New species of fossil oribatid mites (Acariformes,Oribatida), from the Lower Cretaceous amber of Spain

Mites are relatively common and diverse in fossiliferous ambers, but remain essentially unstudied. Here, we report on five new oribatid fossil species from Lower Cretaceous Spanish amber, including representatives of three superfamilies, and five families of the Oribatida. Hypovertex hispanicus sp. nov. and Tenuelamellarea estefaniae sp. nov. are described from amber pieces discovered in the San Just outcrop (Teruel Province). This is the first time fossil oribatid mites have been discovered in the El Soplao outcrop (Cantabria Province) and, here, we describe the following new species: Afronothrus ornosae sp. nov., Nothrus vazquezae sp. nov., and Platyliodes sellnicki sp. nov. The taxa are discussed in relation to other fossil lineages of Oribatida as well as in relation to their modern counterparts. Some of the inclusions were imaged using confocal laser scanning microscopy, demonstrating the potential of this technique for studying fossil mites in amber. A table, including all the known Mesozoic oribatid mites preserved in amber, is included.     

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.     

Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the Early Cretaceous El Soplao amber (N Spain)

Three new species, Lebanoculicoides excantabris, Archiaustroconops borkenti, and Atriculicoides szadziewskii are described from the Early Cretaceous (early Albian) El Soplao amber deposit (Rábago, Cantabria, northern Spain). Protoculicoides skalskii Szadziewski and Arillo, found in the other Albian Spanish ambers from Peñacerrada I (in Burgos) and San Just (in Teruel), and Austroconops sp., are identified from this new outcrop. The find of a new species of Lebanoculicoides Szadziewski is especially significant since this genus is considered the basalmost known among ceratopogonids. To date, the new species of Atriculicoides Remm is the oldest occurrence for this genus. A general review of the taxonomy and phylogeny of the family Ceratopogonidae, and the palaeoecological significance and palaeogeographic distribution of its basalmost lineages are given. The new data extend knowledge about biting midges during the Early Cretaceous, a key period for understanding the phylogenetic relationships of the ancient members of the family.     

Serphitid wasps in Early Cretaceous amber from Spain (Hymenoptera: Serphitidae)

The diversity of serphitid wasps (Proctotrupomorpha: Serphitoidea) in Early Cretaceous (Albian) amber from Spain is described. Four new species have been found representing the genera Serphites Brues 1937, Aposerphites Kozlov and Rasnitsyn 1979, and Microserphites Kozlov and Rasnitsyn 1979. From the Peñacerrada I (Moraza) outcrop two species are described as Aposerphites angustus Ortega-Blanco, Delclòs, Peñalver and Engel, new species and Serphites lamiak, new species. A single species was found at the San Just (Teruel) outcrop and is described as S. silban, new species. Another single specimen was found in El Soplao (Cantabria) outcrop, described as Microserphites soplaensis, new species. This last specimen is especially interesting in sharing typical serphitid and mymarommatoid characters, giving additional support to the apparent close relationship of both groups.     

Molecular composition and chemotaxonomic aspects of Eocene amber from the Ameki Formation,Nigeria

The molecular composition of fossil resin from the Eocene Ameki Formation, southern Nigeria has been analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and thermochemolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to determine the structural class and botanical source of the resin. The pyrolysis products were dominated by bicyclic products derived from regular labdatriene structure and lacked succinic acid indicating Class Ib type amber. The biomarker compositions in the pyrolysates are dominated by sesquiterpenoids of the cadinane and bisabolane classes that are common constituents of higher plants and labdane type diterpenoids. The exclusive presence of labdane type diterpenoids and the absence of higher plant triterpenoids strongly suggest that the amber was derived from a gymnosperm (conifer) botanical source. This observation contrasts with the angiosperm source previously suggested for the resin based on the palaeobotanical studies of the host sediments. The specific family source within the conifers could not be ascertained based on the molecular composition of the resin. However, the presence of methyl-16,17-dinor-callitrisate pointed to the Cupressaceae family although other Cupressaceae biomarker indicators were not detected in the resin.     

