Search Results (44)

The mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber deposit from northern Myanmar is currently a promising locality for reconstructing Cretaceous bryophyte floras. However, the vast majority of bryophyte fossils reported from Kachin amber are epiphytic leafy liverworts of Porellales and pleurocarpous mosses of Hypnodendrales, while acrocarpous mosses are rarely discovered. In addition, terrestrial-to-lithophytic bryophytes have never been reported from Kachin amber. In this study, we describe three new species of acrocarpous mosses, Calymperites proboscideus sp. nov., Calymperites chenianus sp. nov., and Ditrichites aristatus sp. nov. (Dicranales s.l.), based on 34 whole plants and 11 fragments embedded in 13 pieces of Kachin amber. Calymperites chenianus is an epiphytic species based on the connection to a bark fragment, while the other two species are the first terrestrial-to-lithophytic bryophytes from Kachin amber, based on the attachment of rhizoids to soil or rock. Calymperites chenianus and Calymperites proboscideus probably represent stem group members of Calymperaceae. Ditrichites aristatus is likely a member of Ditrichaceae or Dicranaceae. These new findings provide compelling evidence for palaeoecological habitat reconstruction of acrocarpous mosses and significantly expand our understanding of the species diversity of bryophyte communities in the Cretaceous amber forest of Myanmar. Full article

The new species Amecephala micra sp. nov. is described and illustrated on the basis of a well-preserved male psyllid (Liadopsyllidae) in a piece of Cretaceous Myanmar amber. This second species of the genus Amecephala Drohojowska, Szwedo, Müller et Burckhardt, 2020 exhibits a combination of features that have not been previously recognised among Liadopsyllidae. These features include details of the antennae, hind legs and their armature, and hind wings. The presence of a short apical spine on the apex of the metatibia suggests that it was likely capable of jumping, and the strengthening of the claval margin of the hind wing may be interpreted as part of the apparatus for vibrational communication. These issues are discussed in relation to modern Psylloidea and Liadopsyllidae. The finding offers an important contribution to knowledge of the disparity and taxonomic diversity of Liadopsyllidae and their evolutionary traits. Full article

One new genus and five new species of the extinct family Maimetshidae from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber are described based on five well-preserved specimens as follows: Maimetshasia nova Li, Kopylov and Rasnitsyn, sp. nov.; Maimetshasia engeli Li, Kopylov and Rasnitsyn, sp. nov.; Guyotemaimetsha perrichoti Li, Kopylov and Rasnitsyn, sp. nov.; Guyotemaimetsha ortegablancoi Li, Kopylov and Rasnitsyn, sp. nov.; and Crucimaimetsha nigra Li, Kopylov and Rasnitsyn, sp. nov. A new generic synonymy is proposed: Turgonalus Rasnitsyn, 1990 (=Turgonaliscus Engel, 2016, syn. nov. and = Ahiromaimetsha Perrichot, Azar, Nel and Engel, 2011, syn. nov.); Guyotemaimetsha Perrichot, Nel and Néraudeau, 2004 (=Burmaimetsha Perrichot, 2013, syn. nov.); Afrapia, Rasnitsyn and Brothers, 2009 (=Afromaimetsha, Rasnitsyn and Brothers, 2009, syn. nov.); and Iberomaimetsha nihtmara Ortega-Blanco, Delclòs and Engel, 2011 are transferred to Afrapia, Rasnitsyn and Brothers, 2009. This results in the following new combinations: Turgonalus cooperi, Rasnitsyn and Jarzembowski, 1998, comb. resurr.; Turgonalus najlae (Perrichot, Azar, Nel & Engel, 2011), comb. nov; Afrapia robusta (Rasnitsyn & Brothers, 2009), comb. nov; and Afrapia nihtmara (Ortega-Blanco, Delclòs & Engel, 2011), comb. nov. The occurrence of various genera of Maimetshidae in amber and compression fossil and the morphological differences of the forewings in all the fossil species are provided, which highlights a high level of genus-level diversity among Mesozoic maimetshids. The key to genera was updated. Full article

