Two new long-rostrum cranefly species from the Cretaceous Iberian amber (Diptera, Limoniidae, Helius)

Antonio Arillo,Iwona Kania-Kłosok,Wiesław Krzemiński

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-91803-1

Abstract

First record of the genus Helius—long-rostrum cranefly from Maestrazgo Basin (eastern Spain, Iberian Penisula) is documented. Two new fossil species of the genus Helius are described from Cretaceous Spanish amber and compared with other species of the genus known from fossil record with particular references to these known from Cretaceous period. Helius turolensis sp. nov. is described from San Just amber (Lower Cretaceous, upper Albian) Maestrazgo Basin, eastern Spain, and Helius hispanicus sp. nov. is described from Álava amber (Lower Cretaceous, upper Albian), Basque-Cantabrian Basin, northern Spain. The specific body morphology of representatives of the genus Helius preserved in Spanish amber was discussed in relation to the environmental conditions of the Maestrazgo Basin and Basque-Cantabrian Basin in Cretaceous.

Highlights

IntroductionFirst record of the genus Helius—long-rostrum cranefly from Maestrazgo Basin (eastern Spain, Iberian Penisula) is documented
First record of the genus Helius—long-rostrum cranefly from Maestrazgo Basin is documented
In Cretaceous Spanish amber, we find some of the oldest representatives of the genus Helius, evidence of the beginnings of the evolution of this group of insects

Summary

Introduction

First record of the genus Helius—long-rostrum cranefly from Maestrazgo Basin (eastern Spain, Iberian Penisula) is documented. Is described from San Just amber (Lower Cretaceous, upper Albian) Maestrazgo Basin, eastern Spain, and Helius hispanicus sp. The oldest representatives of the genus were described based on lower B arremian[8] inclusions in Lebanese amber, from Hammana-Mdeyrij[4,5] and Tannourine (Lebanon[4] and two a little younger from upper Albian of Peñacerrada I (Spain)[2,3]. It is interesting and still enigmatic that at the beginning of Cretaceous we find species of the genus Helius with very elongate rostrum, e.g., Late Cretaceous Helius botswanensis Rayner et Waters, 1 9906 or much older, Early Cretaceous Helius ewa Krzemiński, Kania, Azar, 20145 (the oldest known representative of the genus), suggesting on rapid parallel evolution of this insects and Angiospermae at the beginning of Cretaceous period[5], but additional material is needed to support this hypothesis or is needed to explain this problem. Two new peculiar species of Helius are described and figured from Spanish amber and characterized by relatively short rostrum

Methods

Conclusion