New Fossils of Eoptychopteridae (Diptera) from the Middle Jurassic of Northeastern China

Three new species of the extinct genus of Eoptychopterina from the Eoptychopteridae     

A New Cockroach Genus of the Family Fuziidae from Northeastern China (Insecta: Blattida)

A new genus and two new species of fossil Fuziidae are described and illustrated: Parvifuzia gen. nov., P. marsa sp. nov. and P. brava sp. nov.. Both species were collected from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan, Formation of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia of China. In conjunction with Fuzia Vr?ansky, Liang et Ren, 2009, the present findings allow us to demonstrate that members of the family were morphologically diverse, with body length ranging from medium (17 mm) in Fuzia to small (9.7 mm) in the present genus. Wing venation of F. dadao is complicated, but simple in the present species, and apex of male’s cerci are sharp and forceps-like in F. dadao, but strongly curved inward and round in the new genus.     

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.     

A New Axymyiid Genus with Two New Species from the Middle Jurassic of China (Diptera: Nematocera: Axymyiidae)

The Axymyiidae is one of the small families of the suborder Nematocera within the Diptera.Up to date,three genera and seven species of extant axymyiids have been described from the Holarctic Region,including Canada,China,Hungary,Japan,Russia,and USA,with three genera and three species of fossil taxa described from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou,northeastern China.A new genus Raraxymyia gen.nov.and two new species,R.parallela and R.proxima gen.et sp.nov.from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou Village,Inner Mongolia,China,are herein described based on their well-preserved wings and body characters.A revised key to the genera of axymyiids is provided.     

Early Evolution of Apocrita(Insecta,Hymenoptera)as Indicated by New Findings in the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou,Northeast China

<正>The classification and phytogeny of the basal Vespina(=Orussoidea+Apocrita)are reconsidered based primarily on rich and well preserved material from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou in Inner Mongolia,China. Comparatively smooth morphological transitions are traced from a Xiphydriidae-like ancestor toward Orussoidea via the Jurassic family Karatavitidae,and through Karatavitidae and the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous family Ephialtitidae independently to Stephanidae,to Evanioidea,and,via the extinct Jurassic Kuafuidae fam.nov.to the remaining Apocrita.New hypothesis is proposed concerning development of the characteristic wasp-waist of Apocrita,which is supposed to appear independently and in different ways in Evanioidea and in the rest of Apocrita.As a result,six infraorders are proposed for the suborder Vespina with the following taxonomic structure:infraorder Orussomorpha including the only superfamily Orussoidea(Karatavitidae+Paroryssidae + Orussidae),infraorder Stephanomorpha with the only superfamily Stephanoidea(Ephialtitidae+Stephanidae), infraorder Evaniomorpha with the only superfamily Evanioidea of traditional composition,infraorder Ceraphronomorpha with the superfamilies Ceraphronoidea s.str.and monotypical Megalyroidea and Trigonaloidea,and the infraorders Proctotrupomorpha,Ichneumonomorpha,and Vespomorpha of traditional composition.The family Kuafuidae is unplaced to infraorder because it is putatively paraphyletic with respect to Ceraphronomorpha,Proctotrupomorpha,Ichneumonomorpha and Vespomorpha.Described as new are Karatavites junfengi sp.nov,Praeratavites wuhuaensis sp.nov.,P.perspicuus sp.nov.,Postxiphydria daohugouensis gen.et sp.nov.,P.ningchengensis gen.et sp.nov.,Postxiphydroides strenuus gen.et sp.nov.,Praeratavitoides amabilis gen.et sp.nov.,Proapocrtius densipediculus sp.nov.,P.sculptus sp.nov.,P.longantennatus sp.nov., P.formosus sp.nov.,P.atropus sp.nov.,P.elegans sp.nov.,Stephanogaster pristinus sp.nov.,Asiephialtites lini sp. nov.,Praeproapocritus vulgatus gen.et sp.nov.,Sinaulacogastrinus solidus gen.et sp.nov.,Sinevania speciosa gen. et sp.nov.,Eonevania robusta gen.et sp.nov.,Kuafua polyneura gen.et sp.nov.(all from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou),as well as Kuafuidae fam.nov.including Kuafua gen.nov.as well as Arthrogaster Rasnitsyn,1975,and Leptogastrella Rasnitsyn,1975 from the Upper Jurassic of Karatau in Kazakhstan.     

