Archegocimicidae (Insecta: Heteroptera) from the Purbeck Limestone Group (Lower Cretaceous: Berriasian) of southern England

Four new genera and five new species of Archegocimicidae are described from the Lower Cretaceous of England: namely Mortalia martini gen. et sp. nov., Tyrion lannister gen. et sp. nov., T. cersei sp. nov., Stannis baratheon gen et sp. nov., Daenerys khaleesi gen. et sp. nov. A transitional position of the complex between Asian Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous entomofaunas is indicated by this new material.     

New Fossil Beetles of the Family Ommatidae （Coleoptera： Archostemata） from the Jehol Biota of China

A new genus with one new species and five new species of genus Amblomma of fossil ommatids are described and illustrated： Euryomma tylodes gen. et sp. nov., Amblomma cyclodonta sp. nov., Amblomma miniscula sp. nov., Amblomma porrecta sp. nov., Amblomma eumeura sp. nov., and Amblomma protensa sp. nov. All of them were collected from the Upper Jurassic or Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning, China. A key to the species of Amblomma is given. The wide epipleural space shows that Euryomma may be a primitive genus in Ommatidae. Many different species of Amblomma occurred within the same sedimentary horizon in this area could be environmental changes caused by frequent volcanic activities during the deposition of the Yixian Formation.     

云南省晋宁梅树村地区下寒武统发现颗石藻化石

 在我国云南省晋宁县梅树村地区下寒武统发现了颗石藻化石,计有两个新属四个新种:微细管碟星藻属(新属)(Microtubediscoaster gen.nov.)包括昆阳微细管碟星藻(新属新种)(Microubediscoaster kunyangensis gen.et sp.nov.)和蜂巢微细管碟星藻(新属新种)(Microtubediscoaster honeycomb gen.et sp.nov.);始四枝碟星藻属(新属)(Eotetralithus gen.nov.)包括银杏叶始四枝碟星藻(新属新种)(Eotetralithus ginkgolabulatus gen.et sp.nov)和管柱始四枝碟星藻(新属新种)(Eotetrailthustube Pillar gen.et sp nov.).下寒武统的颗石藻化石是迄今为止世界各国已报道的最老的颗石藻化石。     

Fossil Liverworts from the Lower Cretaceous Huolinhe Formation in Inner Mongolia, China

A new genus and species, Rebouliothallus huolinhensis sp. nov., and two uncertain species, Ricciopsis sp. and Hepaticites sp., are described. The fossils were collected from the Lower Cretaceous Huolinhe Formation of Huolinhe Basin, northeastern China. The new genus Rebouliothallus was established in the Aytoniaceae family of Marchantiales. Rebouliothallus huolinhensis appears to be quite similar to species of the extant genus Reboulia Raddi. The species is characterized by the relatively large ventral scales. Ventral scales are large, imbricate and arranged in two rows on the ventral surface. Rhizoids are either pegged or smooth. Ricciopsis sp. is characterized by the rosette-forming thallus. Hepaticites sp. shows some similarities to liverworts. Of the forty-nine Early Cretaceous floras of China, only two floras, one from the Huolinhe basin, Inner Mongolia and the other from the Jixi Basin, Heilongjiang Province, contain fossil liverworts. The rare fossil liverwort records in the Early Cretaceous floras of China may be the result of taphonomic bias.     

内蒙古赤峰早白垩世昆虫化石的新发现

本文首次描述了内蒙古自治区赤峰市早白垩世九佛堂组的鞘翅目和异翅目昆虫化石４属５种，其中３新属５新种。这些昆虫化石通过与国内、外相关类群的对比，为该区的地层划分、对比和地质时代的确定，提供了最新的依据。由古生态方面分析，该区为湖沼环境，水体充沛，为古黑龙江流域的一部分。文中里阿龙虱科、沼梭科和中生五节蝽科的材料在国内是首次报道。     

Prophaenognatha, a New Aclopinae Genus from the Yixian Formation, China and Its Phylogenetic Position Based on Morphological Characters (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Prophaenognatha robusta gen. et sp. nov. (Scarabaeoidea: Scarabaeidae: Aclopinae), the best-preserved aclopine fossil so far, is described and illustrated from the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of the Jehol Biota, western Liaoning Province, NE China. The key to extinct and extant genera of Aclopinae is given and the monophyly of extant and fossil Aclopinae lineages is supported by five character states. The new taxon provides evidence about the evolution of Scarabaeoidea with its phylogenetic position inferred based on 68 morphological characters.     

