Abstract
AbstractMolecular studies on the evolution of ladybird beetles date their origin somewhere in the Cretaceous, but no fossils are known from that period. The oldest representatives come from the Eocene, with the richest diversity found in Baltic amber. Until now, representatives of only three tribes (from around 40 known) have been recognized. Recent investigation of Baltic amber have revealed representatives of the fourth tribe (Microweiseini), which are described here as Baltosidis gen. nov. with three new species: B. damgaardi sp. nov., B. damzeni sp. nov. and B. szadziewskii sp. nov. In order to test the systematic placement of this extinct genus, a phylogenetic analysis of Microweiseinae was conducted. The results place Baltosidis in a cluster with four modern genera of Microweiseini distributed exclusively in the New World. Such a distribution pattern is surprising because no close relatives of the newly described fossil genus are known from Europe or even from the Palaearctic region. Analysis of the distribution of Microweiseini genera leads to the conclusion of a possible Gondwanan origin of the tribe. Further comparison of the diversity of the ladybird beetles from modern ecosystems with those known from Baltic amber suggests substantial differences between these communities and a recent radiation of modern fauna.
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