A New Fossil Scorpionfly (Insecta: Mecoptera: Holcorpidae) with Extremely Elongate Male Genitalia from Northeastern China

Since Holcorpa maculosa was first described in 1878, it has attracted lots of attention due to its extremely elongate abdominal segments from the sixth to the eighth. Fossil records of family Holcorpidae are very rare, comprising two species in one genus represented by three fossil specimens, resulting in limited knowledge on the structure and function of holcorpid’s unique male organ, as well as its evolutionary relationship with other scorpionflies. Herein we describe a new genus with a new species, Conicholcorpa stigmosa gen. et sp. nov., of the Holcorpidae from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation near Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China. This is the first holcorpid documented from the Daohugou locality, albeit two previously reported species with extremely elongate male organs but deemed as Family Incertae sedis. C. stigmosa gen. et sp. nov. is the earliest holcorpid hitherto, extending its existence from the Early Eocene to the Middle Jurassic by 114 million years and providing one more early case of presenting exaggerated male body parts for sexual display and/or selection. Our analysis supports the sister relationship between Holcorpidae and Orthophlebiidae. Our results not only enhance our knowledge of the morphology of Holcorpidae but also elucidate the relationship of known species of this family.     

New Fossils of Eoptychopteridae (Diptera)from the Middle Jurassic of Northeastern China

Three new species of the extinct genus of Eoptychopterina from the Eoptychopteridae family, Eoptychopterina antica sp. nov., Eoptychopterina adnexa sp. nov., and Eoptychopterina mediata sp. nov., are described and illustrated. These three new species are established based on fossil specimens with bodies and complete wings. All were collected from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou in eastern Inner Mongolia, China. Based on the new materials, the name of two species in Eoptychopterina from China--Eoptychopterina elenae Ren and Krzeminski and Eoptychopterina gigantea Zhang--is sysnonymum junius.     

New Fossil Palaeontinids from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou,Inner Mongolia,China (Insecta,Hemiptera)

Two new genera and species of fossil Palaeontinidae are described from Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China: Cladocossus undulatus gen. et sp. nov. and Cricocossus paradoxus gen. et sp. nov. Both new genera are described based on well-preserved forewings. This discovery confirms the high diversity of palaeontinids during the Middle Jurassic. Both specimens have interesting modal structures which are new to Palaeontinidae: M five-branched and M3 with two branches. Based on this character, wing structural characteristic is discussed.     

New Isophlebioid Dragonflies from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China (Insecta: Odonata: Isophlebioptera: Campterophlebiidae)

Three new species of fossil dragonflies assigned to Sinokaratawia Nel, Huang and Lin in family Campterophlebiidae, i.e.S, daohugouica sp. nov., S. magica sp. nov. and S. gloriosa sp. nov., and new materials of male S. prokopi Nel, Huang and Lin, 2007 are described from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. An emended diagnosis of genus Sinokaratawia was proposed.     

New Genus and Species of Rhyacophilidae (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Middle Jurassic of China

One new genus with a new fossil species,Declinimodus setulosus gen.et sp.nov.which was found in the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou,Inner Mongolia,China,are described and illustrated.The new species is assigned to the Rhyacophilidae according to buttonshaped of the 2nd segment of maxillary palp,and the forked R1 （in the forewing,located near apex）.These new discovery are the earliest fossil records of Rhyacophilidae,which providing important evident for the study of the origin and early evolution of Trichoptera.     

A New Species of Liadotaulius (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou,Inner Mongolia

Diverse caddis flies are recently collected from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou fauna in Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, northern China, and different types of caddis cases have been reported in the same locality. A new species of caddisfly, Liadotaulius daohugouensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated; the establishment is based on a well-preserved isolated forewing collected from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou. The family status of Liadotaulius is discussed on the basis of new material and is referred to the family Philopotamidae. The Daohugou fauna continues to provide new data for studying the early evolution of Trichoptera.     

A New Elaterid from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou Biota (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Protagrypninae)

A new genus and species of fossil elaterid namely Clavelater ningchengensis gen. et sp. nov. assigned to the subfamily Protagrypninae based on one specimen from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation near Daohugou Village, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, northeastern China is described and illustrated. This specimen displays a pair of large antennae that easily differs from those of most Mesozoic elaterids. There are around 36 species within 20 genera referred to elateroids described from the Early Jurassic to Miocene of China, with another three species within three genera reviewed, but the taxonomic assignment of at least seven species within three genera is doubted. The systematic position of fossil elateriform beetles reported from China is reviewed and the evolution of Mesozoic elateroids briefly discussed.     

