DOI: 10.3897/asp.84.e185452

Authors: Qi Feng, Xisen Jia, Chenxin Zhou, Dong Ren, Yongjie Wang

Abstract: Abstract Therevidae is a diverse family of lower Brachycera, yet its early evolutionary history remains poorly understood due to the absence of available Mesozoic fossils. Here, we describe †Paleothereva longicoxa gen. et sp. nov. from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, representing the oldest member of known derived therevids. Phylogenetic analysis and morphological comparisons integrating both extant and fossil species, consistently place this fossil within Taenogera genus-group of Agapophytinae. This finding indicates that Agapophytinae had already diverged by the mid-Cretaceous, suggesting an earlier origin of Therevidae than previously inferred from molecular data. The occurrence of Paleothereva on the Gondwanan-derived West Burma Block further supports the hypothesis that the ancestors of Agapophytinae—or possibly the broader Agapophytinae + Therevinae clade—originated in Gondwana. Ancestral character state reconstruction of female terminalia within therevid flies reveals that Paleothereva and extant relatives likely shared similar oviposition behaviors associating with sandy-soil environments, which may have driven the corresponding specialization and diversification of acanthophorite spines in female. These new findings provide rare, direct evidence illuminating the early evolution of derived therevid lineages.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.83.e161465

Authors: Mathieu Boderau, Matteo Montagna, Fabio Magnani, Giulia Magoga, Alexey Shmakov, Michael S. Engel, Patricia Nel, André Nel

Abstract: Abstract We report the discovery of the first Triassic ‘shielded thrips’ of the family Iotacyphidae, represented by two species: Triassocypha prima gen. et sp. nov. and T. secunda sp. nov. The species are described and illustrated, and comparisons are made with other stem-Thysanoptera lineages. The unique wing venation of Iotacyphidae and related families is reinterpreted in the light of these new fossils. The venation pattern supports the diagnosis of the family, as well as of higher clades within the broader lineage that includes both thrips and their extinct relatives (in the total group Holothysanoptera, formerly Thripida), and contributes to clarifying the systematics of thrips.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.83.e147854

Authors: Ivan L. F. Magalhaes, Abel Pérez-González, Facundo M. Labarque, Martín Carboni, Jörg U. Hammel, Robin Kunz, Martín J. Ramírez, Mónica M. Solórzano-Kraemer

Abstract: In our previous contribution, “Revision of recluse spiders (Araneae: Sicariidae: Loxosceles) preserved in Dominican amber and a total-evidence phylogeny of Scytodoidea reveal the first fossil Drymusidae” (Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 80, 2022, 541–559), Table 1 was inadvertently missing from the final published version. It is included in the present Corrigendum.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.82.e114213

Authors: Jamie Ramirez, Agnieszka Bugaj-Nawrocka, Artur Taszakowski, Christiane Weirauch

Abstract: The assassin bug genus Koenigsbergia Popov, 2003 is currently monotypic and represented by a female holotype from Baltic Amber (~33.9–55.8 MYA). The genus was originally described within Phymatinae (Phymatine Complex or phymatine clade). However, our literature review reveals that the amber fossil likely belongs to the subfamily Phimophorinae, which is distantly related to the phymatine clade. The recent acquisition of one male and one nymph of Koenigsbergia provides the opportunity to reevaluate the systematic placement of this genus. We here examine the new fossils, concluding that the adult male represents an undescribed species, and describe it as Koenigsbergia explicativa, new species. Our morphological comparison between Phimophorinae, Phymatinae, and Koenigsbergia (macro imagining, scanning electron microscopy) shows that the fossil genus shares notable similarities with Phimophorus Bergroth, 1886 and Mendanocoris Miller, 1956. We therefore formally transfer the fossil genus to Phimophorinae.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.82.e106734

Authors: André L. Martins, Gabriel A. R. Melo

Abstract: Thaumatodryininae is a small subfamily of Dryinidae, known to attack nymphs of auchenorrhynchous Flatidae (Hemiptera). Only one genus is recognized, Thaumatodryinus Perkins, with 35 species including fossil and extant taxa. Currently, the oldest record for the genus is from Baltic amber. Here, we present the first record of Thaumatodryininae from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber with the description of †Thaumatorrhinos athrix gen. et sp. nov., derived from the first phylogeny for this subfamily based on morphological characters. The placement of †Thaumatorrhinos gen. nov. in Thaumatodryininae and the phylogenetic relationships of this subfamily within Dryinidae are discussed.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.82.e114849

