; a relatively derived clade of Laniatores restricted to Southeast Asia today. At ca. 99 Ma, this new amber inclusion is substantially older than the previous oldest record of a member of Laniatores from Baltic amber (ca. 44–49 Ma); however, given the Palaeozoic age of Laniatores implied by molecular data, the new record from Burmese amber is probably still too young for constraining or calibrating the date of cladogenesis for total group Laniatores. Nevertheless, it provides a much better constraint for Epedanoidea, adding the first useful laniatorean fossil to provide an internal calibration point for a clade of Grassatores.     

A remarkable new genus of Mantispidae (Insecta,Neuroptera) from Cretaceous amber of Myanmar and its implications on raptorial foreleg evolution in Mantispidae: A comment

Micromantispa cristata Shi et al., 2014 from Burmese amber belongs to Paraberothinae (Berothidae), not to Mantispidae.     

First record of the subfamily Archinemestriinae in the family Nemestrinidae (Diptera: Brachycera) from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber

Mesonemestrius caii gen. et sp. nov. is the first record of Archinemestriinae (Nemestrinidae) to be described from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber. Mesonemestrius caii can be attributed to the subfamily Archinemestriinae by the following characters: M₁ ending posterior to the wing tip and supernumerary crossveins absent. Mesonemestrius is characterized by M₁ bifurcating after the conjunction of M₁₊₂₊₃ and a long straight R₁. The discovery not only adds to the diversity of tangle-veined flies in Burmese amber, but also represents the youngest record of the ancient subfamily Archinemestriinae.     

A new species of Leptotarsus (Diptera: Tipulidae) from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil

Leptotarsus (sensu lato) lukashevichae sp. nov. is described and illustrated, based on a single but very well preserved female specimen from the Crato Formation of Brazil (Aptian, ca. 112 Ma). Along with other Leptotarsus species recently described from Lower Cretaceous beds of Brazil, Spain, Russia and China, this new species is among the oldest known records of the genus Leptotarsus and the family Tipulidae.     

A bizarre armoured spider (Araneae: Tetrablemmidae) from Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber

A new genus and species of tetrablemmid spider, Electroblemma bifida n. gen. et sp., is described, from two adult males found in Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) amber of Myanmar. The genus is distinguished by its enormous dorsal carapace projection and highly modified chelicerae. The new genus is referred to the tribe Tetrablemmini within the subfamily Tetrablemminae. The presence of a relatively derived tetrablemmid on the south-east Eurasian continent during the Late Cretaceous suggests that the family was already well diversified in tropical rainforests at this time.     

First fossil Coloninae from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera: Staphylinoidea: Leiodidae)

Fossil leiodids are sparse, and they are confined to the Cenozoic. Here we describe and illustrate the first definitive Mesozoic leiodid, Colonellus burmiticus sp. nov., based on two well-preserved adults from the Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber. The fossil is firmly placed in the extant Coloninae based on multiple synapomorphies, such as antennae with normal-sized antennomere 8 and abdominal intersegmental membranes with “brick-wall” pattern. It can be further assigned to the extant genus Colonellus (subgenus Pentacolonellus) by its five-segmented antennal club. The discovery suggests that Colonellus is an ancient group, originating no later than the mid-Cretaceous.     

Enormously long,siphonate mouthparts of a new,oldest known spongillafly (Neuroptera,Sisyridae) from Burmese amber imply nectarivory or hematophagy

Paradoxosisyra groehni gen. et sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) is described from Upper Cretaceous (lowest Cenomanian) Burmese amber as the oldest known sisyrid. The new genus is assigned to the new subfamily Paradoxosisyrinae, which is characterized by enormously long siphonate mouthparts, very long and slender hind legs, several setiferous calluses on the head and pronotum; deeply forked CuP and AA1 veins in the forewing; a complete inner gradate series of crossveins, and the RP vein with five branches in the hind wing. The greatly lengthened, laterally flattened galea and lacinia, and the labial ligula transformed into a long acute stylet are characteristic of only this species and do not occur in other insects. These siphonate mouthparts were likely used primarily to feed on flower nectar. The possibility remains, however, that the species was hematophagous (possibly facultative), feeding on the hemolymph of arthropods or the blood of such thin-skinned vertebrates as frogs.     

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.     

