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.     

A golden age for ectoparasitoids of Embiodea: Cretaceous Sclerogibbidae (Hymenoptera,Chrysidoidea) from Kachin (Myanmar), Charentes (France) and Choshi (Japan) ambers

Sclerogibbid wasps are obligate parasitoids of webspinners (Embiodea). Both groups have a particularly scarce geological record and are known since the Cretaceous: there are only four species of webspinners known from Burmese amber, and only two sclerogibbids were described from Barremian Lebanese and Cenomanian Burmese ambers. Here we report transferred genus from Aptian Choshi (Japan) amber and new sclerogibbids from Cenomanian Burmese and Charentese (France) ambers. The taxa described from Burmese amber are: Burmasclerogibba aptera gen. et sp. nov., Cretosclerogibba gen. nov. (with C. antennalis sp. nov., C. contractocollis sp. nov., C. neli sp. nov. and C. rasnitsyni sp. nov.) and Edrossia vetusta gen. et sp. nov. The first European fossil sclerogibbid Gallosclerogibba alnensis gen. et sp. nov. is described from Charentese amber. The holotype of Chosia yamadai Fujiyama, from Choshi amber, is re-described; it appears to be the oldest Laurasian sclerogibbid. The significant abundance and variety of Burmese sclerogibbid wasps (60% of fossil species known worldwide), as proxy of their hosts, were probably caused by the protection granted to them by the silk webs and possibly by the limited predation from ornithuromorph birds or crown-group ants. While all three extant sclerogibbid genera have apterous females, genera with winged females (Cretosclerogibba and Edrossia) dominated in Burmese amber. Small silk galleries from hosts may have favored the preservation of wings in females of Cretaceous sclerogibbids. Most new species described in the present paper, in addition to C. yamadai, are characterized by a very slender neck and a very long frontal process concealing the antennal toruli. These characters disappeared in extant species. We suggest that this loss was caused by a change in the fauna of predators, penalizing species with long neck and rostrum.     

A new compsocid booklouse from the Cretaceous amber of Myanmar (Psocodea: Troctomorpha: Amphientometae: Compsocidae)

Paraelectrentomopsis chenyangcaii gen. et sp. nov. from the Cretaceous Burmese amber is characterized, described, illustrated and its position is discussed. This fossil taxon is the second compsocid barklouce to be described from the Burmese amber and constitute one of the earliest records of the family. A checklist of known Compsocidae is given. Identification keys of all known Compsocidae are provided. A palaeobiogeography scenario is proposed.     

A second species of the genus Cretoleptochromus Cai & Huang (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

A second species of the extinct scydmaenine genus Cretoleptochromus Cai & Huang, C. burmiticus sp. nov., is described and figured based on three exquisitely preserved specimens embedded in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The new taxon possesses an extremely elongate body form and strongly extended legs and antennae that provide reliable means for species diagnosis and a ready separation from the only known congener, the type species C. archaicus Cai & Huang, also reported from Burmese amber. The morphology of C. burmiticus also suggests that this species was probably an active diurnal predator living in open environments.     

New fossil booklice from the Cretaceous amber of Myanmar (Psocodea: Troctomorpha: Amphientometae: Manicapsocidae)

Palaeomanicapsocus margoae gen. et sp. nov. and Palaeomanicapsocus fouadi gen. et sp. nov. are characterized, described, illustrated, from the Cretaceous Burmese amber. Their phylogenetic position is discussed. These fossil taxa are the first manicapsocid barklice to be described from the Burmese amber.     

New Cretaceous caddisflies from Burmese amber (Insecta,Trichoptera)

Three new caddisflies species are described and illustrated from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber: Wormaldia cretacea sp. nov., W. resina sp. nov. (Philopotamidae) and Neureclipsis burmanica sp. nov. (Polycentropodidae). Palerasnitsynus ohlhoffi (Psychomyiidae) is re-described based on new fossils. Wormaldia are common in Burmese amber, and its diversity shows that this genus had very ancient origin and diversified at least during the mid-Cretaceous. N. burmanica sp. nov. is the oldest record of Neureclipsis, revealing this genus originated at least in the mid-Cretaceous. So far, six extinct species representing the small Order Trichoptera have been found in Burmese amber.     

A remarkable brachyceran fly (Diptera: Tabanomorpha) from Late Cretaceous Burmese amber

A new brachyceran fly (Diptera: Tabanomorpha), Pseudorhagio zhangi gen. et sp. nov., is described from Late Cretaceous Burmese amber. It is tentatively placed as Family incertae sedis in Tabanomorpha and distinguished from other Tabanomorpha by the following unusual combination of characters: head wider than thorax; body densely covered with fine and short setae, devoid of macrosetae; scutum strongly convex, nearly spherical; scutellum rather small, convex; antennal flagellum elongated, tapering, unsegmented; vein R4 perpendicular to R5, and strongly curved; crossvein m-m very long, strongly sinuated; tibial spur formula 0, 2, 0. This discovery further confirms the high diversity of Tabanomorpha in Late Cretaceous Burmese amber. An updated list of brachyceran species in Burmese amber is given.     