Authors: Sergio Álvarez-Parra, André Nel, Vincent Perrichot, Corentin Jouault

Abstract: The order Psocodea, including barklice, booklice, and parasitic lice, is diverse and widely distributed since the Cretaceous. That is particularly the case for the speciose extinct family Empheriidae (Psocodea, Trogiomorpha, Atropetae), recently fused with the ‘Archaeatropidae’. Understanding the evolution of barklice is dependent in part on studying this family, as its representatives have been found from the Early Cretaceous to the Eocene, surviving the K/Pg extinction event. The phylogenetic relationships of Empheriidae in relation to other families, such as Lepidopsocidae or Psoquillidae, have been extensively debated. However, distinguishing diagnostic characters for the Empheriidae has proven challenging. In this study, we describe the new empheriid Santonipsocus mimeticus gen. et sp. nov. from Cretaceous Charentese amber (France). It is the third empheriid species found in this locality. The new genus is compared with the other genera in the family, and Proprionoglaris guyoti and Proprionoglaris axioperierga are revised based on the type material and new specimens. We explore the phylogeny of Empheriidae, both the relationships with other families and the inner relationships between the genera, through maximum parsimony analysis and Bayesian inference analysis. Our results suggest that Empheriidae may represent a paraphyletic evolutionary grade to the rest of Atropetae. The phylogenetic relationships between genera align with the biogeography of the family and support previous hypotheses. In addition, we discuss the possible biology of the members of the family, shedding light on the evolutionary history of Empheriidae.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.82.e111148

Authors: Manuel Brazidec, Lars Vilhelmsen, Brendon E. Boudinot, Adrian Richter, Jörg U. Hammel, Evgeny E. Perkovsky, Yong Fan, Zhen Wang, Qiong Wu, Bo Wang, Vincent Perrichot

Abstract: The Megalyridae are a small family of parasitoid wasps comprising eight extant genera (71 species) and six extinct genera (13 species). Here, we report eight new species from Late Cretaceous Kachin (Myanmar) and Taimyr (Russia) ambers; the family is recorded for the first time from the latter. †Cretolyra noijebumensis gen. et sp. nov., †Cretolyra shawi gen. et sp. nov., †Genkyhag innebula gen. et sp. nov., †Megacoxa chandrahrasa gen. et sp. nov., †Megacoxa janzeni gen. et sp. nov., and †Megacoxa synchrotron gen. et sp. nov., are described from late Albian – early Cenomanian Kachin amber; †Kamyristi exfrigore gen. et sp. nov. and †Kamyristi yantardakhensis gen. et sp. nov. from Taimyr amber (Baikura, late Albian – early Cenomanian Ognevka Formation and Yantardakh, Santonian Kheta Formation, respectively). Phylogenetic analyses of the family are presented and the classification of the Megalyridae is revised accordingly. A new tribe, †Megalavini trib. nov., is erected to accommodate †Cretolyra gen. nov., †Genkyhag gen. nov., †Megacoxa gen. nov. together with †Megalava Perrichot, 2009; †Megalavini trib. nov. is characterized by the vein M fully pigmented and veins Rs+M and M+Cu aligned, the crenulate mesometapectal sulcus, and the pronotal spiracle not posteriorly surrounded by cuticle. This spiracular condition was previously only observed in †Megazar Perrichot, 2009, thus the subfamily †Megazarinae Perrichot, 2009 stat. nov. is proposed for the clade (†Megalavini + †Megazar), as sister to the remaining Megalyridae. The latter is defined as the Megalyrinae, with †Kamyristi gen. nov. being retrieved as sister to all other genera except Rigel Shaw, 1987 under parsimony analyses. To align phylogeny with classification, three new tribes are erected (†Kamyristini trib. nov., †Megallicini trib. nov., and †Valaaini trib. nov.) and the †Cretodinapsini is synonymized under Megalyrini. A grouping [Rigel + Megalyridia] is supported under Bayesian analyses, which is the only specific conflict with the parsimony analyses, suggesting some degree of caution with respect to the internal relationships of the Megalyrinae. Finally, a revised key to the Megalyridae genera is provided.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.81.e109833