New lacewings (Insecta: Neuroptera) from the Lower Cretaceous Wealden supergroup of Southern England

Eight new genera and thirteen new species of lacewings (Neuroptera) are described from the Lower Cretaceous Wealden Supergroup, Weald Sub-basin: Principiala rudgwickensis sp. nov. (Ithonidae), Stenomylina medialis gen. et sp. nov., Protosmylina bifasciata gen. et sp. nov. (Osmylidae), Cretapsychops corami gen. et sp. nov., Micropsychops parallelus gen. et sp. nov., Valdipsychops logunovi gen. et sp. nov., V. brigidae gen. et sp. nov., V. maculosus gen. et sp. nov., V. proudlovei gen. et sp. nov., V. minimus gen. et sp. nov., Psychopsites rolandi gen. et sp. nov. (Psychopsidae), Actinophlebioides valdensis gen. et sp. nov. and Protohemerobius perexiguus gen. et sp. nov. (Neuroptera familia incertae sedis). Psychopsidae are shown to dominate the neuropteran fauna, while the presence of Brongniartiellidae has not been confirmed in the Wealden, due to previously thought representatives of this family being in fact psychopsids. This is the first fossil record of Ithonidae and Osmylidae in Britain. The range of Kalligrammatidae has been extended in the Cretaceous of Britain from the mid-Valanginian to early Barremian.     

The oldest representatives of the family Throscidae (Coleoptera: Elateriformia) from the Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber

Two new genera and two new species of fossil Throscidae: Potergosoma gratiosa gen. et sp. nov. and Rhomboaspis laticollis gen. et sp. nov. are described from the Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber and are compared with extant and extinct genera. The described amber inclusions are the oldest known representatives of the family Throscidae. Some hypotheses on the phylogeny of the family Throscidae and the position of it in the superfamily Elateroidea are discussed.     

Systematic revision of the fossil snakefly family Baissopteridae (Insecta: Raphidioptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of China,with description of a new genus and three new species

The fossil snakefly family Baissopteridae from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Barremian) of the Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province, China is reviewed. Two genera and five species of Baissopteridae are recorded, including a new genus, namely Microbaissoptera gen. nov., and three new species, i.e., Baissoptera bicolor sp. nov., Baissoptera sinica sp. nov., and Microbaissoptera monosticha sp. nov. Moreover, Baissoptera euneura Ren, 1997 is herein treated as a new junior synonymy of Baissoptera grandis Ren in Ren et al., 1995. Baissoptera minima Ponomarenko, 1993 is transferred to the presently described new genus Microbaissoptera gen. nov. based on the small body-size and the presence of a single gradate series of crossveins in radial and medial areas of posterior part of both fore- and hind wings. A key to genera of Baissopteridae is provided.     

New fossil mesosciophilids (Diptera: Nematocera) from the Yixian Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of western Liaoning,China

A new genus with two new species, Orentalphila gravia gen. et sp. nov. and O. caloa sp. nov., and three new species in two known genera, Sinosciophila angustia sp. nov., Sinosciophila seboa sp. nov. and Similsciophila undulata sp. nov., are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Yixian Formation at Huangbanjigou, Beipiao City, western Liaoning, China. These new taxa, representing the first records of mesosciophilids from this locality, provide morphological information and diversity for Mesosciophilidae in the Early Cretaceous. An updated key to known genera of Mesosciophilidae is provided. In addition, according the generic diagnosis revised by Zhang, 2007, Mesoplecia antiqua Hao and Ren, 2009 should be transferred to Mesosciophila Rohdendorf, 1946.     