A new amber deposit from the Cretaceous (uppermost Albian-lowermost Cenomanian) of southwestern France

A Cretaceous amber deposit has recently been discovered in a quarry of Charente-Maritime (southwestern France), at Cadeuil. This paper presents the sedimentary and palaeoenvironmental settings of the uppermost Albian-lowermost Cenomanian series including the amber deposit. A preliminary analysis of the amber samples reveals diverse fossil arthropods (a few mites and at least 20 insect families within 9 orders), as well as numerous micro-organisms, mainly algae and mycelia. A myceloid colony of bacteria, a flagellate algae and four especially well preserved insects are illustrated (Diptera Dolichopodidae, Diptera Chironomidae, Hymenoptera Parasitica, and Heteroptera Tingidae). The abundance of the limnic micro-organisms is discussed in terms of bloom events. Their relative scarcity in almost all the amber pieces containing fossil arthropods is attributed to differences in the origin of resin: production along trunk and branches for amber with arthropods; production by aquatic roots for amber rich in algae. The absence of pollen and spores in amber is attributed to differences in the respective periods of resin and palynomorph production, which may be related to a seasonal climate during the Albian-Cenomanian transition in Western Europe.     

A new tribe,new genus,and new species of Mordellidae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea) from the Early Cretaceous amber of Spain

The new tribe Mediumiugamiini (Coleoptera: Polyphaga: Tenebrionoidea: Mordellidae) is described based on Mediumiuga sinespinis gen. et sp. nov. It is a fossil beetle from Albian (Early Cretaceous) amber from the Peñacerrada I outcrop (Spain). It is the first Spanish beetle described in amber. The mesotibiae and mesotarsi bearing multiple dorsal–lateral ridges, running oblique, metatibiae without any dorsal or dorsal–lateral ridge, only showing a subapical ridge, and metatibiae without apical spurs, define the new tribe. A key for worldwide tribes of Mordellinae, including Mediumiugamiini, is provided. Evolution of some characters of Mordellidae along Cretaceous is discussed.     

New Eoptychoptera (Insecta: Diptera,Ptychopteridae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain

A new species, Eoptychoptera cantabrica sp. nov. is described from the Albian El Soplao amber-bearing deposits based on a single male with an elongated proboscis, unknown among extant members of Ptychopteridae. It represents the youngest record of the species-diverse genus Eoptychoptera. A pupa of Eoptychoptera sp. with a long respiratory horn, typical of extant ptychopterids, is described from Las Hoyas limestones, where adult fossil ptychopterids have yet to be discovered. A key to species of Eoptychoptera, based on wing venation, and a distribution map of Cretaceous Ptychopteridae are provided. The climatic preferences and mouthparts of Mesozoic and recent Ptychopteridae are discussed.     

Cuticle ultrastructure of Pseudofrenelopsis gansuensis: Further taxonomical implications for Cheirolepidiaceae

A study of the cheirolepidiaceous conifer Pseudofrenelopsis gansuensis from the Lower Cretaceous of Wangqing Jilin Province in China was conducted in detail using scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques. In total, nine ultrastructural features were recognized for the cuticle of this fossil plant, which are helpful in the distinguishing between cuticles of ordinary epidermal cells, subsidiary cells, guard cells and hypodermal cells of the stomatal apparatus. A three dimensional reconstruction of the cuticle ultrastructure was obtained. Pseudofrenelopsis gansuensis is the second species of this genus for which the cuticle ultrastructure has been statistically examined with 30 measurements and estimated confidence interval values. The close comparison of the cuticle ultrastructure characters, including statistical data, among Cheirolepidiaceae and other fossil conifers provides potential evidence of the taxonomic significance of this genus: ten characters are potentially valuable for specific separation, eleven parameters for generic separation and three parameters seem also to be useful for Family determination. The differences in the chemical composition according to preliminary statistical element analyses of the cuticles based on three ratios in two species of Pseudofrenelopsis, P. dalatzensis and P. gansuensis, should also be examined in future studies.     

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.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987115300050

The intense study of coleopteran inclusions from Spanish(Albian in age) and French(Albian-Santonian in age) Cretaceous ambers,both of Laurasian origin,has revealed that the majority of samples belong to the Polyphaga suborder and,in contrast to the case of the compression fossils,only one family of Archostemata,one of Adephaga,and no Myxophaga suborders are represented.A total of 30 families from Spain and 16 families from France have been identified(with almost twice bioinclusions identified in Spain than in France);13 of these families have their most ancient representatives within these ambers.A similar study had previously only been performed on Lebanese ambers(Barremian in age and Gondwanan in origin),recording 36 coleopteran families.Few lists of taxa were available for Myanmar(Burmese) amber(early Cenomanian in age and Laurasian in origin).Coleopteran families found in Cretaceous ambers share with their modern relatives mainly saproxylic and detritivorous habits in the larval or adult stages,rather than wood-boring behavior.Fifteen of the coleopteran families occur in both the Lebanese and Spanish ambers;while only five are present in both Spanish and French.Considering the paleogeographic proximity and similarity of age of the Spanish and French ambers,the small number of taxa found in common at both areas is surprising.The ancient origin for the Lebanese and Spanish ambers,the paleogeography(including some barriers for terrestrial biota) and the local paleohabitats are factors that may explain the dissimilarity with the French specimens.Wildfires are believed to be a more likely cause of resin production during the Cretaceous than infestation by beetles.Current knowledge of the beetle species found in the Cretaceous ambers is introduced.     