Authors: Pavel Sroka, Jakub Prokop

Abstract: The stonefly suborders Arctoperlaria and Antarctoperlaria reflect the current division of the diversity of this insect order between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. However, there are several exceptions to this pattern, the most notable being the family Notonemouridae, which is phylogenetically deeply subordinate within the northern Arctoperlaria, but distributed in South Africa, South America, and Australia. Various hypotheses have been proposed regarding the circumstances of their dispersal to the south. Some estimated their origin as relatively recent, with long-distance dispersal to the southern continents in the Late Cretaceous or early Paleogene. On the other hand, fossils of Notonemouridae have been dated to the Middle Jurassic, proving the lineage is very ancient. However, all known notonemourid fossils originate from Asia and the timing of their dispersal to the south cannot be precisely estimated. Here we report new fossil stoneflies from the Late Jurassic Talbragar Fish Beds, Australia, described as Talbragaria australis gen. et sp. nov. and attributed to Notonemouridae. This finding represents the first fossil evidence of the northern suborder Arctoperlaria in the Southern Hemisphere, and confirms the north-to-south dispersal of Notonemouridae across Pangea prior to the continental break-up.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.81.e107579

Authors: Si-Xun Ge, Zhuo-Heng Jiang, Li-Li Ren, Cornelis van Achterberg, Jiang-Li Tan

Abstract: The family Stephanidae (Hymenoptera) constitutes a unique group within the Apocrita, playing a pivotal role in the evolution of parasitoid wasps. Although the phylogeny of Stephanidae has been previously inferred, it remains at a low resolution when considering both extinct and extant genera, as well as the enigmatic extinct genus †Electrostephanus. Here, we undertake a revision of Stephanidae extinct, presenting descriptions of new specimens from late Cretaceous Burmese amber and early Eocene Baltic amber. Combining all extant and extinct genera, the phylogeny of Stephanidae was analyzed, incorporating 57 species within 21 genera based on 64 morphological characters. We apply both under maximum parsimony with equal weighting and implied weighting methods, with four species representing early Apocrita as outgroups. Divergence times are estimated by utilizing extinct taxa as calibration points. A new basal subfamily of stephanid wasp, †Lagenostephaninae subf. nov. was established, encompassing †Lagenostephanus and the newly described genera †Tumidistephanus gen. nov and †Neurastephanus gen. nov. The genus †Electrostephanus is redefined, with two species assigned under distinct genera, †Neurastephanus gen. nov. and †Aphanostephanus gen. nov.. We discuss some of the putative morphological synapomorphies of evolutionary significance within the phylogenetic framework. Our results complement several characteristics of great taxonomic importance for Stephanidae and provide new insights into the early evolution of the family.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.81.e101374

Authors: Kateřina Rosová, Jakub Prokop, Jörg U. Hammel, Rolf G. Beutel

Abstract: Omophroninae is a distinctive monogeneric group of Carabidae, presumably placed relatively close to the root of the megadiverse adephagan family. In the present study we describe a larva belonging to Omophroninae from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber and erect a new genus †Cretomophron. Several features support the placement in this small but distinctive subfamily, such as the wedge-shaped head, the large triangular nasale, the elevated antennae with the apical segment directed sideways, the large and bidentate mandibular retinaculum, the enlarged hexagonal prothorax, legs with a distinct armature of spines, and the relatively narrow and posteriorly tapering abdomen. In contrast to larvae of the extant genus Omophron Latreille, the posterior tentorial grooves are not shifted backwards, apparently a plesiomorphic feature, the 2nd antennomeres are markedly longer, and the legs bear long setae and rather thin and long spike-like setae. †Cretomophron also differs in the presence of numerous setae arranged in transverse rows on abdominal segment VI. Lateral lobe-like expansions of abdominal tergites are a conspicuous feature of the new genus but similar structures occur in later instars of Omophron. Structural specializations of the head, prothorax and legs strongly suggest that the larvae were burrowing in sand, like adults and larvae of the extant genus, and that they were efficient predators, detecting prey with the unusually shaped antennae and long maxillae, grasping it with the elongate apical mandibular tooth, and squeezing and piercing it between the bidentate retinaculum and large and triangular nasale.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.81.e100385

Authors: Martin Fikáček, Jan Simon Pražák, Andrew E. Z. Short, François Rion

Abstract: We describe the first definite fossil of the water scavenger beetle subfamily Enochrinae (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae): Cymbiodyta samueli sp. n. from the Eocene Baltic amber from the Lithuanian coast. The new species is extremely similar and likely closely related to the only European species, C. marginella and confirms the European occurrence of the genus since the Eocene. A reanalysis of the historical biogeography of the genus, including the fossil taxon, revealed a wide Euro-American distribution of the ancestor of all modern species of the genus, corresponding to the position of landmasses and existing land connections between North America and Europe in the Late Cretaceous. The biogeographic reconstructions and the fossil both suggest that European Cymbiodyta is an ancient relict lineage which used to be more diverse in the past but survived until today in a single species C. marginella.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.81.e101441

