A morphologically unique species of Ptinidae (Coleoptera) and the first found in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (Myanmar)

New genus and species of syspastoxyelid sawflies (Insecta, Hymenoptera) from the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber with a review of the family Syspastoxyelidae

The genus Hirsuticyclus Neubauer, Xing and Jochum, 2019 was the first record of an exceptionally preserved land snail with dense periostracal hairs from mid-Cretaceous Kachin (Burmese) amber. Here, we document four newly-discovered shells from Kachin amber, one belonging to the type species Hirsuticyclus electrum Neubauer, Xing and Jochum, 2019 and the remaining three shells belonging to a new species, Hirsuticyclus canaliculatus sp. nov. Well-preserved morphological characteristics of these two species could be clearly demonstrated under light microscopy combined with modern micro-CT scans with computer 3D reconstructions. Our new material of the type species amends the generic diagnosis based on a better-preserved shell including the peristome and operculum. The new species shows distinctive shell characteristics such as numerous spiral keels and a flaring, folded peristome interrupted by two canals. These excellently preserved fossils contribute to our understanding of the morphological diversity and evolution of these ancient members of cyclophoroids.

Two new genera and species of false click beetles are described and illustrated from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. Yallmoleia arriagavarelai gen. et sp. nov. differs from similar species that have basally closed lateral antennal grooves on the hypomeron primarily by the absence of elytral striae and the morphology of antennae and legs. Xanrofeurya tomaszewskae gen. et sp. nov. is distinctive among Eucnemidae from Kachin amber in having basally open lateral antennal grooves on the hypomeron, and differs from extant species with this feature by its antennal morphology. Muonabuntor grandinotalis Li et al. and Jenibuntor pusillus Muona, previously described from Kachin amber, are transferred into Euryptychus LeConte as Euryptychus grandinotalis comb. nov. and Euryptychus pusillus comb. nov. Sieglindea antiqua Muona, which was claimed to originate from Kachin amber, is instead suggested to be from Eocene Baltic amber.

Earliest fossil record of Tachyporini rove beetles in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber from northern Myanmar (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae)

The fossil record of stag beetles (Lucanidae), especially in Mesozoic amber, is sparse. Four additional fossil lucanids preserved in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber from northern Myanmar are here reported. All of these species are included in the primitive subfamily Aesalinae, and have been identified as: Protonicagus mandibularissp. nov. (tribe Nicagini); Cretognathus minutissimusgen. et sp. nov. (tribe Ceratognathini); Ceratognathini gen. et sp. indet. 1 (provisional assignment); and Ceratognathini gen. et sp. indet. 2 (provisional assignment). Except for Protonicagus mandibularissp. nov., the stag beetles appear to be connected to the continent of Gondwana, as with the Kachin amber paleofauna. More interestingly, these species have significantly smaller bodies than the extant species, with three of them measuring less than 3 mm, which makes them the smallest known species of Lucanidae. This finding is congruent with a trend toward miniaturization in several unrelated lineages of Kachin amber beetles, and it shows hidden paleodiversity of stag beetles during the Cretaceous.

A new genus and species of Perforissidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber

A new genus and two new species of the planthopper family Mimarachnidae are described based on two specimens trapped in mid-Cretaceous (early Cenomanian) Kachin amber from northern Myanmar. Morphology maps of the tegmen and hind wing, as well as keys for identification of the new species, are provided. Our new fossils not only increase the diversity of planthoppers from the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber deposits, but also indicate that the ScP + RA and RP may simplify and the MP terminal branches become more abundant in described mimarachnids. Wenqian Wang* [wangwenqian2@lyu.edu.cn], Yan Zheng [zhengyan536@163.com], Xiaohui Cui [cuixiaohui@lyu.edu.cn] and Jun Chen [rubiscada@sina.com], Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Linyi University, Linyi, 276000, China. De Zhuo [zhuode113@163.com], Beijing Xiachong Amber Museum, 9 Shuanghe Middle Road, Beijing 100023, China. Cihang Luo [chluo@nigpas.ac.cn], State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.