A new species of Eomeropidae (Insecta: Mecoptera) from the Middle Jurassic of China

The Eomeropidae is a species-poor family with only 11 known fossil species from the Early Jurassic to Palaeogene. A new species of fossil eomeropid, Tsuchingothauma gongi sp. nov., is described based on a well-preserved wing from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou deposits of Inner Mongolia, China. Our new species is distinguished from the type species T. shihi mainly in having very numerous crossveins and cells; more longitudinal veins: 13 and 11 terminal branches in radial sector and medial field, CuA with 3 terminal branches and A with 7 terminal branches.     

The Jurassic orthopteran Allaboilus gigantus Ren and Meng, 2006 (Prophalangopsidae) from Beipiao,Northeast China and its biostratigraphical significance

The orthopteran Allaboilus gigantus Ren and Meng, 2006 (Prophalangopsidae) is reported based on a male forewing from the Middle-Upper Jurassic Haifanggou Formation of Beipiao, western Liaoning, China. This discovery greatly extends the distribution of the species from Daohugou in Inner Mongolia eastwards to Beipiao in western Liaoning. It further provides new evidence for correlation of the Daohugou Beds with the Haifanggou Formation indicating a Callovian-early Oxfordian age for the Daohugou Beds.     

A Whole Plant Herbaceous Angiosperm from the Middle Jurassic of China

In contrast to woody habit with secondary growth, truthful herbaceous habit lacking secondary growth is restricted to angiosperms among seed plants. Although angiosperms might have occurred as early as in the Triassic and herbaceous habit theoretically may have been well adopted by pioneer angiosperms, pre-Cretaceous herbs are missing hitherto, leaving the origin of herbs and evolution of herbaceous angiosperms mysterious. Here we report Juraherba bodae gen. et sp. nov, a whole plant herbaceous angiosperm, from the Middle Jurassic (>164 Ma) at Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China, a fossil Lagerst?tten that is worldwide famous for various fossil finds. The angiospermous affinity of Juraherba is ensured by its enclosed ovules/seeds. The plant is small but complete, with physically connected hairy root, stem, leaves, and fructifications. The Middle Jurassic age recommends Juraherba as the earliest record of herbaceous seed plants, demanding a refresh look at the evolutionary history of angiosperms.     

New Species of Cimbrophlebiidae (Insecta: Mecoptera) from the Middle Jurassic of Northeastern China

Four new species of three genera in the family Cimbrophlebiidae, Telobittacus decorus sp. nov., Bellicimbrophlebia heteroneura sp. nov., Cimbrophlebia amoena sp. nov., and Cimbrophlebia gracilenta sp. nov., are described and illustrated based on eleven well-preserved fossil specimens. These specimens were collected from the latest Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. This is the first record of the genus Cimbrophlebia in the Jurassic extending its age from the Lower Cretaceous to the Middle Jurassic. Due to same venational characters, we propose that an undescribed fossil specimen of Cimbrophlebiidae from the Jurassic of Germany is attributed to C. gracilenta sp. nov. Our new findings demonstrate an evolutionary trend of venational change from 185 to 50 Ma that the level of the bifurcation of Rs is gradually moving toward the base of wing in reference to the bifurcation of M.     

New Fossil Palaeontinids from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China(Insecta, Hemiptera)

Two new genera and species of fossil Palaeontinidae are described from Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia.China:Cladocossus undulatus gen.et sp.nov.and Cricocossus paradoxus gen.et sp. nov.Both new genera are described based on well-preserved forewings.This discovery confirms the high diversity of palaeontinids during the Middle Jurassic.Both specimens have interesting modal structures which are new to Palaeontinidae:M five-branched and M3 with two branches.Based on this character,wing structural characteristic is discussed.     

New Isophlebioid Dragonflies from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China (Insecta: Odonata: Isophlebioptera:Campterophlebiidae)

Three new species of fossil dragonflies assigned to Sinokaratawia Nel, Huang and Lin in family Campterophlebiidae, i.e. S. daohugouica sp. nov., S. magica sp. nov. and S. gloriosa sp. nov., and new materials of male S. prokopi Nel, Huang and Lin, 2007 are described from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. An emended diagnosis of genus Sinokaratawia was proposed.     

New Isophlebioid Dragonflies from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia,China(Insecta:Odonata:Isophlebioptera:Campterophiebiidae)

Three new species of fossil dragonflies assigned to Sinokaratawia Nel,Huang and Lin in family Campterophlebildae,i.e.S,daohugouica sp.nov.,S.magica sp.nov.and S.gloriosa sp.nov.,and new materials of male S.prokopi Nel,Huang and Lin,2007 are described from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou,Inner Mongolia,China.An emended diagnosis of genus Sinokaratawia was proposed.