Authors: Jindřich Roháček, Jörg U. Hammel, Viktor Baranov

Abstract: A new family of Diptera Acalyptratae, Christelenkidae Roháček fam. nov., is established for Christelenka multiplex Roháček gen. et sp. nov., an unusual extinct taxon described from a unique male specimen preserved in Baltic amber (Mid-late Eocene, ca 48–34 Ma). Apart from detailed examination by light microscopy and photography, the holotype of the new species has also been studied by means of X-ray synchrotron microtomography with the aim of obtaining additional morphological data for consideration of its relationships. Because of a very peculiar combination of morphological characters, the new family is tentatively considered a separate lineage of Acalyptratae having no apparent sister-group relationship with any of the known families. Its probable relationships to some families of Opomyzoidea and Ephydroidea are discussed.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.81.e102404

Authors: Jan Simon Pražák, Martin Fikáček, Jakub Prokop, Tomáš Lackner

Abstract: We describe three new genera and four new species of the Histeridae (Coleoptera) from the mid-Cretaceous amber in Myanmar. Platycretus muscularis Simon Pražák & Lackner gen. & sp. nov. represents the first known fossil of the subfamily Histerinae from the Cretaceous. We assign the remaining three fossils, Olexum complanatum Simon Pražák & Lackner gen. & sp. nov., Cretanapleus seideli Simon Pražák & Lackner gen. & sp. nov., and Yethiha pubescens Simon Pražák & Lackner sp. nov. to the subfamily Dendrophilinae. Platycretus muscularis and O. complanatum have adaptations typical for the subcortical lifestyle (flattened body shape, dilated protibiae), proving this life strategy existed in independent lineages of clown beetles already in the Cretaceous. We also provide a review of all Histeridae fossil species described up to date and test the phylogenetic position of all of them including the newly described ones.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.81.e96737

Authors: Manuel Brazidec, Frédéric Legendre, Vincent Perrichot

Abstract: The Lancepyrinae are an extinct subfamily of Bethylidae known exclusively from Cretaceous amber deposits of Lebanon, Spain, Taimyr and Myanmar. In this study, we describe and illustrate four new genera and five new species of lancepyrine wasps from the Albian of Hkamti and late Albian-early Cenomanian of Kachin (Myanmar): Azepyris delamarrei gen. et sp. nov., Burmapyris ohmkuhnlei sp. nov., Gwesped groehni gen. et sp. nov., Paralanceis chotardi gen. et sp. nov. and Yunbayin rossei gen. et sp. nov. These taxa not only highlight the taxonomic diversity of the Lancepyrinae during the mid-Cretaceous but they also reveal the morphological disparity of the subfamily. To establish the phylogenetic relationships of these fossils and to check the monophyly of the Lancepyrinae, we add them to a pre-existing morphological matrix and perform a cladistic analysis. We retrieve the subfamily as poorly supported yet monophyletic, with the newly described taxa deeply nested in it. A key to the genera of Lancepyrinae is provided. Finally, we erect the subfamily Cretabythinae subfam. nov. for the genera Cretabythus Evans, 1973, Holopsenelliscus Engel, 2019 and Megalopsenella Jouault et al., 2020 as no taxonomic treatment has been provided for these taxa after the transfer of Holopsenella Engel et al., 2016 as Aculeata incertae sedis.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.81.e98418

Authors: Jiří Kolibáč, Kateřina Rosová, Jan Simon Pražák, Jörg U. Hammel, Jakub Prokop

Abstract: A larva of Cleroidea in Burmese amber is described, which is the first record of an immature beetle of the basal cucujiform superfamily for the Mesozoic. Well-preserved unique specimen is described and illustrated using traditional methods as well as synchrotron-radiation-based micro-computed tomography (SRµCT) to reconstruct the specimen and discern integumental details of cephalic structures, especially the mouthparts. Cretorhadalus constantini gen. et sp. nov. is unambiguously assigned to the melyrid lineage of Cleroidea and tentatively classified within the basal family Rhadalidae. Within this family, this fossil larva has the ancestral cleroid pattern of the stemmata (2+3) and well-developed hooked urogomphi. Based on a comparison with extant rhadalids, as well as most members of the melyrid lineage, the larvae and adults of this new species were probably carnivorous, living on the trunks and branches of trees or in galleries where they foraged for soft xylophagous insects.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e86008