Two new genera of belytine wasps (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) from Cretaceous Burmese amber

Christophus myanmarensis gen. et sp. nov., Christophus ohmkuhnlei gen. et sp. nov., and Mintara parva gen. et sp. nov., three new species and two new genera of belytine wasps (Diapriidae: Belytinae) are described and figured from males preserved in mid-Cretaceous Kachin (Burmese) amber. These new fossils enrich the fossil record of Cretaceous diapriids, summarized here, demonstrating the diversity of the family before the K/Pg extinction and suggesting an older origin for the family.     

Two new species of mid-Cretaceous webspinners in amber from northern Myanmar (Embiodea: Clothodidae,Oligotomidae)

Two new genera and species of Cretaceous webspinners (Embiodea) are described and figured, both preserved in amber from northern Myanmar. Atmetoclothoda orthotenes Engel and Huang, gen. et sp. nov., is the first fossil representative of the putatively primitive family Clothodidae, and is segregated into its own subfamily, Atmetoclothodinae Engel and Huang, subfam. nov., owing to its primitive retention of a distinct mentum, a quadrate submentum with straight borders, a postocciptal suture that meets the hypostomal sulcus at the posterior tentorial pit, and subgenae that do not meet medially (thus a ventral bridge or gula is lacking), completely symmetrical terminalia, and unsegmented cerci that apically bear a small inner lamellar projection. Litoclostes delicatus Engel and Huang, gen. et sp. nov., is the first definitive fossil of Oligotomidae (not including a subfossil species in Pleistocene copal and which is likely synonymous with an extant taxon), and differs from modern genera in a combination of head, tarsal, and terminalic morphology. The new fossil species double the known Cretaceous fossils and add a further two families to the Mesozoic record for the order.     

New fossil flower bugs (Heteroptera: Cimicomorpha: Cimicoidea: Vetanthocoridae) with uniquely long ovipositor from the Yixian Formation (Lower Cretaceous), China

A new genus and new species, Longilanceolatus tenellus gen. et sp. nov., is described and assigned to the tribe Vetanthocorini of the fossil family Vetanthocoridae. In addition, a new species, Curvicaudus spinosus sp. nov., is also described. All specimens were collected from the Lower Cretaceous of the Yixian Formation at Huangbanjigou, Chaomidian Village, Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, northeastern China. Body size, ovipositor length, abdomen length, and other characters of eleven genera from the Middle Jurassic to Eocene are summarized. Comparison of body size of all specimens in the Vetanthocoridae and Anthocoridae (sensu lato) indicate a general trend toward smaller body size through their evolution. Moreover, Longilanceolatus, with uniquely long ovipositor, is related to a different type of oviposition compared with extant flower bugs.     

New Fossil Beetles of the Family Elateridae from the Jehol Biota of China (Coleoptera: Polyphaga)

Two new species of elaterids assigned to two new genera with intriguing fossa on prosternum are described and illustrated： Bilineariselaterfoveatus gen. et sp. nov. and Curtelater wui gen. et sp. nov. from the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning, China. The origin of the clicking mechanism in these beetles and the systematic position of the two genera are briefly discussed.     

New protodiplatyids (Insecta: Dermaptera) from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of northeastern China

A new genus Barbderma gen. nov. with a new species, Barbderma oblonguata sp. nov., and a new species, Sinoprotodiplatys ellipsoideuata sp. nov., of the family Protodiplatyidae are described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation at the Huangbanjigou Village, Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, China. Both new species are assigned to Protodiplatyidae mainly based on their diagnostic characters of antenna, pronotum, tegmina, tarsi and the distinct long, slender, multi-segmented cerci. These findings of fossil Protodiplatyidae provide more evidence to confirm the existence of these basal earwigs in the Early Cretaceous. Key diagnostic characters for genera of Protodiplatyidae are compared to highlight the generic variations and similarities. Evolutionary trend of cerci morphology suggests that it is likely that the cerci were evolved from long, slender and segmented to the stout terminal forceps without segmentation.     

