New eodermapteran earwigs (Dermaptera) from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of China

Abstract

A new genus of eodermapteran earwigs, Aglyptoderma gen. nov., is described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia, China. It comprises two new species—Aglyptoderma elongatum gen. et sp. nov. and Aglyptoderma cylindratum gen. et sp. nov. The genus belongs to the family Semenoviolidae, hitherto known only from the Late Jurassic of Kazakhstan. However, owing to significant differences in the form of the head, pronotum, tegmina and tarsomeres, the new genus is classified within a separate subfamily, Aglyptodermatinae subfam. nov. The features of the new genus are discussed in the context of existing hypotheses regarding post-Jurassic character-state transitions in the postabdomen of female Dermaptera. In particular, reduction of the cerci and internalization of the ovipositor across Archidermaptera, Eodermaptera, and Neodermaptera may relate to the variety of maternal care behaviours seen among earwigs. Shurong Xiong [2190802066@mail.cnu.edu.cn], Lifang Xiao [xiaolifangjxau@163.com], Dong Ren* [rendong@mail.cnu.edu.cn], College of Life Sciences and Academy for Multidisciplinary Studies, Capital Normal University, 105 Xisanhuanbeilu, Haidian District, Beijing 100048, PR China; Michael S. Engel [msengel@ku.edu], Division of Entomology, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, 1501 Crestline Drive – Suite 140, Lawrence, Kansas, 66045-4415, USA; Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024-5192, USA.