Authors: Ivan L. F. Magalhaes, Abel Pérez-González, Facundo M. Labarque, Martín Carboni, Jörg U. Hammel, Robin Kunz, Martín J. Ramírez, Mónica M. Solórzano-Kraemer

Abstract: Recluse or violin spiders in the genus Loxosceles (Scytodoidea: Sicariidae) are a diverse group (~140 extant species) including medically important species and distributed mainly in the Americas, Africa, and the Mediterranean region. In addition, this genus includes three fossil species from Miocene Dominican amber. Here we revise the taxonomy of these fossil species by examining, imaging and re-describing their type specimens. We find that L. defecta Wunderlich, 1988 and L. deformis Wunderlich, 1988 are bona fide members of the genus and report additional characters overlooked in their original descriptions. We further study the holotype of L. aculicaput Wunderlich, 2004 using synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography to reveal previously unknown morphological details hidden by fissures in the amber. We found several characters inconsistent with Loxosceles but consistent with Drymusa (false violin spiders; Scytodoidea: Drymusidae), such as three claws, well-developed podotarsite, and a broad colulus. This suggests the species is misplaced in Loxosceles. To test this hypothesis, we estimated a total-evidence phylogeny of the superfamily Scytodoidea including extant and fossil taxa, morphological data, traditional molecular markers, and sequences of ultra-conserved elements. The results show unambiguously that L. aculicaput belongs to Drymusa and is a close relative of extant species of the genus inhabiting the Greater Antilles. Therefore, we here transfer this species to Drymusa, establishing a new combination and new family assignment. Drymusa aculicaput comb. nov. represents the first known fossil Drymusidae and shows that crown members of this genus already existed in the Miocene.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e86582

Authors: Mario Schädel, Margarita Yavorskaya, Rolf Beutel

Abstract: The earliest known fossil beetle †Coleopsis archaica is re-examined using Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI). The morphological observations are evaluated with respect to phylogenetic implications and the early evolution of Coleoptera. †Coleopsis archaica belongs to an early Permian branch of beetles, outside a monophyletic unit comprising Coleoptera (in the widest sense) excluding †Tshekardocoleidae. This clade is mainly characterized by a complex of apomorphic features: elytra with epipleura and with a close fit with the posterior body, thus forming a tightly sealed subelytral space. In contrast to this, the elytra of †C. archaica and †Tshekardocoleidae cover the metathorax and abdomen in a loose tent-like manner and posteriorly distinctly surpass the abdominal apex. So far, no synapomorphies of the two taxa from the first half of the Permian have been identified. The very short and transverse pronotum is likely an autapomorphy of †C. archaica. A thorough documentation of the structural features of early beetle fossils should have high priority. RTI is a very promising tool to obtain new and well-founded morphological data, which will allow a thorough phylogenetic evaluation of Permian beetles in future studies. We extended the conventional RTI workflow by focus merging and panoramic stitching, in order to overcome previous limitations. Taxonomic re-arrangements of stem group beetles including †C. archaica were suggested in recent studies by A.G. Kirejtshuk and co-workers. As they are not based on shared derived features they are irrelevant in a phylogenetic and evolutionary context.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e81736

Authors: Yan-Da Li, Yu-Bo Zhang, Karol Szawaryn, Di-Ying Huang, Chen-Yang Cai

Abstract: The family Corylophidae is a moderately diverse coccinelloid beetle family. The fossil record of corylophid beetles is extremely sparse, with only one species formally described from the Eocene Baltic amber. Here we report a new corylophid genus and species, Xenostanus jiangkuni Li, Szawaryn & Cai gen. et sp. nov., from mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar (ca. 99 Ma). Xenostanus is most distinctly characterized by the antenna with 10 antennomeres and the presence of metaventral and abdominal postcoxal lines. Our phylogenetic analysis suggested Xenostanus as sister to tribe Stanini. Based on its distinctive morphology and the phylogenetic results, Xenostanus is placed in the tribe Xenostanini Li, Szawaryn & Cai trib. nov.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e82845