Modern insect decline sparks interest in similar declines of the past. Neuroptera, the group of lacewings, has been suggested to have undergone decline after the Cretaceous, and quantitative studies of larval morphology have supported this view. One of the groups within Neuroptera seeing a major decline is that of split-footed lacewings, Nymphidae. We here report 13 new larval specimens of split-footed lacewings from about 100-million-year-old Kachin amber, Myanmar. We explore how enlarging the data set to 60 specimens and expanding the investigated morphological structures affect the recognition of decline. The expanded data set has an increased morphospace, indicating a lack of saturation. The decline is, therefore, likely even larger than so far anticipated for Nymphidae. The study of head and mouthparts provides the strongest signal for a loss of diversity, which is feasible due to the direct coupling to feeding ecology. Analysis of the trunk region cannot recover a signal for loss of diversity. Sampling issues play a role here: the trunk of the larvae is less often well preserved, and the fossil larvae are more likely in early developmental stages due to the constraints of preservation. Full article

Krameropteris is an extinct fern genus found in mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber, assigned to the Dennstaedtiaceae, with only one previously described species, i.e., K. resinatus. This study describes a new species, K. calophyllum, also preserved in Myanmar amber. The new species is characterized by branched venation with free veinlets terminating in thickened tips, multicellular hairs along the pinnule margins, and submarginal or medial exindusiate sori at the ends of veinlets. Its sporangia are polypod-type, producing trilete spores. This new species represents the second record of an extinct fern genus of the early-diverging Dennstaedtiaceae lineage found in Myanmar amber. Krameropteris calophyllum differs from K. resinatus in its pinnule epidermal characteristics and spore morphology, with the latter exhibiting a conspicuously ornamented perine, covered with sparse tubercles and ridges. The new species provides insights into potential herbivory interactions and the relationship between mid-Cretaceous polypod ferns and the smallest mite ever recorded. These findings suggest that Dennstaedtiaceae exhibited species-level diversity by the mid-Cretaceous, indicating an earlier origin of the family, potentially as early as the Early Jurassic, consistent with recent DNA-based time divergence estimates. Full article

A new extant genus of Keroplatidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha), Davimacrocera gen. nov., is described in this paper, which includes two new species, Davimacrocera davidi sp. nov. (Brunei, type species of the genus) and D. taiwanensis sp. nov. (Taiwan, China). Its relationships to other extant genera and possible phylogenetic position are briefly discussed, including a comparison with the fossil genus Burmacrocera Cockerell, 1917 from the mid-Cretaceous amber of Myanmar. The identity of Burmacrocera remains unclear, pending further studies of Keroplatidae in Burmese amber. Full article

One new genus (Ocrognethoda gen. nov.) and three new species of webspinners (Ocrognethoda olivea gen. et sp. nov., Gnethoda lata sp. nov. and Parasorellembia hamata sp. nov.) are described from the Upper Cretaceous of Myanmar amber. Ocrognethoda olivea gen. et sp. nov. and Gnethoda lata sp. nov. are attributed to the family Clothodidae due to their simplified and symmetrical male terminalia, in which the tenth tergum is undivided. Parasorellembia hamata sp. nov. is classified in the family Scelembiidae by a specialized abdominal apex: fused cerci, a broad right hemitergite of the tenth abdominal tergite, and ocelli presence. Moreover, based on the discovery of new genus and species, the male terminalia of Clothodidae and Sorellembiinae are briefly discussed. Full article

The abundance of insects in Burmese amber illustrates a highly diverse insect community from the mid-Cretaceous period; yet, records of crickets (Grylloidea) are notably scarce. In this study, we describe two new genera with three new species, Palaeotrigonidium concavoculus gen. et sp. nov., Palaeotrigonidium defectivus sp. nov., and Tricalcaratus longilineus gen. et sp. nov., based on three specimens collected in north Myanmar. These new species can be placed within the Trigonidiidae (Orthoptera: Grylloidea) by their triangular head, compound eyes that protrude in dorsal view, and a body entirely covered with robust setae, particularly noticeable in the head and pronotum; however, subfamily assignments are not possible. Another known species, Birmaninemobius hirsutus, Xu et al., 2020, from Myanmar amber is redescribed based on a new specimen and a recheck of the holotype. Full article