First definitive fossil agyrtodine beetles: An extant southern hemisphere group recorded from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera: Staphylinoidea: Leiodidae)

Mesozoic leiodids are poorly known, and only one definitive leiodid is formally described from Burmese amber. Here we describe and illustrate the second definitive Mesozoic leiodid, Cretagyrtodes glabratus gen. et sp. nov., based on a single specimen from the Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber. The fossil is placed in Agyrtodini (subfamily Camiarinae) after maxillary palpomere 4 as wide as palpomere 3, and procoxal cavities closed behind. Cretagyrtodes is tentatively attributed to the extant “Eupelates group”. The discovery of Cretagyrtodes in Burmese amber suggests that the south hemisphere endemic tribe Agyrtodini is probably an ancient group, which has showed its first appearance before the breakup of Pangaea.     

The first aeshnoid dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera: Telephlebiidae) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

A new true dragonfly, Cretaeshna lini gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a forewing from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Cretaeshna is probably a member of Telephlebiidae: Telephlebiinae, but differs from the latter in having a weakly-defined IR1 and a short pterostigma. Cretaeshna lini is the first aeshnid dragonfly to be found as an amber inclusion and the third Cretaceous true dragonfly recorded in amber. Our find augments the diversity of Mesozoic true dragonflies, and enhances our understanding of the palaeogeographic distribution of aeshnid dragonflies.     

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.     

The first fossil Perilestidae (Odonata: Zygoptera) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

Palaeoperilestes electronicus gen. et sp. nov. is the first perilestid damselfly described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. This new damselfly can be attributed to the family Perilestidae by the midfork being distal of the subnodus and the base of IR2 quite near to the base of RP2, both features found in the extant genera Perilestes and Perissolestes. Palaeoperilestes electronicus gen. et sp. nov. has a strongly zigzagged IR1, however, differing from Perilestes and Perissolestes which have a straight IR1. The discovery not only adds to the diversity of damselflies in Burmese amber, but also puts the origin of Perilestidae back to at least the mid-Cretaceous.     

New Cretaceous carpet beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) from Burmese amber

Three new species of Dermestidae are described and illustrated from the Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber: Attagenus secundus sp. nov. (Attageninae: Attagenini), Cretodermestes palpalis gen. et sp. nov. (Attageninae: Cretodermestini trib. nov.) and Megatoma atypica sp. nov. (Megatominae: Megatomini). Members of Dermestidae are relatively frequent in Burmese amber, representing at least three subfamilies: Attageninae, Dermestinae and Megatominae. Taxonomic and morphological diversity of Cretaceous Dermestidae suggests ancient origin of this group with some lineages showing remarkable evolutionary stasis for almost 100 million years.     

The oldest tachyporine rove beetle in amber (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae): A new genus and species from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber

A new genus and species of extinct rove beetle, Procileoporus burmiticus gen. and sp. n., is described from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Cenomanian; ca. 99 Ma). Due to the condition of the fossil, parts of the body could not be examined, but sufficient characteristics were visible to allow the specimen to be placed within the subfamily Tachyporinae (tribe Tachyporini). Procileoporus is most similar to the extant genus Cileoporus Campbell in having a slender abdomen, but it differs in having much shorter abdominal setae, prominent striated microreticulation on the elytra, non-lobed tergite VIII, and in other details of the male genital segments. This is the first tachyporine rove beetle from Burmese amber and the oldest record of the subfamily in amber. The evolution of sexual dimorphism in the genital segments is briefly discussed.     

New Cretaceous Elcanidae from China and Myanmar (Insecta,Orthoptera)

A new species of Elcanidae (Orthoptera: Elcanoidea), Panorpidium yixianensis sp. nov., is described based on two new specimens from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of northeastern China. It differs from other species in forewing characters and spines on the hind tibiae. In addition, a new specimen Burmelcana sp., is described and figured based on an amber inclusion from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese (Myanmar) amber. P. yixianensis sp. nov. represents the first definite record of Elcanidae in the Early Cretaceous Jehol biota, and Panorpidium is the only genus of Ensifera to be found in the Early Cretaceous faunas of England, Russia and China.     

The first Mesozoic pleasing lacewing (Neuroptera: Dilaridae)

Cretanallachius magnificus gen. et sp. nov., first Mesozoic and earliest record of the Dilaridae (Neuroptera), is described from the Cretaceous Burmese amber. Its putative closest relative is the recent subfamily Nallachiinae known by the sole genus Nallachius.     

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 species of Glaesoconis Meinander (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) from the Santonian Taimyr amber

Glaesoconis popovi sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) is described from Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Taimyr amber of northern Siberia (Yantardakh locality). The new species may be distinguished from others in the genus by much smaller eyes and the shape of the terminal segment of the maxillary palpus. The generic affinity of Glaesoconis baliopteryx Engel, 2004 from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber needs confirmation.     

The first trichomyiine from Burmese Cretaceous amber (Diptera,Psychodidae, Trichomyiinae)

A new genus and species of Trichomyiinae (Axenotrichomyia boisteli) is described herein from Burmese Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) amber. This new taxon is characterized, illustrated, and its taxonomic position is discussed. This discovery sheds new light for the understanding of the palaeobiodiversity of this group.     

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.     

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.