Mantispoidea (Insecta, Neuroptera) are well-known for the hypermetamorphic larval development and for most adults having praying mantis-like raptorial forelegs. Currently, this superfamily comprises Berothidae (beaded lacewings) and three raptorial mantispoid families: Rhachiberothidae (thorny lacewings), Dipteromantispidae and Mantispidae (mantidflies or mantid lacewings). It includes about 530 extant species in 74 genera, and 143 extinct species in 97 genera from the Upper Triassic to the Miocene. Berothidae, well-known for some adults with scale-like setae on the female wings, currently includes 119 extant species in 26 genera, and 59 extinct species in 37 genera from the Upper Triassic to the Eocene. Rhachiberothidae represents the relictual group of Mantispoidea, comprising only 14 extant species across four genera, which are confined to the Afrotropical Region. However, the abundant fossil records (28 species and 21 genera), especially from the Cretaceous, highlight the past glory of this family. The Cretaceous dipteran-like family Dipteromantispidae, comprising ten species across nine genera, remains enigmatic in terms of its phylogenetic status. Mantispidae, the largest family within Mantispoidea, comprises approximately 395 extant species across 44 genera and 46 extinct species in 30 genera, ranging from the Lower Jurassic to the Miocene. This family is distinctive from other raptorial families for its highly mobile and variously elongated prothorax. Here, we describe several new genera and species from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, Myanmar: Three new species of Osmyloberotha Khramov, 2021 (O. dispersa sp. nov., O. chenzuyini Zhuo, Li & Liu sp. nov. and O. magnimaculata sp. nov.) in Berothidae, with a detailed redescription of O. simpla Khramov, 2021; two new genera and three new species (Paraberothinae: Paraberothoides longispina Li, Zhang & Liu gen. et sp. nov.; Subfamily unknown: Dicranoberotha zhangzhiqiae Zhuo, Li & Liu gen. et sp. nov., Dicranoberotha liumohanae Zhuo, Li & Liu gen. et sp. nov.) of Rhachiberothidae, three new species (Enigmadipteromantispa dilatata Li, Nakamine, Yamamoto & Liu sp. nov., Kurtodipteromantispa relicta Li, Nakamine, Yamamoto & Liu sp. nov. and Kurtodipteromantispa univenula sp. nov.) of Dipteromantispidae, as well as four new genera and five new species (Symphrasinae: Parvosymphrasites aploneura Li, Lin, Liu & Wang gen. et sp. nov. and Proplega evelynae Zhuo, Li & Liu gen. et sp. nov.; Subfamily unknown: Haplacantha robusta gen. et sp. nov., Haplacantha tenuis gen. et sp. nov. and Mesomantispoides felixoporcus gen. et sp. nov.) of Mantispidae. Sinuijumantispa So & Won, 2022, previously classified within Drepanicinae, is now recognized as a stem group of Mantispidae, which is possibly related to Mesomantispoides gen. nov. or Mesomantispinae. Our new findings offer crucial insights into the taxonomy, morphological diversity and evolution of Mantispoidea.

Simple SummaryHistorically, researchers have suggested different resolutions of the basal relationships of the family Histeridae based on various datasets and methods of phylogenetic analysis. Phylogenetic analyses combining extant and fossil forms will doubtlessly shed further light on its early evolution. The present study describes the first fossil Anapleus species from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. This new discovery enriches the fossil record of histerid beetles and has important implications for efforts to understand their early evolutionary history.For the first time, an extant histerid genus Anapleus Horn, 1873 is described from a specimen found in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. Anapleus kachinensis sp. nov. Although the genus Anapleus has not been precisely defined by synapomorphies, the new species shares numerous features with extant species while differing in comparatively few external characteristics. Anapleus kachinensis represents the first record of an extant histerid genus from Cretaceous deposits and provides further evidence of the ancient origin of the genus.

Syninclusions of two new species of short-winged flower beetle (Coleoptera: Kateretidae) in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (Myanmar)

The earliest fossil record of the extant rove beetle genus Phloeocharis from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of northern Myanmar and its biogeographic implications (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Phloeocharinae)

Simple SummaryDespite the extant diversity of the rove beetle subfamily Osoriinae, its fossil record remains meagre. The present study reports a new species Priochirus (Eopriochirus) trisclerite subgen. et sp. nov. from Kachin amber (mid-Cretaeous: Cenomanian, ca. 99 Ma). The discovery not only enriches the fossil record of Osoriinae but adds to our understanding of its ancient origin and diversification. With new species described in the present paper, 3 species of osoriines are known from Mesozoic Kachin amber.As one of the largest families of beetles (Coleoptera), the Staphylinidae (rove beetles and their relatives) are rich not only in extant species but also in a comparatively robust fossil record. Despite this preponderance of available fossil material, fossils of the diverse subfamily Osoriinae remain rare. Here, we describe a new ososriine species, Priochirus trisclerite sp. nov., from the mid-Cretaceous amber of Myanmar. The new specimen is similar to the only other definitive fossil of the genus, Priochirus thayerae Yamamoto 2019, and both are placed in the extinct subgenus Eopriochirus subgen. nov. The new species differs noticeably in a number of morphological details in relation to the submentum, gular sutures and protibial crenulae. The new fossil provides further evidence for understanding the radiation of staphylinoid beetles.

Giants trapped in resin: new material of Sinoalidae in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber from northern Myanmar (Insecta, Cicadomorpha)

The telephone-pole beetle family Micromalthidae has attracted the attention of entomologists and biologists because of its enigmatic morphology, systematic position, and complex life cycle. With only a single extant and four extinct species, the micromalthid beetles are a small but important lineage within the primitive suborder Archostemata. Fossil micromathids, known mainly from different amber deposits, are not commonly found. Here, I report the first Mesozoic fossil of the sole extant micromalthid genus Micromalthus in the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber from northern Myanmar. Due to its rather poor preservation, this provisional new species remains unnamed, tentatively identified as Micromalthus sp. The newly found specimen is about 46 Ma older than an Eocene Micromalthus fossil from the Oise amber of France. My study greatly expands our knowledge of the origin and early evolution of Micromalthus beetles.

The family Pupinidae (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda: Cyclophoroidea) from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber