New earwig nymphs (Dermaptera: Pygidicranidae) in mid-Cretaceous amber from France

A new genus and species of earwig is described and figured from Early Cretaceous (Latest Albian-Earliest Cenomanian) amber of southwestern France. The holotype was studied using traditional light microscopy as well as through propagation phase contrast X-ray synchrotron microtomography, rendering high resolution three-dimensional models for critical examination. Gallinympha walleri Perrichot & Engel, new genus and species, is represented by two late instar nymphs missing only portions of the abdomen, as well as most of the head for the paratype. The genus is a member of the Pygidicranidae, one of the most basal of living earwigs, and is distinguished from other taxa in the family. A thorough account of the specimen’s morphology is provided along with a detailed comparison with similar structures across a diversity of primitive earwig lineages.     

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.     

A new genus and species of Praeaulacidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea) from Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber

A new fossil praeaulacid wasp, Habraulacus zhaoi gen. et sp. nov., is described and figured from Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber. The new genus is established based on the following characters: mesosoma stout, metasoma elongated ellipse with the first metasomal segment very thin and tubular (like a petiole), forewing with pterostigma long and narrow, and both veins Rs+M and 1m-cu very long, forming a long cell 1mcu. Species of Praeaulacidae demonstrate a distinct evolutionary trend, which consists of miniaturization, venational reduction and enlargement of pterostigma, and reduction of number of the antennal segments from the Jurassic to Cretaceous. However, except for the miniaturization, this hardly concerns Habraulacus.     

New pelecinid wasps (Hymenoptera: Pelecinidae) from Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber

A new genus with a new species, Brachypelecinus euthyntus gen. et sp. nov., and two new species, Abropelecinus tytthus sp. nov. and Zoropelecinus periosus sp. nov., are described and figured from three exquisitely preserved pelecinid wasps in the Upper Cretaceous Myanmar (Burma) amber. These taxa, owing to their well-preserved characters in amber, provide a better understanding of morphological changes and relationships among the constituent groups, while further highlighting the diversity of Pelecinidae in the Mesozoic.     

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.     

Cretaceous moths (Lepidoptera: Micropterigidae) with preserved scales from Myanmar amber

Two new species of Micropterigidae, Sabatinca cretacea sp. nov. and Sabatinca limula sp. nov. are described from the Upper Cretaceous Myanmar (Burmese) amber (99 Ma). Based on exquisitely preserved specimens with clear morphological characters and detailed structure of scales, the diagnosis of Sabatinca perveta is emended. Our new findings support that scales have developed various types and shapes by the Cretaceous. The extinct Sabatinca species represent a separate group that may be a transitional group from Australian lineage to extant Sabatinca.     

A new genus of Tanyderidae (Insecta: Diptera) from Myanmar amber,Upper Cretaceous

A new genus and species, Similinannotanyderus lii gen. et sp. nov., is described from Myanmar amber. It differs from other genera of Tanyderidae based on special characters of wing venation and male genitalia. This new taxon broadens the diversity of Tanyderidae in the Cretaceous, and its morphological characters enhance our understanding of the development and evolution of the primitive crane flies.     

The earliest pygidicranid (Insecta: Dermaptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of China

A new earwig genus with a new species, Cylindopygia falcata gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on two well-preserved, nearly complete female specimens from the Lower Cretaceous, Yixian Formation in Huangbanjigou, Liaoning Province, China. C. falcata is assigned to Pygidicranidae mainly due to the following characters: head obtuse-triangular with posterior margin straight, abdomen robust, subcylindrical and densely setose, and femora compressed and carinate. The new finding represents the earliest fossil record of Pygidicranidae and the first record of Pygidicranidae in China.     

Two new species of Archipseudophasmatidae (Insecta: Phasmatodea) from Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber

Two new stick insect nymphs, Pseudoperla scapiforma sp. nov. and Pseudoperla leptoclada sp. nov. in Archipseudophasmatidae of Phasmatodea, are described from the Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber. Compared to Pseudoperla gracilipes Pictet & Berendt, 1854, the two new species have the following differential characters: flagellomeres significantly elongated, metanotum rectangular and median segment longer than metanotum. Furthermore, the mesonotum of Pseudoperla leptoclada sp. nov. is rectangular and considerably longer than pronotum vs. mesonotum is quadrate and slightly shorter than pronotum in P. gracilipes. In addition, a slight curvature in the profemora indicates the Cretaceous evolutionary origin of this important character of Euphasmatodea. These two new taxa not only broaden the diversity of Archipseudophasmatidae, but also dated this family back to the Upper Cretaceous.     

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.     

A new twisted-wing parasitoid from mid-Cretaceous amber of Myanmar (Strepsiptera)

A second Mesozoic twisted-wing parasite (Strepsiptera) is described and figured based on an exceptionally well-preserved male in mid-Cretaceous (Cenomanian) amber from northern Myanmar. Phthanoxenos nervosus Engel and Huang, gen. et sp. nov., is distinguished from other strepsipteran lineages, particularly the contemporaneous Cretostylops engeli Grimaldi and Kathirithamby, also in Burmese amber, and Protoxenos janzeni Pohl et al. in mid-Eocene Baltic amber, and assigned to a new family, Phthanoxenidae Engel and Huang, fam. nov. Phthanoxenos exhibit features indicative of a more primitive phylogenetic position than Cretostylopidae but still more derived than Protoxenidae. Brief remarks are made on the geological history of the Strepsiptera.     

New beaded lacewings (Neuroptera: Berothidae) from Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber

Two new genera with two new species in Berothidae, Maculaberotha nervosa gen. et sp. nov. and Magniberotha recurrens gen. et sp. nov., are described from Upper Cretaceous Myanmar (Burmese) amber. Based on the new specimens of the same species, we propose some venational characters as intraspecific variations, e.g., the markings on the wings and crossveins in the radial sector. We also study and compare the female genital sclerites from three genera of Haploberotha, Dasyberotha, and Jersiberotha to highlight the importance of using these characters preserved in amber for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies. Furthermore, an updated key to the berothid genera of Myanmar amber is provided.     

A new reticulated beetle (Coleoptera: Cupedidae) with aedeagus preserved from mid-Cretaceous amber of Myanmar

A rare archaic beetle, Barbaticupes combertiae n. gen. n. sp. (Insecta: Coleoptera: Archostemata: Cupedidae) is described from mid-Cretaceous burmite from northern Myanmar. This beetle's distinctive form includes dense setae (small hairs) and protuberances on the head and merging rows of window cells on the elytra (wing cases). It is the first true or typical reticulated beetle (cupedine) to be found in Burmese amber displaying male genitalia.     

New species of Limoniidae (Diptera) from Myanmar amber,Upper Cretaceous

A new species of Dicranoptycha Osten Sacken, 1860, Dicranoptycha plicativa sp. nov., and a unassigned species are illustrated and described from Myanmar (Burmese) amber (lowermost Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous). A complete list of fossil species of the genus Dicranoptycha is summarized. In addition, an updated key to the known fossil species of the Dicranoptycha is provided.     

A new genus of silken-fungus beetle (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae) from the Spanish Cretaceous amber

The Cretaceous new species and genus Albocryptophagus cantabricus gen. et sp. n. is described based on a fossil specimen from the El Soplao amber deposit (Spain). The new genus is similar to the extant genera Cryptophagus and Micrambe, but differs from them in the transverse pedicel, anterior angles of pronotum, pronotal margin unmodified, pronotal pits absent. Albocryptophagus gen. n. is undoubtedly the most ancient representative for the subfamily Cryptophaginae described up today. Because the saproxylic habits in recent species of the family, a similar behavior is inferred for this new fossil. It is a new example that agrees with the idea that fossil beetles from Mesozoic ambers are characterized by a saproxylic lifestyle.     

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

Micromantispa cristata gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Cretaceous amber of Myanmar. This is the smallest mantispid. Its raptorial forelegs are relatively slender, bearing dense spines and setae on femora and tibia. The first tarsal segment has two long spines on the dorsal apical, which is newly observed in the family. The morphological diversity of the prothorax and raptorial forelegs in Mantispidae through the geological history are discussed.     

A putative twisted-wing parasitoid planidium (Insecta: Strepsiptera) in Taimyr Upper Cretaceous amber

A planidium is newly recorded from Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) amber of the Taimyr Peninsula, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Siberia. This peculiar fossil is tentatively attributed to the order Strepsiptera, representing the first record of this lineage from these deposits. Planidia of a similar conicocephalate form are known from the slightly younger amber of western Canada (Campanian) as well as in the earlier (Cenomanian) amber of Myanmar, and comparisons are made with those fossils, as well as with living Strepsiptera and the beetle family Ripiphoridae (Tenebrionoidea). Given recent debate concerning the strepsipteran attribution of these planidia, we provide some discussion about the available and expected character evidence, and tend to believe assignment to Ripiphoridae is untenable. While placement with Strepsiptera remains difficult to state conclusively, the current limited evidence still tends to prefer the strepsipteran hypothesis.     

The first Oriental protorhyssaline wasp (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): A new genus and species in Upper Cretaceous amber from Myanmar

The exclusively Cretaceous braconid wasp subfamily Protorhyssalinae is reported from the Upper Cretaceous deposits of northern Myanmar. Archaeorhyssalus subsolanus Engel, gen. et sp. nov., is represented by a well-preserved female in Burmese amber and is similar to other protorhyssalines, but differs in numerous details of forewing venation and flagellomere number. This species is the first definitive Oriental occurrence for protorhyssalines, expanding their palaeogeographic distribution from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain, and the Upper Cretaceous of France and New Jersey, USA. A key to the known genera of protorhyssalines is provided.     

Further records of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Myanmar)

A new biting midge Archiculicoides andersoni sp. nov. from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber is described and illustrated. An unknown male of Leptoconops myanmaricus Szadziewski, 2004 is described and an undetermined female of the genus Archiaustroconops and Austroconops in the collection of National Museums Scotland is reported. A key for the determination of 10 named species in 6 genera of biting midges reported from Burmese amber is also provided.