A new genus and species of polypore fungus beetle in Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera,Tetratomidae, Eustrophinae)

A new polypore fungus beetle is described and figured from an individual preserved in Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian, ca. 99 Ma) amber from northern Myanmar. Cretosynstrophus archaicus gen. et sp. nov. is confidently placed in the extant subfamily Eustrophinae based on its elongate oval body and pronotum with two basal, sublinear impressions. It shares several characters belonging to two Recent tribes (Eustrophini and Holostrophini), but it cannot be attributed to either of them. Together with other tetratomid genera from the Cretaceous, the new discovery implies that the Recent small family Tetratomidae is much more diverse and more widespread than previously documented. In addition, a morphological similarity between Cretosynstrophus and extant Synstrophus suggests a similar fungi feeding habit for Cretosynstrophus, highlighting an ancient association between tetratomid beetles and fungi in the Mesozoic.     

A new genus and species of soldier beetle from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera,Cantharidae, Malthininae)

A new Upper Cretaceous genus and species of soldier beetles, Archaeomalthodes rosetta gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated from an individual preserved in Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian, ca. 99 Ma) amber from northern Myanmar. It is undoubtedly placed in extant subfamily Malthininae based on its small-sized body, somewhat abbreviated elytra and fusiform terminal maxillary palpomere, representing the oldest documented occurrence of Malthininae. It suggests that this subfamily is an ancient group, which originated at least in the earliest Late Cretaceous. Our discovery sheds light on the palaeodiversity of Cantharidae in the Late Mesozoic. Together with other previously reported fossil cantharids, it is likely that Malthininae has been fairly diverse during the early evolution of Cantharidae. On the other hand, a morphological similarity between Archaeomalthodes and Recent malthinines and the occurrence of flowering plants in the Burmese amber implies a potential flower-visiting behaviour of this fossil species.     

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 Late Cretaceous genus and species of polypore fungus beetles (Coleoptera,Tetratomidae) from northern Myanmar

A new polypore fungus beetle is described and illustrated, under the name of Thescelostrophus cretaceus gen. et sp. nov., representing the first documented occurrence of the tribe Eustrophini. The well-preserved specimen was collected from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian, ca. 99 Ma) amber near the Hukawng Valley of northern Myanmar. This fossil species can be assigned to the extant subfamily Eustrophinae based on its elongate oval and strongly narrowed posteriorly body, simple and narrow tarsi, and somewhat clubbed antennomeres. The comparison among the extinct and extant eustrophines supports the previous hypothesis that antennal morphology of early eustrophines was very diverse. Additionally, an overall similarity between Thescelostrophus and extant eustrophines suggests a potential fungivory of this fossil species. Morphological characters preserved in the Burmese amber highlight the diversity of tetratomids during the Late Mesozoic and provide data for future phylogenetic studies of Tetratomidae.     

The first Mesozoic palmetto beetle (Coleoptera: Smicripidae) in Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber

Fossil smicripid beetles are very rare. Here we describe and figure the first Mesozoic representative of Smicripidae. Smicrips cretacea sp. nov., a new species belonging to the extant Smicrips LeConte is preserved in the Upper Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar. Our discovery suggests that Smicrips is an ancient group, originating at least in the earliest Late Cretaceous. Together with other two fossil Smicrips species from the Eocene of Europe, it reinforces the hypothesis that the Recent distribution of Smicripidae is relict, and the family was more widespread in the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic than it is in the Recent.     

An unusual new lineage of sawflies (Hymenoptera) in Upper Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar

A peculiar new lineage of sawflies (‘Symphyta’) is described and figured from a female beautifully preserved in Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) amber from northern Myanmar. Syspastoxyela rhaphidia Engel and Huang, gen. et sp. nov., shares many plesiomorphic features with the primitive Xyelidae, 2Xyelotomidae, and 2Xyelydidae such as enlarged and thickened first flagellomere succeeded by a series of thinner and shorter flagellomeres, absence of a transverse mesoscutal sulcus, multiple preapical spurs, and two protibial spurs among other traits. However, the new lineage has an apomorphically contracted forewing venation, lacks a subcostal vein, has a single marginal cell, and lacks crossvein 1r-rs, and thus it is segregated into a new family, Syspastoxyelidae Engel and Huang, fam. nov. The phylogenetic affinities of the new family are discussed and a position near Pamphilioidea or Pamphilioidea + Unicalcarida is advocated.