A new praeaulacid genus and species, Azygdellitha nova gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on a male specimen from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber from Hukawng Valley, Myanmar. This newly discovered taxon increased the diversity of praeaulacid wasps during the Cretaceous period. While this new taxon shares similarities of wing venation with most species of the subfamily Praeaulacinae, it strongly differs from that of three genera previously described from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber: Mesevania, Paleosyncrasis, and Praegastrinus. We explore the possibility that these genera constitute a distinct tribe within the Praeaulacinae, distinguished by their wing venation. We provide illustrations and emphasize the potentially diagnostic traits supporting this classification. Full article

The Epyrinae are the second largest subfamily of Bethylidae and the most diverse in the fossil record. However, although six of the nine bethylid subfamilies are known during the Cretaceous (either as compression or amber fossils), the Epyrinae were hitherto unknown before the lower Eocene. In this contribution, we report the discovery of the oldest member of this group, based on a female specimen from the early Cenomanian amber of Kachin, Myanmar. We describe and illustrate a new genus and species, Hukawngepyris setosus gen. et sp. nov. The new genus is compared with the other epyrine genera and characterized by a unique combination of characters not known in the subfamily. Hukawngepyris setosus gen. et sp. nov. is especially unique in the configuration of the forewing venation, with a complete 2r-rs&Rs vein, curved towards the anterior wing margin, and the presence of three proximal and three distal hamuli. The key to the genera of Epyrinae is accommodated to include the newly erected genus. Full article

Diptera are one of the four megadiverse groups of holometabolan insects. Flies perform numerous ecological functions, especially in their larval stages. We can assume that this was already the case in the past; however, fly larvae remain rare in most deposits. Here we report new dipteran larvae preserved in Cretaceous (about 99 Ma) Kachin amber from Myanmar and, even older, Jurassic (about 165 Ma) compression fossils from China. Through light microscopy and micro-CT scanning we explore their peculiar morphology and discuss their possible phylogenetic affinities. Several larvae seem to represent the lineage of Stratiomyomorpha. A few others present characters unique to Xylophagidae (awl-flies), as well as to Athericidae (water sniper-flies), resulting in a chimeric morphology. Understanding the exact relationships of most of these specimens with a particular lineage remains challenging, since they differ considerably from any other known dipteran larvae and present some unique traits. Additionally, we report new specimens of Qiyia jurassica Chen et al., 2014, supposedly parasitic larvae, most likely representatives of Athericidae. These new findings offer valuable insights into the evolution of the early diversification of the brachyceran flies and underscore the importance of immature stages in understanding the evolutionary history and ecology of flies. Full article

In recent years, as more and more fossil species of berothids from Myanmar have been reported, the species and morphological diversity of Berothidae continues to increase. Herein, one new species of Berothidae, Aggregataberotha paucipunctata sp. nov., and one new genus, Sejunctaberotha gen. nov., with three new species (Sejunctaberotha sphaerica gen. et sp. nov., Sejunctaberotha tenuis gen. et sp. nov. and Sejunctaberotha transversa gen. et sp. nov.) are described from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber. A. paucipunctata sp. nov. is assigned to Aggregataberotha Wang, Huang & Wang, 2022, based on the characteristics of the similar female terminalia and wing venation, but can be different from A. punctate regarding the pale pterostigma and a few detailed features of wing venation. Additionally, representatives of Sejunctaberotha gen. nov. are remarkably different from the representatives of the other genera within Berothidae in the configuration of wing venation. For example, Sejunctaberotha gen. nov. has simple subcostal veinlets, obviously free Sc and RA at the apex present both in fore- and hindwings, a single ra-rp crossvein connecting the RA with RP3, a single rp-m crossvein locating before the origin of the MP, a simple CuP and no gradate veins. Interestingly, in one of the specimens of Sejunctaberotha gen. nov., a pair of spherical bulges was found at the end of the antennae. The new genus Sejunctaberotha gen. nov. suggests that Berothidae had a higher potential diversification during the Mesozoic Era. Full article