Authors: Arnold H. Staniczek, Arianny P. Storari, Roman J. Godunko

Abstract: The systematics of all known extant and fossil taxa of the mayfly family Baetiscidae is reviewed. Previously described fossil Baetiscidae are critically reviewed and their systematic position is re-evaluated. Added herein is the description of Balticobaetisca bispinata sp. nov., a new fossil mayfly from Eocene Baltic Amber. Also described for the first time is the putative adult of Protobaetisca bechlyi Staniczek, 2007 from the Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil. Based on external morphological characters of nymphs and adults, we present the first integrated cladistic analysis of both fossil and extant Baetiscidae, which revealed the monophyly of the respective fossil and extant genera and their phylogenetic splitting sequence as Cretomitarcys + (Protobaetisca + (Balticobaetisca + Baetisca)).

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e86673

Authors: Daniel Dias Dornelas do Carmo, Stephanie Sampronha, Charles Morphy D. Santos, Guilherme Cunha Ribeiro

Abstract: Popularly known as horse flies or deer flies, Tabanidae, has 4.400 described species distributed worldwide. Most of the females are hematophagous, but several species are also flower visitors. Cretaceous fossils of Tabanidae are scarce and the known fossil species have plesiomorphic features unknown in modern horse flies. Here, we revised the taxonomy of the Tabanidae from the Crato Formation of Brazil describing a new genus, Araripus gen. nov., and two new species – Araripus crassitibialis sp. nov. and Cratotabanus cearensis sp. nov. The holotype of Cratotabanus stonemyomorphus, the type species of Cratotabanus, is redescribed, and the male is described for the first time. In addition, we investigate the phylogenetic position of Cretaceous horse fly fossils using morphological characters in the context of a wider analysis also including representatives of extant lineages.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e82644

Authors: Zi-Wei Yin, Erik Tihelka, Jesus Lozano-Fernandez, Chen-Yang Cai

Abstract: The extant tropical tribe Hybocephalini is a morphologically highly derived group of the subfamily Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), which is characterized most notably by the modified squamous setae that cover various parts of the body. Ten genera and 69 extant species have been found in the Afrotropical and Oriental regions, with one species found in northern Australia. Prior to this study the evolutionary history of the tribe has been remained elusive due to the dearth of known fossils. Here, we describe the first fossil representative of Hybocephalini, Europharinodes schaufussi Yin & Cai gen. et sp. nov., based on an adult male preserved in Baltic amber (ca 45.0–38.0 Ma). Using X-ray microtomography, the anatomy including the endoskeletal structures of the head, the full pattern of foveation, and the aedeagus of the beetle were reconstructed. Europharinodes shares most derived traits that are congruent with extant members of Hybocephalini, but it also possesses plesiomorphic and autapomorphic characters unknown in living relatives. In order to constrain the phylogenetic placement of Europharinodes, we created an updated morphological character matrix to explore relationships among this genus and related groups. A monophyletic Hybocephalini was recovered by maximum likelihood and parsimony analyses, with Europharinodes being well-resolved as sister to all modern relatives in the likelihood tree. The fossil thus sheds new light on the morphological evolution of Hybocephalini and suggests a broader palaeodistribution of the tribe during the middle Eocene. The disjunct distribution of an Eocene Baltic amber species and an extant Afrotropical-Oriental distribution of the tribe is probably relictual, and was shaped by global cooling during the Eocene–Oligocene transition.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.79.e72724

Authors: Yan-Da Li, Erik Tihelka, Zhen-Hua Liu, Di-Ying Huang, Chen‑Yang Cai

Abstract: Abstract The cryptic slime mold beetles, Sphindidae, are a moderately diverse cucujoid beetle family, whose members are obligately tied to slime molds throughout their life. The fossil record of sphindid beetles is sparse; stem-sphindids and crown-group members of uncertain systematic placement have been reported from Cretaceous ambers. Here we review the Mesozoic fossil record of Sphindidae and report a new sphindid genus and species, Trematosphindus newtoni gen. et sp. nov., from Albian/Cenomanian amber from northern Myanmar (ca. 99 Ma). Trematosphindus is set apart from all other sphindids by the presence of distinct lateral cavities on the anterior pronotal angles. Our phylogenetic analysis identifies Trematosphindus as an early-diverging genus within Sphindidae, sister to the remainder of the family except Protosphindus, or Protosphindus and Odontosphindus. The new fossils provide evidence that basal crown slime mold beetles begun to diversify by the mid-Cretaceous, providing a valuable calibration point for understanding timescale of sphindid co-evolution with slime molds.

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