Biting midges of the extinct genus Protoculicoides Boesel from Lower Cretaceous amber of San Just,Spain and new synonymy in recently described fossil genera (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

We describe two new species of extinct biting midges in the fossil genus Protoculicoides: Protoculicoides hispanicus Szadziewski and Arillo, sp. nov. and Protoculicodes sanjusti Szadziewski and Arillo, sp. nov., from Albian (101–113 Ma) amber of San Just, Spain. Atriculicoides Remm, 1976 is recognized as a new junior synonym of Protoculicoides Boesel, 1937 (NEW SYNONYM). Devalquia Choufani et al., 2013 is regarded here as a new junior synonym of the extant genus Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (NEW SYNONYM). Metahelea roggeroi Choufani et al., 2013 from Upper Cretaceous French amber, is excluded from the tribe Heteromyiini and placed in the extant genus Stilobezzia Kieffer, 1911, tribe Ceratopogonini: Stilobezzia roggeroi (Choufani et al., 2013), comb. nov. The extinct tribe Atriculicoidini Szadziewski, 1996 is regarded as a new subfamily, Atriculicoidinae, stat. nov., that includes the fossil genus Protoculicoides, with 13 species reported from Albian, Turonian, Cenomanian, Coniacian, Santonian and Campanian ambers (78–113 Ma). Protoculicoides skalskii Szadziewski & Arillo, 1998 from Lower Cretaceous amber of Álava, Spain, Protoculicoides succineus Szadziewski, 1966 from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber and Protoculicoides burmiticus Szadziewski & Poinar, 2005 from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber are transferred to the extinct genus Archiculicoides Szadziewski, 1996, comb. nov. Protoculicoides krzeminskii Choufani et al., 2014 from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber is transferred to the extinct genus Archiaustroconops Szadziewski, 1996, comb. nov. The Cretaceous subfamily Atriculicoidinae forms an unresolved trichotomy with the extant subfamilies Forcipomyiinae and Dasyheleinae, both of which date to the Eocene. The fossil record indicates that wings with macrotrichia in biting midges evolved during the mid-Cretaceous greenhouse climate. We suggest that this was an evolutionary adaptation to new atmospheric conditions with higher levels of CO₂ in order for the antennal Johnston's organs of males to receive the vibrational sex signals produced by females during flight.     

First boganiine beetle in mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar (Coleoptera: Boganiidae)

Cretoboganium gei gen. et sp. nov., a new amber inclusion of the cucujoid family Boganiidae is described and figured based on a well-preserved adult from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (Hukawng Valley, northern Myanmar), some 99 million years ago. Based on the presence of a pair of pronotal callosities, Cretoboganium can be firmly placed in the extant subfamily Boganiinae, a small group currently comprising two small austral genera. Our discovery represents the first fossil record for Boganiinae. It also demonstrates another example that an apparently austral group may have its sister group occurred in today’s northern hemisphere. Together with the other fossil boganiid known from the Middle Jurassic of China, the finding suggests that Boganiidae is an ancient and relict group. Moreover, the present biogeographic distribution of Boganiinae is indicative of an earlier origin of this subfamily, which likely originated before the breakup of the Gondwanan supercontinent.     

The first water measurers from the Lower Cretaceous amber of Spain (Heteroptera,Hydrometridae, Heterocleptinae)

Two fossils belonging to a new genus and species of water measurer (Gerromorpha, Hydrometridae), Alavametra popovi Sánchez-García and Nel gen. n., sp. n., are described as first definitive record of the family in Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) amber from the Utrillas Group (Peñacerrada I site) in Spain. Although several parts of the specimens are obscured due to preservation, a sufficient number of taxonomical characters are visible to consider adequate placement within Heterocleptinae, including the very long posterior pair of cephalic trichobothria inserted on tubercles and the preapical articulation between the first and second antennal segments. The new fossil taxon is included into a cladistic analysis with extinct and extant hydrometrids, and it results putatively basal among the subfamily Heterocleptinae, suggesting that this clade was already present 105 Ma ago.     