热河生物群中蜘蛛和蟹奴化石几个新种

由于蜘蛛身体表面所覆盖的体壳较薄，通常保存为化石的几率较小，因此，蜘蛛化石是一类较为稀有的化石。热河生物群中的蜘蛛化石迄今尚未进行过系统描述。本文报道了属于Araneidae Leach，1819(园蛛科)、Gnaphosidae(平腹蛛科)和Theidiidae Sundeva1833(球腹蛛科)6个蜘蛛新种：Araneus liaoxiensis sp．nov．，A．aethus p．nov．，A．reheensissp．nov．，A．beipiaoensis sp，nov．，Gtuzphosq liaoningensiss p．nov．和Theridion atalus sp．nov．；以及蟹奴幼虫的一个化石新属种Mesosacculina papposa gen．etsp．nov．。这些化石均采自辽西北票黄半吉沟义县组下部(晚侏罗世-早白垩世)。     

辽宁大连震旦纪水母

1986年辽宁省地矿局区调队在大连市棋盘磨和杨家屯震旦系兴民村组发现水母类化石。本人进行了较详细的研究,根据其结构和生态特征,确定为腔肠动物门水螅虫纲水母化石,并命名为大连水母动物群。文中对其中的2个新属,7个新种进行了描述,它们为:Cyclomedusa qipanmoensis sp.nov.,Cyclomedusa stellatus sp.nov.,Medusinites monoseamoformis sp.nov.,Medusinites planodiscifo-rmis sp.nov.,Ellipsomedusa liaonanensis gen.et sp.nov.,Ellipsome-dusa dalianensis gen.sp.nov.,Quadratimedusa liaoningensis gen.etsp.nov.这一发现和研究无疑确定了大连地区震旦系的存在。     

Fossil coniferous wood from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota in western Liaoning,NE China: New material and palaeoclimate implications

The Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota, one of the most important Mesozoic lagerstätten in East Asia, is especially well-known for occurrences of fossil feathered dinosaurs and early angiosperms. However, the terrestrial biodiversity, especially the fossil wood record, is poorly known. In this study, several structurally preserved coniferous wood specimens from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation are investigated, based on collections from the Heichengzi Basin in Beipiao of western Liaoning, Northeast China. Four species referred to four genera of fossil wood are described, including Taxodioxylon heichengziense sp. nov., Thujoxylon beipiaoense sp. nov., Sciadopityoxylon liaoningense Ding and Protocedroxylon shengjinbeigouense sp. nov. These new records enlarge the fossil wood diversity of the Yixian Formation up to 10 species in 9 genera, and provide further insights into the forest vegetation composition of the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota. Systematic analysis of the floral constitution indicates that the petrified forests of the Yixian Formation are dominated by conifers, represented by Araucariaceae, Podocarpaceae, Sciadopityaceae, Pinaceae and Cupressaceae in the western Liaoning region. Palaeoclimatical analysis of the fossil wood assemblage implies that the western Liaoning region was dominated by a cool temperate, wet and seasonal climate with variable interannual water supply in the western Liaoning region during the Early Cretaceous.     

The first record of Ichneumonidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) from the Upper Cretaceous of Myanmar

A new subfamily of Ichneumonidae, Novichneumoninae subfam. nov., is established based on two new genera with two new species: Novichneumon longus gen. et sp. nov. and Caloichneumon perrarus gen. et sp. nov. These two new species are the first ichneumonids described from the Upper Cretaceous Myanmar (Burmese) amber. A list of all described Mesozoic ichneumonid fossil species with their respective localities and ages is summarized. The distribution of Ichneumonoidea during the Cretaceous indicates that Cretaceous ichneumonids were documented from localities at high latitudes while braconids were distributed worldwide, a pattern consistent with the distribution of extant ichneumonids and braconids.     

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.