Emphytusmiocenicus sp. nov., first fossil representative of this genus, is described from the upper Miocene of the diatom paleolake of Montagne d’Andance (Ardèche, France). Its placement is ensured by an in-depth comparison with all the extant and fossil genera of the subfamily
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Emphytusmiocenicus sp. nov., first fossil representative of this genus, is described from the upper Miocene of the diatom paleolake of Montagne d’Andance (Ardèche, France). Its placement is ensured by an in-depth comparison with all the extant and fossil genera of the subfamily Allantinae. The representatives of
Emphytus are distributed in the Palearctic, Nearctic, and Oriental regions.
Empria sammuti sp. nov., second representative of the latter genus, is described from the latest Miocene of the diatom paleolake of Sainte-Reine (Cantal, France). The placement of this new species is based on a detailed comparison with the extant genera of the tribe Empriini. The larvae of the extant
Emphytus and
Empria spp. are known to be phytophagous on angiosperm leaves of several families, all present as fossils in the taphocenoses of la Montagne d’Andance and Sainte-Reine.
Emphytus miocenicus sp. nov. represents the oldest record of this genus and of its crown group, corroborating the estimate of a middle Eocene–middle Oligocene age for its stem group. Throughout our study, it appears that the first described fossil of the genus
Empria,
E. oligocaenica, from the Oligocene of Germany, needs to be revised and redescribed. It should preferably be treated until the revision as
incertae sedis in Allantinae
sensu lato.
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