新疆乌恰早白垩世孢粉植物群及其环境意义

基于新疆乌恰地区下白垩统克孜勒苏群51属77种孢子花粉化石的研究,建立了研究区早白垩世早期和晚期两个孢粉植物群。早期孢粉植物群以裸子植物松柏纲松杉目为主,包括掌鳞杉科、松科、罗汉松科、南美杉科和杉科;晚期孢粉植物群的主要成员与早期孢粉植物群基本一致,不同的是掌鳞杉科植物含量大幅度下降。根据孢粉植物群的特征,探讨了该区早白垩世古生态、古气候、沉积环境及古地理意义。研究结果表明乌恰地区早白垩世气候属于亚热带干燥或半干燥型,早期气候温暖干燥,晚期气候暖热半干燥。孢粉学资料显示乌恰地区早白垩世孢粉植物群成员多样,既有来自山地的松杉目植物,又有生长于沼泽湿地的苔藓植物,反映了当时古地理景观复杂多样、植物群落地理分布有明显的垂直分带现象。     

Spinning with the dinosaurs: the fossil record of spiders

When most people hear the word 'fossil' they tend to conjure up images of giant dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex or shelled marine invertebrates. Prior to the Hollywood blockbuster movie Jurassic Park , which was based on recreating dinosaurs through extracting their DNA from fossil mosquitoes preserved in amber, few non-palaeontologists would entertain the notion that small, soft-bodied organisms such as insects occur in the fossil record. However, insects and spiders are common as fossils in amber, where they are often preserved with life-like fidelity, and they also occur to a lesser degree in carbonate rocks.     

The first fossil Compsocidae from Cretaceous Burmese amber (Insecta, Psocoptera, Troctomorpha)

The first fossil record of the Compsocidae, Burmacompsocus perreaui gen. et sp. nov., is described from Late Albian Burmese amber. Its strong similarity to the two extant compsocid genera suggests a remarkable morphological stability within this group of 100 Ma. This family, now known only in Central America, was certainly more widespread in the past.     

The nature and fate of natural resins in the geosphere XIII: a probable pinaceous resin from the early Cretaceous (Barremian), Isle of Wight

Terpenoid resin is produced by all families and most genera of the order Coniferales (the conifers), and the distribution of terpenes present in most conifer resins is characteristic of the originating family. Analyses of early Cretaceous (Barremian) amber (fossil resin) from the English Wealden, Isle of Wight, southern England, by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), indicate a terpene distribution dominated by abietane- and labdane-type terpenes. Similar distributions are observed in some species of the extant family Pinaceae. The Pinaceae are well represented within the Wealden deposits of southern England, by only one (known) species, Pityites solmsii (Seward) Seward, whereas the macro-fossil record of these deposits is dominated by the extinct conifer family Cheirolepidiaceae, for which no resin chemistry has been reported. By analogy with modern materials, it is probable that the ambers found in these deposits are derived from an extinct member of the Pinaceae, but given the absence of evidence concerning the chemotaxonomy of the Cheirolepidiaceae, this family cannot be excluded a priori as a possible paleobotanical source. These ambers may therefore be assigned to either the Pinaceae or to the Cheirolepidiaceae. These samples are the oldest ambers to date to yield useful chemotaxonomic data.     

Early Paleozoic mantle diapirism in Galicia

Comparison of the geological outcrop and the Bouguer map of the Ordenes Complex in Galicia (NW Spain), gives substantial evidence for a subdivision of the peripheral belt into separate units. These units, high-grade metamorphic complexes, appear to have their origin in diapiric movements of upper-mantle material into a crystalline lower crust of continental type.     

An Early Cretaceous fossil bird from Montsec Mountain (Lleida, Spain)

From among fossil fauna and flora specimens discovered in the famous outcrop of lithographic limestone of Montsec Mountain (Lleida, Spain), from the Early Cretaceous, there is one specimen of a small incomplete bird skeleton. Only the bones of the left wing, the wish-bone (furcula), feathers and some other fragmentary bones are preserved. It lacks the skull, backbone, pectoral region, pelvic girdle and hind legs.