A new species Niryasaburnia nigrutomia sp. nov. of the planthopper family Achilidae from Burmese amber collected from Hukawng Valley (Tanai) of northern Myanmar, is described, notably based on forewing pattern coloration and metatibiotarsal teeth conformation. A new fossil genus with its type species Sinuovenaxius kachinensis gen. et sp. nov. is also described. The tribe Niryasaburniini trib. nov. is established to include Niryasaburnia Szwedo, 2004, and Sinuovenaxius gen. nov., based on a unique combination of characters, of which the following states are particularly notable: head with compound eyes around half the length of pronotum, late forking of ScP+R and CuA after the fusion of Pcu+A₁ on the forewing, apical teeth of metatarsomeres I and II both with subapical platellar sensilla, and a unique hindwing pattern with simple RP and biforked MP, CuA with two terminals only, and with A₂ simple, reaching the posterior wing margin. The hindwing venation of this new tribe with RP with only one terminal and both MP and CuA with two terminals is unique in Achilidae. Full article

Neuroptera, the group of lacewings, is well known to have been more diverse in the past, offering to study patterns of biodiversity loss over time. This loss of diversity has been quantitatively established by the morphological diversity of lacewing larvae. Here, we explore in more detail the diversity of lacewing larvae with tooth-bearing mouthparts. All these larvae are representatives of Myrmeleontiformia, the group of antlion-like lacewings. Today, larvae of several major ingroups bear teeth on their mouthparts: (1) owllions (formerly Ascalaphidae and Myrmeleontidae; taxonomic status is currently unclear); (2) Nymphidae; (3) Crocinae (mostly in younger larvae); and (4) Nemopterinae (only micro teeth). In addition, there are several now extinct larval types with teeth known from Cretaceous ambers (about 100 million years old). These larvae also possess several plesiomorphic characters, indicating that they were part of the early diversification of Myrmeleontiformia. We report numerous new specimens of these now extinct forms and provide a quantitative morphological comparison of head and mouthpart shapes, demonstrating that some of these Cretaceous larvae possessed morphologies not represented in the extant fauna. The resulting pattern is complex, indicating that at least some extinct morphologies have been later replaced by modern-day antlions due to convergent evolution. Full article

Nevrorthidae, the group of dragon lacewings, has often been considered a relic group. Today, dragon lacewings show a scattered distribution, with some species occurring in southern Europe, Japan, Australia, and one in China. The idea that this distribution is only a remnant of an originally larger distribution is further supported by fossils of the group preserved in ambers from the Baltic region (Eocene, ca. 35–40 MaBP) and Myanmar (Kachin amber, Cretaceous, ca. 100 MaBP). Larvae of the group are slender and elongated and live mostly in water. Yet, larvae are in fact very rare. So far, only slightly more than 30 larval specimens, counting all extant and fossil larvae, have been depicted in the literature. Here, we report numerous additional specimens, including extant larvae, but also fossil ones from Baltic and Kachin amber. Together with the already known ones, this sums up to over 100 specimens. We analysed quantitative aspects of the morphology of these larvae and compared them over time to identify changes in the diversity. Despite the enriched sample size, the data set is still unbalanced, with, for example, newly hatched larvae (several dozen specimens) only known from the Eocene. We expected little change in larval morphology over geological time, as indicated by earlier studies. However, on the contrary, we recognised morphologies present in fossils that are now extinct. This result is similar to those for other groups of lacewings which have a relic distribution today, as these have also suffered a loss in diversity in larval forms. Full article